Situated in the Sand Hills, some of the country’s largest sand dunes, a small town in north central Nebraska is known for its beautiful landscapes and for attracting tourists keen on adventure and outdoor recreation. Despite being located five hours from the nearest major airport, visitors come for the world class golf, river floating, and star gazing.
In addition to the tourism draw, every year in February, the town gets a little extra love and attention. Thousands of pieces of mail flow through the local post office, just to be remailed with a special Valentine’s Day postmark and verse.
Nicknamed “Heart City”, Valentine, Nebraska is home to 2,600 residents.
The city sits at the intersection of Highways 83 and 20 and is an important hub for transportation across the northern part of the state.
In 2019, the city of Valentine suffered flooding after heavy storms hit the area. Businesses in Valentine’s South Main district were underwater, including one restaurant that had to open its doors to let the water flow from the back of the building out the front.
“We are focused on Valentine because the city has great potential. It’s a popular place for tourists and is up and coming,” said Judy Petersen, Executive Director of the Central Nebraska Economic Development District. “But we need to get the flooding fixed.”
“No one wants to really build in that area or do any expansion because of the water,” Petersen said.
This spring, construction will start on stormwater improvements to protect the businesses from flooding, thanks to a $1.9 million EDA investment.
At the same time, the Nebraska Department of Transportation is making repairs along Highway 83, which cuts through the heart of “Heart City.”
“When construction is complete, we know it will make a big difference for this community,” Petersen said.
The EDA project is expected to be complete in 2024.
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