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Minden, Nebraska

If the perfect small town exists, it just might be Minden.

If you could sit down at a drawing board to design the perfect small town, what would you include? Maybe you’d start with a superb education system, then add in gracious and affordable homes. You’d want to make sure you had a prosperous manufacturing sector so there would be good jobs and a sound economy, then perhaps you’d want to add some interesting retail enterprises on wide, safe streets. You’d want to make sure to design in a strong sense of community, with a lot of citizen participation in community decisions, quality healthcare facilities and nearby opportunities for camping, hunting and fishing. You’d place it close enough to commute to both college and university campuses, and not too far from sports entertainment such as basketball and hockey. Then maybe you’d top it all off with a beautifully restored community theater and an imposing historic courthouse in the town square.

Put down your pencil. You’re describing Minden.

A mecca for small manufacturers

In recent years, Minden has attracted or home-grown sixteen manufacturing companies, employing more than 250 skilled workers and shipping a wide variety of products regionally, nationally and internationally.

Many think the success of the light manufacturing sector in Minden has a lot to do with two, strong, locally-owned banks, both of which are very supportive of entrepreneurial ventures.

“We open our doors to mentor businesses, provide technical advice and generally do everything we can to support business in Minden,” says Larry Wilcox, Senior Vice-President of the Minden Exchange Bank. “We take time with business owners to offer them advice from a banking perspective. We recently hired a loan officer who is amazed at the number of people who come into the bank just to visit about business concerns.”

“We don’t determine loans by rigid formulas, and we don’t insist that all pegs have to fit in the same holes,” says Kelley Ayres, President of the First National Bank in Minden. “Instead of sending loan applications to some far-away bank for approval, our customers sit down across the table from the person who is going to make the decision. The advantage for the customer is huge.”

Additional support for business ventures is found in the Kearney County Joint Economic Development group, formed in 2004 with the intent of fostering economic development in the region. Funds are available for business start-ups as well as for capital to expand, upgrade equipment and/or add employees. Projects concerning tourism, business start-ups and housing are especially invited to apply for funding.

Sonja Nelsen , Minden Chamber of Commerce director, says the town is eager to hang on to all the gains it has made.

“When businesses sell or transfer ownership, we want to retain the business, and assist the new owners to find the means and direction to keep the business in the region,” Beck says.

A school system to envy

The business community, schools and parents work together to offer Minden youth a balanced and progressive education.

“We are proud to recommend the Minden school system,” says Larry Wilcox. “Every student receives a quality education and the schools do a good job of keeping up with innovations in education.”

“Minden Schools excel because Minden citizens vote for school board members who support the schools and who care about educating all youth,” says Steve Sampy, Minden High School principal. “The school board provides the resources the district needs to help teachers help kids be successful.”

The Minden school system features updated facilities and small classes (often an 11:1 student/teacher ratio in high school) promising individual attention and support from teachers. “We believe in hiring the best educators we can, letting them do their job, and supporting them,” Sampy says.

Minden schools offer avenues of learning in which every young person can find success, including fine art, music and athletics in addition to extra-curricular associations and clubs. “Our goal is to provide the experiences and the education to prepare our graduates to move on to work or to formal education systems,” says Sampy. “We want success for every young person in our school system.”

One source of Minden’s pride in their schools is the annual marching band competition, called Bandfest, held in October. The Minden Chamber of Commerce and the Minden Schools invite 24 marching bands from surrounding communities to perform and compete against a backdrop of bronze and crimson autumn leaves, delighting audiences along historic Brown Avenue.

A treasured history mixes with present-day pride

Pride in the community also shows itself in the Minden Opera House, an elegantly restored facility that provides a stage for professional entertainment, an art gallery and gracious rooms for receptions.

“We value our heritage and preserve our historical buildings,” Wilcox says. “The Minden Opera House and the Minden Courthouse in the square are among the sites we treasure. Our courthouse was built over 100 years ago, but it’s been upgraded with sprinkler systems, an elevator and all the other necessities for a modern building. When the courtroom was restored, we retained the original design features and the atmosphere of a courtroom of the 1800s. Twelve thousand lights trim the courthouse dome and the town square during the Christmas season warranting Minden’s claim as Nebraska’s Christmas City.”

Community pride is also evident in the summer flowers that spill from window boxes and decorate street corners around the town square. Local horticultural societies plant and care for garden plots on public sections in the town.

“People work together to keep the town clean,” says Minden business owner Jim Cantrell. “Flowers bloom on nearly every street corner all summer.”

“Many things get done in Minden by coffee shop management,” says Jeff Hanson, pharmacist and business owner. “Communication is informal and simple, and community issues often are taken care of before we leave the coffee shop.”

The Minden Courier, a weekly publication, educates the public on issues concerning the community. Civic organizations invite community leaders to speak on relevant issues and citizens are invited to town hall meetings where their elected officials facilitate discussion on issues affecting the population.

Minden coffee houses serve cappuccino, original art and conversation

Minden takes its coffee seriously and its artists. In 2007 Minden attracted 2 new coffee house businesses with ambience and style that recall the urban-chic of coffee houses in San Francisco. Both establishments feature espresso coffee and original art and sculptures. I sipped a rich, dark, smooth espresso coffee drink at Brewer's Coffee House, 317 N. Minden Ave. where I encountered Mike Schwenke's renditions of local architecture and close-up views of neighborhoods. The texture, designs and vibrant colors contradict any reconceived images of rural life. Mike's paintings are showing at Brewer's Coffee House, and you may see others by appointment. Call Mikat at (308) 832-1959.

The Minden Coffee House features sculptor, Sally Buss' larger than life figures made of machine parts and other common metal things. I pause to study Buss' figures and images. I admire the technical skill of the artist, and the playful world she leads me into when I examine her work.

Darin Haight's Breakaway Bar and Pool Hall features Buss' electrified wire drawings. Haight who owns a plumbing business and is a craftsman himself, restored a historic Minden building. THe Breakaway sponsors pool and dart tournaments, dances and karaoke contests.

Joy's Flora, 302 East 5th is showing Phil Fahrlander's paintings. Enjoy the green plants, the oxygen rich air, old brick walls, and finely drawn paintings.

"You can't put a price tag on easy living!"

Pharmacists Jeff and Tami Hanson researched many communities for business opportunities before they decided to purchase a pharmacy in Minden. The Hansons appreciate the informality of the Minden community. Tami says, “People are congenial and charming and the community feels safe and supports kids.”

“In Minden we have a life other than work because driving time to and from the work place is minimal and business transactions usually take little time and are simple,” says Jeff. “We have time left over to pursue our family interests, sports and hobbies.”

Hanson says, “People in Minden feel a responsibility to the community, and the community reciprocates. The Minden Courier, a weekly publication, educates the public on issues concerning the community. Civic organizations invite community leaders to speak on relevant issues and citizens are invited to town hall meetings where their elected officials facilitate discussion on issues affecting the population.” He also notes that the community offers a wide array of professional medical services, including dental, health clinics and health specialist services, an updated nursing home and hospital as reasons for moving to Minden.

If a rural lifestyle suits you, there are a lot of rural communities to choose from. But for many, the perfect choice just might be Minden.

Who to Contact

Sonja Nelsen , Chamber of Commerce
mindenchamber@gtmc.net
(308) 832-1811
www.mindenne.org

Larry Wilcox, Senior Vice-President
Minden Exchange Bank
lwilcox@mindenexchange.com
(308) 832-1600

Kelley Ayres, Senior Vice-President
First National Bank
(308) 832-2030

Steve Sampy, Principal
Minden High School
ssampty@esu22.org
www.esu11.org/minden/hs/home.html

Jim Cantrell
Jim’s Auto Clinic
wandacantrell@charter.net
(308) 832-2407

Jeff and Tami Hanson
Pedley Pharmacy
(308) 832-2815

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