Key to Fremont

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When it comes to shopping, Fremont has two main areas — historic downtown and the 23rd Street corridor.

Downtown Fremont is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district, and includes more than 250 businesses in a 25-block area, including the numerous antique shops that the city the title: Antique Capital of Northeast Nebraska.

There also are many gift, specialty and clothing shops, restaurants and other retail and service businesses. Several have been in the same families for generations.

Fremont is the largest Nebraska Main Street city. The national Economic Restructuring program has helped revitalize downtowns through historic preservation and other techniques. The program can be found in more than 40 states and 12,000 communities nationwide with populations fewer than 50,000. The program is based on four points — organization, promotion, business development and design. Leslie Carter is MainStreet of Fremont Inc. executive director; her office is at the Fremont Historic Visitors Center, 605 N. Broad St.; 721-2264; e-mail: lesliecarter@mainstreetfremont.org; Web site: www.mainstreetfremont.org.

Aside from downtown, Fremont’s other large commercial district is on 23rd Street. The thoroughfare, in northern Fremont, is intersected by Bell Street at about mid-point and is a vital retail center. It includes several shopping centers, including the Fremont Mall and Eastgate Plaza. Fremont Mall is anchored by JCPenney, Gordman’s and Hy-Vee Food Store and includes Main Street Theater’s seven-cinema complex. Eastgate Plaza is home to Menards and Tractor Supply Co. along with several smaller shops.

There are other pockets of commerce in Fremont, including those on Bell Street from 23rd Street south to Linden Avenue, Military Avenue, especially in the Parkview neighborhood, and South Broad Street. Businesses include restaurants, a toy store, roller skating rink, floral shop and others.

Fremont’s newest retail development is Deere Point, home to several restaurants and Goodwill Industries’ Fremont outlet.

Much of Fremont’s rich and diverse lifestyle results from efforts of Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce staff and volunteers.
Allan Hale is chief executive officers of the chamber. He is assisted by LeAnn Hemberger,director of membership and technology; Leigh Armbrust, director of communications; Bonnie Nebuda, employment development coordinator; Amy Vanek, bookkeeper and Andrea Ridder, special events coordinator.

A 24-member board of directors helps guide chamber activities; Dr. Robert Roesch is the current board chairman. Diane Mallette is chairwoman-elect, Bill Vobejda is treasurer and Scott Meister is immediate past chairman.

The chamber has more thana 675 members.

Chamber activities are conducted under the umbrella of six councils:

Administration and Finance Council, which works to maintain an efficient and cost-effective internal operation and competent and motivated staff.
Agricultural Business Council, which works to initiate, promote, implement and support programs which encourage the continued development of agriculture and agribusiness in the area.
Employment Development and Education Council, which works to promote workforce development between the business and educcation communities for the betterment of the schools and community at large.
Government Affairs Council, which works to take an active and visible role in promoting legislation at the local, state and national level.
Membership and Membership Services Council, which works to provide each member a variety of services, attract new members and inform members of the benefits of the Chamber.
Small Business Council, which works to provide small businesses with a platform to improve the profitability of their businesses.

The chamber also serves as the local Fremont Builders Bureau and is home for the Fremont and Dodge County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Fremont Area Community Foundation, Fremont Area Habitat For Humanity and MainStreet of Fremont Inc. and Fremont Area United Way.

The Greater Fremont Development Council, which has worked closely with the Chamber, is now located on the second floor of the Fremont Municipal Building, 400 E. Military Ave. Its board of more than 30 business and government leaders work to bring new businesses to the community and help local businesses expand. Kevin Wilkins is executive director. Web site: http://gfdc.net.

The chamber office is located at 605 N. Broad St.; 721-2641; Web site: www.fremontne.org.

Whether holding a gathering for a large or small group, Fremont offers numerous places to go for people looking for meeting space. Local meeting rooms and their seating capacity (call for information on other services) include:

Don Peterson & Associates, 620 E. 23rd St., 721-7177. 50 capacity.
Eagles - Fremont F.O.E. No. 200 Club Room, 649 N. Main St., 721-9946. 150-400 capacity.
First National Bank Northeast, 2300 Laverna St., 727-5451. 75 capacity.
First State Bank & Trust Co., 1005 E. 23rd St., 721-2500. 40 capacity.
Fremont Family YMCA, 810 N. Lincoln Ave., 721-6952. 30-60 capacity.
Gifford Tower, 2510 N. Clarkson St., call Fremont Housing Authority, 727-4848. 100 capacity.
Godfather’s Pizza, 1851 E. 23rd St., 727-6262. 40 capacity.
Holiday Inn Express, 2415 N. Lincoln Ave., 753-3850. 25-60 capacity.
Holiday Lodge and Conference Center, 1220 E. 23rd St., 727-1110. 50 capacity.
Inglewood Hall, 140 Boulevard, 721-3124. 50-75 capacity.
Keene Memorial Library, 1030 N. Broad St., 727-2694. 60 capacity.
Love-Larson Opera House, Sixth and Broad streets, 727-0355. 250 capacity.
May Museum, 17th Street and Nye Avenue, 721-4515. 22 capacity.
Metropolitan Community College, 835 N. Broad St., 721-2507, 10 to 30 capacity.
Midland Lutheran College, 900 N. Clarkson St., 721-5480. 20-80 capacity.
National Guard Armory, 910 N. Lincoln Ave., 727-3288. 200 capacity.
Pizza Hut, 1781 E. 23rd St., 721-1212. 40 capacity.
Platte Township Hall, 1621 N. Co. Rd. 20th Ave. (northwest of Izaak Walton Park), 721-2376. 75 capacity.
Sleep Inn, 120 W. Cathy Ave., 721-8400. 30 capacity.
St. Patrick’s Auditorium, 431 N. Union St., 721-6611. 350 capacity.
St. Patrick’s Community Center, 450 E. Fourth St., 721-6611. 175 capacity.
Stanton Tower, 2510 N. Clarkson St., call Fremont Housing Authority, 727-4848. 80 capacity.
Trinity Lutheran School, 1546 N. Luther Rd., 721-5959. 100 capacity.
TVS Electronics, 4461 N. Broad St., 721-8728. 75 capacity.
Union Hall, 2410 Colorado Ave., 721-0429. 250 capacity.
University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension of Dodge County, 1206 W. 23rd St., 727-2775. 20-75 capacity.
USA Steak Buffet, 830 E. 23rd St., 721-4422. 68 capacity.

Contact Fremont Parks and Recreation Department, 925 N. Broad St., 727-2810, for the following meeting areas:

Christensen Field Meeting Room, 16th and Ridge Road. 100-125 capacity.
Christensen Field Multi-Use Building, 16th Street and Ridge Road. 750-1200 capacity.
Christensen Field Senior Center, 16th Street and Ridge Road. 80 capacity.
City Auditorium, 925 N. Broad St. 500-1600 capacity.
City Auditorium Community Room, 925 N. Broad St. 80 capacity.
Moller Center, 750 S. Broad St. 60 capacity.

Fremont is an agricultural community. Ag-related sales account for more than $100 million in annual countywide gross sales. But agriculture means more than growing corn and raising hogs.

Fremont is home to more than 130 agriculture-oriented businesses. Several are food processors that not only buy local ag products, but also provide jobs.

Some of Fremont’s largest agribusinesses are:

Hormel Food Corp., is Fremont’s largest employer. Hormel buys hogs from area farmers and employs more than 1,400 people to slaughter and process them.
Valmont Industries Inc., 10 miles southeast of Fremont near Valley, produces center-pivot irrigation systems and other steel items. Valmont employs about 1,400 here and 5,000 worldwide.

There are 10 local businesses that deal in livestock feed production, such as Archer Daniel Midlands Co. ADM processes soybeans, a basic feed protein source.

The University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension office in Dodge County is part of the Federal Extension Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Extension programs provide practical education in five priority areas that address critical economic, social and environmental issues Nebraskans face - agricultural profitability and sustainability; children, youth and families; food safety; health and wellness; community leadership development; and water quality and environment.

The local extension office is at 1206 W. 23rd St., 727-2775. Homeowners, farmers and acreage owners can contact extension educators in the office or via e-mail at dodge-county@unl.edu. Information can also be found on the Web site: http://dodge.unl.edu. Extension educators are Tracy Behnken, Lisa Poppe, Sarah Browning and Dave Varner.

Three other U.S. ag agencies are located in Fremont.

Dodge County Farm Service Agency is a part of the USDA and has a service center at 2450 Business Park Drive on Fremont’s west side. Stan Carlow is the county’s executive director and Jay Schroeder is the farm loan manager. They can be reached at 721-8455.

The USDA National Resources Conservation Service and Rural Development shares the same phone number.

Contact information includes:

Dodge County Farm Service Agency: Stan Carlow, county executive director; e-mail: stan.carlow@ne.usda.gov and Jay Schroeder, farm loan manager; e-mail: jay.schroeder@ne.usda.gov.
Natural Resources Conservation Service: Becky Pieper, resource conservationist; e-mail: becky.pieper@ne.usda.gov.
Rural Development: Theresa Brohimer, community development technician; e-mail: teresa.brohimer@ne.usda.gov.

Access: Three federal highways — U.S. 30, 77 and 275 — pass through or around Fremont. North-south and east-west interstates are within 30 minutes. U.S. Highway 275 has been expanded to four lanes on Fremont's east side. It now has four interchanges into the city - Morningside Road, Military Avenue, 23rd Street and Broad Street.
Rail: Union Pacific and Burlington Northern have tracks here; facilities for loading and unloading carload shipments are available.
Truck: There are nine truck lines with Fremont terminals, including Fremont Contract Carriers on the city's east side, and eight others based in Fremont or Norfolk.
Air: Fremont Municipal Airport can accommodate corporate jets. Eppley Airfield in Omaha is 40 minutes away.

Fremont has a large base of manufacturing businesses. Some of the larger manufacturers make foundry goods, hardware, electrical supplies, plumbing materials, automotive parts, fabricated buildings, metal bearings, wood trusses for construction and corrugated boxes.