The VMBP continues to accomplish goals set towards the renovation and reopening of the Veteran's Memorial Building. Community engagement is vital to the success of the Veteran's Memorial Building Fundraising Campaign. During the time we are raising funds through donations, sponsorships and grants, we are looking at both Pre-Renovation Service Offerings and Post Renovation Service Offerings. Currently, we host the local Farmers Market at the VMB.

 

Community Townhall Suggestions
To generate early followers and gain movement for the VMBP, we are looking at immediate service offerings that could begin by using existing available space in the area.
Activities should correlate with the planned tourist and seasonal happenings already taking place in the Nebraska City and Otoe County areas. Suggested activities for immediate implementation include:

• Foodpreneur education and training classes: partner with Southeast Community College’s Culinary Program and community classroom space and existing area restaurants
• Launch Veteran’s farm program
• General business/education classes: partner with The Treetop Business Incubator
•  Establish Grower’s Club: offer education component, seed share, crop share, recipe exchange and grower’s awards
• Farmers Market: Continue to highlight regionally grown goods for sale by independent rural growers seasonally in the parking lot.
• Utilize parking lot for “Pop-up” outdoor events: concert, movie, plays, restaurant, traveling chef show, pitch contest, food trade show, etc…

To achieve the project purpose and mission, the renovated building will offer the following anchor services:

• Regional Culinary Incubator: Create a self-sustaining regional culinary incubator to make Nebraska City the farm-to-kitchen capital of the region
•  Business Support Services: Provide area entrepreneurs education/training and business support services to pre-start (test/research), create and expand businesses with specific focus on those that add to the regional food system; both virtually and via the newly renovated space while collaborating with the existing business incubator program, The Treehouse Business Incubator, located on the second floor of American National Bank
•  Performing Arts Center: Revitalize the existing stage for performing arts and other presentation activities
• Classroom & Meeting Space: Offer mixed use space for community activities, meetings, and celebrations to support area non-profit organizations while also providing a steady rental income
•  Retail Store: Provide shared retail space to show case locally made goods for sale via an annual indoor farmer’s market concept (outdoors in the summer), outreaching to the tourist market for downtown attraction.