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“In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.”
- Harry S. Truman
Those are the words that came to mind during the Grand Island Chamber’s annual meeting, where DJ Eihusen, president and CEO of Chief Industries, delivered a timely and inspirational message.
Eihusen, the 2024 recipient of the Chamber’s Richard Good Distinguished Service Award, spoke about how lucky Chief was to be part of Grand Island’s business community. He also reflected on the entrepreneurial boom that occurred in this community during the mid-century years after World War II.
From the late 1940s through the ‘50s, ‘60s, and into the early ‘70s, several legendary Grand Island businesses were born. Among them are The Bosselman Enterprises, Eakes Office Solutions, Five Points Bank, Hornady Manufacturing, and Chief itself.
Eihusen said that if Grand Island’s business community today can duplicate that era’s remarkable spirit, vision, and community purpose, there is no limit to what can be achieved in the 2020s and beyond.
Chamber’s Role in Mid-Century Boom
Coincidentally, a few weeks before the Chamber’s annual meeting, a Jan. 5, 1956 edition of The Independent was discovered in the basement of our building.
Titled the “All-America Edition,” it celebrated the naming of Grand Island as an All-America City in 1955. (By the way, Grand Island — which would go on to be named an All-America City again in 1967 and 1981 — is the only Nebraska community to receive this honor more than twice.) The newspaper also spotlighted Sharon Kay Ritchie, the GI native who had just been crowned Miss America for 1956.
This nearly 70-year-old edition of The Independent captured the healthy outpouring of community pride from area businesses. The attitude of was: We’re all in this together. We all made this happen. A rising tide lifts all boats.
It’s also worth noting the Grand Island Chamber was prominently mentioned in that 1956 edition. Under the headline “Chamber of Commerce Propelled Third City Progress,” the paper showcased the Chamber’s role in economic development and attracting new industry, community events, and tourism and conventions.
“All in all, the Chamber is an organization of Grand Island and for Grand Island,” the paper reported. “It proved that when it fought for, and won, the All-America title for this city.”
Looking Ahead
In 2024, Grand Island has a new generation of visionaries leading our private and public sectors. Like those post-war years, today’s business leaders, developers, and elected officials are working together with a plan to grow the city and enhance its quality of life. They are keenly aware this is Grand Island’s time to shine.
Grand Island’s population today is more than double of what it was back in 1955. A growing city means there are new challenges, but there are also more opportunities. With the right kind of planning and teamwork, there’s no reason Grand Island cannot double its geographic footprint over the next two decades.
During this new era, count on your Chamber to lead the way by doing the following:
- Supporting local entrepreneurs and businesses, as well as pro-business causes;
- Finding new ways to connect the area’s business leaders;
- Enhancing and expanding information services for Chamber partners;
- Taking more steps to attract workforce talent, while continuing to help develop and retain talent that is already here;
- Working with the Grand Island Area Economic Development Corp. and supporting its mission to attract new business; and
- Supporting the Grand Island Convention & Visitor Bureau and its work to define Grand Island as a destination and grow the tourism economy.
Chamber partners can help propel this momentum by staying engaged and focused on what’s best for the community.
Let’s take a page from the city’s glorious past by consistently demonstrating Grand Island’s unique spirit of innovation and cooperation. This is how we will create a more prosperous future.
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