Officials note local capacity gap for economic development staffing

Local participants told the presenter that Sheridan County's economic development task force has varied in activity over the last two decades and that the county lacks a dedicated, full-time economic development staffer. "We need money to support somebody full time," one participant said, describing existing volunteers and college staff who currently carry much of the work.

The presenter praised Robert Briggs (named in the discussion) as a strong local economic developer and urged the county to consider resourcing permanent capacity. "He's a gem of a person and an economic developer," the presenter said. Participants discussed grant applications and other approaches to build sustained staffing capacity for economic development work.