The City of Atkinson Economic Development office recently brought the Entrepreneurial Community Activation Process (ECAP) to the community to help identify priorities and actions for the future.

Results from the community survey were presented by University of Nebraska Extension Educator Jordan Rasmussen during a special city council meeting June 7, 2021, at the Atkinson Community Center large room.

The process, led by Nebraska Extension, created an opportunity for all members of the community and area residents to share their ideas on what they would like for the future of Atkinson through an online or paper survey and a series of community conversations.

“The process has been remarkably interesting. It has been an opportunity to learn what the community deems important, what other projects that should be brought forward for consideration, and what the community believes are our strengths and weaknesses,” said Mayor Paul Corkle.

The community survey was launched March 31, 2021, and closed April 13, 2021, with a total of 137 people responding. The community meetings were hosted on April 13, April 27 and May 4, 2021, at the Atkinson Community Center and focused on the community’s characteristics, survey results, and visioning and priority setting.

The discovery tool helps measure how people view their community relative to eight entrepreneurial community characteristics – Community Vision, Sense of Place, Culture of Change, Leadership, Infrastructure, Digitally Connected, Education/Workforce IQ, and Entrepreneurial Support Systems.

“This process helps communities understand their unique characteristics, community assets and potential opportunities for growth,” Rasmussen said.

Community members and city officials participate in the Entrepreneurial Community Activation Process at the Atkinson Community Center.