About Us

Columbus Area Business Opportunities web site was commissioned by the Home Town Competitiveness (HTC) organization as a part of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. HTC’s thrust is to develop an entrepreneurial city. A city that not only prides itself on "Power & Progress" towards business development, but also supports new, existing and growing businesses at all levels.

Your future success is enhanced by the synergy of Central Community College's excellent educational programs, the realtors of Columbus in identifying opportunities, and the Columbus Chamber of Commerce acting as a catalyst for your business success.

2008-2009 Board of Directors/Program of Work

Business Development Division – Division Chair - Neal Suess

Entrepreneurship Task Force - Rex Minert & Jeff Gokie, Co-chairmen.

The task force is made up of selected key individuals pursuing retail & commercial development in the Columbus area.

The 2008 Plan of Work Includes:

• Pursuing all leads for retail, service or commercial businesses
• Develop a retail prospect list / coordination of franchise opportunities
• Development & distribution of business succession information to business
• Development of database of business succession opportunities

Entrepreneurship Task Force

K.C. Belitz	Chamber of Commerce	President
Sandie Fischer	Chamber of Commerce	Retail Membership Developer
Joe Mangiamelli	City of Columbus	Administrator
Dr. Matt Gotschall	Central Community College	President
Doris Lux	Central Community College	Business Instructor
Kelli Faltys	Central Community College	Business Developer
Chris Nelson	Real Estate Broker	Business Owner
Tom Kumpf	Real Estate Broker	Business Owner
Larry Brenner	Investment Broker	Investment Partner
Rex Minert	BankFirst	Loan Officer
Crystal Hollmann	1st National Bank	Marketing Officer
Connie Hellbusch	Duo Lift Manufacturing	Business Owner
Jeff Gokie	Restaurant	Business Owner
Tim Tarnick	Columbus Bank & Trust	Loan Officer
Kara Asmus	Downtown Business Association	Coordinator
David Bell	Loup Power District	Columbus Economic Council
Rick Cheloha	Loup Power District	Supervisor

Home Town Competitiveness (HTC) is a comprehensive approach to long-term rural community sustainability. This approach goes beyond the traditional tunnel vision of economic development. HTC helps the community to focus on four interrelated strategies that depend on each other for ultimate success.


The four strategic areas of HTC are:

• Developing Leadership
• Energizing Entrepreneurs
• Engaging Youth
• Charitable Giving

The Columbus HTC committee’s two major thrust is business succession planning and business development. We are currently holding continuous seminars for business succession planning as well as addressing new entrepreneurers need for ease of information in education, business identification, location, and business development. We want to provide tools and training to help businesses thrive.

Our goal is to get you to start your business in Columbus Nebraska based on helpfulness and ease of starting your business and provide you with the best chance of success in the business arena!

If you do not find what you are looking for on this web site regarding help in starting and running a business, please fill free to e-mail us at chamber@megavision.com

Columbus HTC Mission Statement:

To establish a base process for the Columbus area which promotes and grows culture that facilitates growth and vitality of large and small businesses.