NEBRASKA CITY – Kelly Bequette and Tammy Partsch of the Nebraska City Creative District outlined strategic goals at the Hot Topics forum Wednesday including a new website, social media and upcoming wayfinding campaigns.

Bequette said working on the strategic plan was painstaking, but the process of identifying goals and challenges revealed just how much people really agreed upon.

Strategic planning identified three key needs, capital improvements, programming and marketing.

 Bequette: “The biggest thing they said was signage and branding, website, marketing and promotion, social media marketing. You go down that line on weaknesses and the first six were marketing.”

The new website at nebraskacitycreativedistrict.com lists partners and Nebraska City hotels. It was launched at the first of the year to the join the district’s online presence on Facebook and Instagram. Bequette said the marketing goal has been assisted by support from the Nelson Foundation and Otoe County Visitors Committee.

Bequette: “I feel like it’s very good and it has videos on the history of Nebraska City that have been funded by OCVC.”

The 18-block district includes the KHN Center for the Arts, Veterans Memorial Building, Kregel Windmill Factory Museum, library and art gallery.

Partsch offered a philosophical viewpoint of having a creative district with the idea that a community creates art when it feels safe.

Partsch: “If it’s worried about where it’s next paycheck is going to come from, it doesn’t take time to create art. If it’s worried about threats from war, famine … it doesn’t create art. But, if it has the safety and security knowing that its in a good, growing space, then it can create art. We don’t always feel that way. Our personal budgets are sometimes month to month, but if we can create a sense of that culture in our community,  I think it’s kind of cyclical. That can lead to safety and security which gives people confidence to do more in their business, to do more in their school. So, it’s kind of a comforting thing to have art around you.”

The district plans to unveil a new logo on Feb. 7 and install signage in March.

Strategic goals

  1. Theater and culinary facilities at Veterans Memorial Building
  2. Extend flower baskets and signage to entire district
  3. Marketing campaign for district as a whole
  4. Programming the increases hotel stays
  5. Increase creative businesses
  6. Establish environmentally friendly parking lot
  7. Continue decorative light poles
  8. Create experiences linked to Missouri River
  9. Upkeep current murals
  10. Develop playscape focusing on children and seniors

https://www.nebraskacitycreativedistrict.com/