Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
About seven years ago, Jessica and Cody Renkoski began offering a service in Sidney and the surrounding area. The service is simple in explanation, not so much in delivery. They help keep a company's property looking presentable, so the company can do what it is in business for.
They provide the landscaping and vegetation service to keep an agency or organization looking presentable, offering services including spraying, mowing and planting.
“They've been a company here in Sidney since 2013,” Sidney Economic Development Director Melissa Norgard said in the May 12 Sidney City Council meeting.
The company grew from a small family business in 2010, according to its website, to a nationwide name. Renoski Vegetation Services (RVS) serves more than 800 customers in 21 states. Their growth from a local company in 2013 to a regionally recognized name comes with a cost — needing to invest in more staff and a bigger facility.
At the May 12 city council meeting, Norgard presented a proposal helping fund the RVS expansion with up to $500,000 in LB840 funds over a five-year period.
In the proposal, Norgard said RVS has 26 full-time employees, and are projecting growth in the next five years. She added they anticipate a 52 percent growth over 2019.
“As Renkoski Vegetation Services continues to grow and expand, there is a need to expand the operations and footprint in Sidney,” she said. The company has plans to purchase a larger building with land and a shop facility. There is an immediate need to hire 10 to 15 employees in the near term.”
The funding comes with an agreement to expand staffing and payroll by a specific amount. The Economic Development Citizen's Advisory Review Committee voted six to one in favor of funding the company. As part of the agreement, RVS is required to created 50 new jobs and increase payroll by $1.5 million over the five-year period. If during the five-year period, the company adds less than the agreed number of employees and increase in payroll, the commitment by the city will be adjusted accordingly.
Cody and Jessica Renkoski, also present in the Zoom meeting, said they had just hired an operations manager and are seeking a diesel mechanic and office help, in addition to laborers. Many of the jobs will pay $13 an hour and above, with extensive overtime.
The council approved the proposal 5-0.
Reader Comments(1)
Guy writes:
So they’re gonna give them more vacation money?? A lot of other small businesses could put that money to actual use. BNSF needs to look into how much they talk their people into padding hours, and they are as shady as everyone in town thinks.
05/29/2020, 11:13 pm