Greetings from Historic Red Cloud: Great Stories Grow Here!
Set amid brick-lined streets, charming homes, historic buildings, and the immense beauty of the prairie, Red Cloud offers a glimpse into a storied American past while maintaining a progressive vision for the future. Great stories start in Red Cloud--add your own chapter today!
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Red Cloud Rising: Building a Vibrant Downtown
Downtown Red Cloud has been getting a bit of a facelift recently with a number of rehabilitation projects going on simultaneously. As of November 30th, the the Garber Bank Building, the future site of the Hotel Garber (see below), the former location of Gary's Barbershop, Subway, H&R Block, the former location of Stock-Aid Liquor, the State Bank Block Building, and the former location of Red Cloud Hardware are all being rehabilitated to various degrees. Add to that the opening of The Corner Nook (see story below) in June of this year at the former Taylor's Drugstore building, the soon to be open Riverwood Bakery, and the demolition of the dilapidated structure that used to house Dr. Cook's drugstore back in Willa Cather's time and it's obvious that Red Cloud is making progress towards creating a vibrant and active downtown. Dennis Hansen, who purchased the former hardware building and the lot next to it, is betting on the future of the community. Hansen and his wife Sally "decided to fix up an old building in Red Cloud for our eventual living space on the second floor, because we’ve made the decision to continue to live in Red Cloud. We want to stay in the community because we are excited about the future of Red Cloud and are both inspired and invigorated by all of the hard-work people are doing. We believe Red Cloud is and will continue to be a great place to live."
In 2012, Hansen was one of the local leaders who decided that an economic development strategy centered around Heritage Tourism would be Red Cloud's best bet to build on the assets it already has in place in order to promote growth. Long-term, the hope is that this will diversify the local economy, create jobs, and bolster Red Cloud's already strong tourism sector. Besides attracting more tourists and more frequent visits from the community's beloved alumni network, it is hoped that improving amenities and experiences will also improve the quality of life for locals. While behind the scenes work on this project has been going on for years, the opening of the highly visible National Willa Cather Center in 2017 with its loft apartments on the 2nd floor and retail space including the On the Brix Tasting Room was a real catalyst for change and people attraction. Since that time, entrepreneurs like Val and Danny Benge at Hometown Market, Brad & Andrea Frey with Abundant Life Honey, and Emma Jaeke and Corrina Hubl at Riverwood Bakery have decided to take a risk on Red Cloud with many citing the positive momentum happening in the community as inspiration for their investments. While the Freys and the Benges were either living in town or had family living in the community, Jaeke and Hubl have less well-rooted connections but decided to take the plunge anyhow. According to Jaeke, "more than feeding people, we wanted to create a place in small town Nebraska where all walks of life are accepted and celebrated. We picture kids trickling in as school gets out, and hope they claim it as their new hang out."
Despite all the obvious progress, Red Cloud Tourism & Commerce Director Jarrod McCartney says that there is a lot of work remaining to be done and that the community cannot rest on its laurels. McCartney explains, "now is the time to strike while the iron is hot and build on the momentum we already have. That so much development is happening is inspiring and a good sign that people believe in the future of Red Cloud. More than anything, however we need the Hotel Garber project to be successful as it will generate the sort of revenue that will lift local businesses up and to the next level. That's why I am so excited that we are entering an aggressive phase of fundraising for that project." Accordingly, McCartney believes that short of buying a building or starting a business yourself, the best way to help Red Cloud thrive is to either invest in or donate to the Hotel Garber project.
LEARN MORE about opportunities available to you if you want to take a risk on Red Cloud as an entrepreneur, an investor, or a donor (see below for more information about the Hotel Garber).
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Red Cloud Community Fund Chair Ashley Olson explains why living in Red Cloud makes her feel At Home in Greater Nebraska in this video produced by the Nebraska Community Foundation. Olson is also the Executive Director of the Willa Cather Foundation
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Give Back to Your Hometown and Celebrate 150 Years of Red Cloud!
Nearly 150 years ago, Silas Garber helped establish Red Cloud on his Homestead claim. Early settlers to the region faced a variety of hardships, but those who persevered cultivated the land, built beautiful homes, constructed a charming downtown, and created a prosperous and tight-knit community.
Today, we have our own struggles to overcome. It has been a trying year, yet many of us have been bolstered by a greater appreciation for home and a recognition that fulfillment comes from reconnecting with and serving others in our communities. The Red Cloud Community Fund's (RCCF) dedication to improving the community's quality of life in the face of a pandemic is a testament to Red Cloud's resiliency and determination to keep rising.
RCCF's goal for 2021 is to raise $150,000 in donations to match an additional $150,000 in challenge grants from generous supporters. Success would help us meet future community needs by boosting our perpetual endowment for grant making. Pledges can be spread over multiple years, and there are special tax advantages connected to charitable giving in 2020 thanks to the CARES Act. Please contact us or your financial advisor to learn more and learn more about how you can support Heritage Tourism, The Valley Child Development Center, the Hotel Garber, and help us be prepared to meet the community's needs both now and in the future. If you know you'd like to help now, please feel out one of the forms below at your earliest convenience and send it back to us in the mail. If you'd prefer to donate online please click on the button and graphic that follow.
READ MORE
Make a Pledge to the "150 for 150 Challenge"
Donation Mail Reply Form
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Red Cloud Football completes historic season
The Red Cloud High School football team recently completed an 8-1 season in which the finished #6 in the Nebraska D-6 rankings. The season ended with a 52-14 loss to the Sterling Jets, who would eventually lose the state championship game to McCool Junction. This year's Senior class and Head Coach Jason Heldt helped transform the program from a winless season in their Freshman year to 3 straight state playoff appearances and the team's first playoff victory since 1993. Tate Schriner was an All-Tribland selection while Brooks Armstrong, Kolton Kucera, Berrick Hersh, and Carson McCleary received honorable mention.
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Opportunity to own a historic dream home in Red Cloud!
This 4 bed, 2 bed, 2,164 sq ft home is located in the middle of Red Cloud. It has been partially remodeled but is full of possibility as a fixer-upper. Currently listed for $95K, this house has charm to spare. Click on the picture for more information and more photos.
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Kenny's Lumber for Sale
Mike and Barb Kenny are putting their iconic Red Cloud business up for sale after decades of serving the community and surrounding region. This is an excellent opportunity for the right entrepreneur and a great time to get off to a solid start in Red Cloud where several construction projects are ongoing. For more information, contact Mike and Barb at 402-746-4225. There is significant interest in this business so act now!
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Career Opportunity: Finance & Administration Coordinator at the Willa Cather Foundation
The Willa Cather Foundation seeks an organized and detail-oriented individual who values literature and the arts to fill a Finance & Administration Coordinator role. This position is an excellent opportunity for a finance professional to contribute to the operations of a collaborative and visionary nonprofit organization.
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