11 Graduate from 2026 BCDA Leadership Academy
On May 14th, approximately 50 community and family members gathered at the Cardinal Inn in Albion to celebrate the 2026 graduating class of the Boone County Development Agency’s Leadership Academy. This year, 11 individuals from across Boone County participated in a three-month cohort led by Molly Brummond, Assistant Dean for Student Development at the University […]
Takeaways from the 2026 Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference
Last week, BCDA had the opportunity to attend the 8th annual Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) Conference in Tekamah, Nebraska, and came home with a notebook full of ideas and a renewed sense of what’s possible right here in Boone County. Hosted by Rural Prosperity Nebraska, CEC sessions took place inside locally owned businesses throughout downtown […]
What Is a Cooperative? How Boone County Could Benefit from a Community-Owned Model
A Community-Driven Way of Doing Business A cooperative, or co-op, is more than just a business. It’s a model built on local ownership, shared responsibility, and community benefit. Unlike traditional companies driven by outside investors, a co-op is owned by the very people who use it. That means decisions are made democratically and profits are […]
Building Boone County: Why Economic Development Matters Here at Home
Economic development isn’t just about new businesses moving in or big ribbon cuttings. It’s about creating the kind of community where people want to live, work, and raise their families. At Boone County Development Agency (BCDA), we’re working every day to strengthen the foundation of our towns so that the next generation sees a bright […]
Energizing Entrepreneurs Spotlight: Thrivent Financial
In Boone County, when you think of Thrivent Financial, you think of Jill Anding. She was born and raised in Albion and decided to build her business right where she grew up. Recently, Jill graduated from our Energizing Entrepreneurs program, which is a $5,000 grant that helps new entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground. […]