SIDNEY -- Sidney's newest Economic Development director is ready to take on the challenges of promoting the Sidney area.

Jeff Klare and his wife are making the move to Nebraska from Georgia. Their decision to come to Sidney came through a series of events, including Nebraska football and a desire to return home.

"My wife said she wanted to see snow again," Klare said.

She's from South Dakota, and he is from the east coast. He is the CEO of "Be A Hero -- Hire a Hero," an organization that promotes hiring military veterans.

His wife is a chiropractor. They developed a chain of practices they're in the process of selling.

In addition to the desire to return home, or as close as possible, and where winter includes the expectation of snow, the link to Sidney starts with the football game between the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Georgia Southern University. Georgia Southern won the game, 45-42, but traveling to Lincoln lead to Klare hearing about the opportunity in Sidney. 

The advantage on the personal level is it puts the Klares close to center between their adult children in Colorado and family in South Dakota. 

"I really wasn't looking for a job," he said.

He said he thinks he can help the Sidney community move forward.

He was offered the job of Economic Development Director in early November, and starts officially on Monday.

His first impressions of Sidney is "people are great. It's what America is supposed to be like."

He said he quickly got a sense of family and traditions in Sidney. 

He said housing will continue to be a challenge for Sidney. It is part of the equation: businesses need housing for their employees, and housing is justified by thriving businesses.He said he sees himself as Sidney's marketer, main cheerleader encouraging businesses to come and see what Sidney and Cheyenne County have to offer.

"People deserve better. We can always do better," he said.