Partnership fundraiser set for May 13

Search for a new director to begin

[April 16, 2011]  The Lincoln & Logan County Development Partnership might be temporarily without an executive director, but the partnership is still running on all cylinders. At a fundraising committee meeting yesterday, plans for the May 13 fundraiser at Lincoln College were solidified.

Arrangements have been made for the office to continue its work until a new director has been named. This includes fielding calls, following up on projects and maintaining contacts.

Temporarily, the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce, headed by its executive director, Andi Hake, is helping the partnership board keep the office running while preparations for a search for a new director are made.

Joel Smiley's leaving the organization was made formal in a prepared statement by Mark Hughes, development partnership president:

"The Lincoln & Logan County Economic Development Partnership has accepted the resignation of Joel Smiley, its executive director. His resignation was effective April 13, 2011. The Partnership expresses its appreciation to Mr. Smiley for his over three years of service to the community."

Steven Smith, of the Farnsworth Group and a member of the partnership's executive committee, will head up the search committee for a new director.

Even though the past three years have been some of the most trying of economic times, the development partnership, Smiley and its community partners can point to several significant accomplishments. In addition, the foundation has been set for significant further progress.

Some of the accomplishments of the development partnership and its community partners include significantly increasing the breadth and depth of support from the business community, two large USDA grants (for master plan development and for business incubator development), attraction of businesses to Logan County, CEDS application, and recruitment and support of wind industry in the county.

The new director will build on these accomplishments and work with all of the community partners to increase economic development and improve the quality of life for Lincoln and Logan County.

The partnership is the economic development agency for Logan County.

Its mission is: "Partners working together to enhance prosperity and quality of life in Logan County."

[Text from Lincoln & Logan County Development Partnership board, Mark S. Hughes, president; LDN]