Falls City economic development officials are continuing work on several projects involving industrial development, electric capacity and child care as the southeast Nebraska community considers how to use public resources and attract new investment.
Lucas Froeschl, executive director of Falls City Economic Development and Growth Enterprise, presented the organization’s third-quarter update to the Falls City City Council and Richardson County commissioners last week. The update included the proposed Citroniq Chemicals project south of Falls City, which Froeschl said remains in a “de-risking” phase while utility work continues.
The proposed facility would be Citroniq’s first pilot plant. The project’s location south of Falls City is still being pursued, with utility planning among the work underway. Froeschl described the effort as ongoing rather than as a completed development agreement.
Reviewing options for a state grant
Froeschl also discussed a study examining the best use of a $15 million state grant awarded to Falls City. The study received support from a grant through the U.S. Department of Energy and evaluated possible investments in solar power and battery storage.
The study concluded that solar or battery projects would not be good investments for Falls City unless they received subsidies from other sources. The economic development organization is instead pursuing a second electrical transmission line to bring more electricity into the city.
- The proposed Citroniq Chemicals plant remains in utility-related planning.
- A study found solar and battery investments would require additional subsidies to be viable for Falls City.
- Officials are pursuing another transmission line to increase the city’s electric capacity.
Child care substitute program under consideration
EDGE is also helping with a study of child care centers in southeast Nebraska. The state is working on a substitute program intended to help facilities remain staffed when an employee is absent.
Under the proposed arrangement, a participating center could call on state-approved child care providers to fill in during a worker’s absence. The local effort would include facilities in Falls City, Auburn, Nebraska City, Humboldt and Pawnee City.
The final issue in the quarterly update involved the former National Guard Armory in Falls City. The building was converted for use by City Hall and the Police Department but now houses only the Falls City Volunteer Fire Department. Froeschl said EDGE has received inquiries about the property and asked the City Council whether the organization should help publicly market it if the city decides to sell.
EDGE already markets the city’s industrial sites and other properties. Any marketing of the armory would depend on the city’s decision about the building and the role it wants the economic development organization to play.
