2 UNL Students Intern At Neligh Economic Development Office

University of Nebraska-Lincoln students Rhiannon Cobb and Michayla Goedeken are interning at the Neligh Economic Development Office this summer through Rural Futures Institute at the University of Nebraska.

Cobb is from Omaha and is majoring in political science and global studies, while Goedeken is from Humphrey and is majoring in integrated sciences.

Goedeken said she sees the summer as a chance to expand her knowledge on different cultures and functions of small towns.

“I think this is a great opportunity because I’m from northeast Nebraska. I already kind of know the vibe and how these small towns operate,” Goedeken said. “But, it’s interesting to see how the culture is different from just an hour down the road.”

According to Cobb, she has been back and forth in Washington, D.C., for various internships and wants to build her education from the ground roots of rural Nebraska to help it have a strong international market.

“I love this opportunity because it gives me a really good area to be a little more comfortable because I’m still close to home,” Cobb said. “But, it gives me that kind of feeling of what happens in rural communities and what do rural communities need in assessing that.”

Throughout the summer, Goedeken and Cobb will focus their studies on Neligh, Antelope County and the greater northeast Nebraska region. In these examinations, Cobb and Goedeken will create a regional mapping report to form projects within Neligh’s strategic planning process.

Examinations will include demographics, strategic planning assessments, economic trends, infrastructure reports, geography and technology identifications.

Additionally, the two interns will gain experience with social media by composing content covering community activities and promoting business opportunities in Neligh and Antelope County. Information from studies and posts will be placed in templates for use in future marketing materials.