Laurel earns Community of the Year award

LAUREL — The City of Laurel has achieved many successes over the past year and have another honor they can hang their hats on.

The Nebraska Diplomats recently awarded the city its Community of the Year Award.

“On behalf of the City of Laurel, I would like to congratulate our community on this award,” said Mayor Keith Knudsen. “I’m very excited for our community’s future and extremely proud to call Laurel ‘home.’ ”

Award criteria included a community that benefits from its economic development organization and activities; a proven commitment to economic development; success stories showing support for business development; providing infrastructure for business; and regional cooperation.

Knudsen said the award represents the city’s vitality, perseverance and commitment of Laurel citizens as they seek to better the community and serve others.

“It’s the vision, planning and hard work of countless volunteers that keep Laurel on the map and moving forward in a positive direction,” he said.

All you have to do is take a quick glance around the city of 1,100 to see it may be small but its progressive, said Chris Rasmussen, Laurel’s economic development coordinator.

Currently, the city is undergoing a Downtown Revitalization Project where more than three blocks of streets, sidewalks, sewers and water are being re-done. Construction is underway on the community center and new fire hall.

The City Council just approved the addition of a splash pad at the swimming pool and Laurel-Concord-Coleridge School patrons just approved a bond to fund a major renovation and building project at the Laurel campus.

It all helps in the ongoing effort to attract people and business to the community, Rasmussen said.

She said she’s inspired by the other communities that are a part of the Nebraska Diplomats — Nebraska’s largest economic development organization dedicated to promoting Nebraska’s business climate and quality of life.

“I feel honored because I know what other communities are doing,” she said. “Everyone is working hard to improve their communities and its good company to be in. In a year when people were like, ‘You can’d do this.’ There was still a lot of people looking for ways to make things happen.”

Knudsen agrees, saying the community’s ability to recognize, utilize and work well with outside agencies and foundations for additional support and funding is just one of its many strengths.

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