Agriculture
Arts and Culture
Education
Environment Issues
Government
Hospitality
Industry
Medical
Parks and Recreation
Volunteer Spirit
Water

Agriculture

• Corn, sorghum, soybean, alfalfa production, beef and swine production (small farm and commercial operations)
• Seed production
• Organic farming
• Irrigation methods
• Genetically modified crops
• Rotational grazing
• KAPP (alternate crops)
• Husker Harvest Days (working farm show permanent site - show in September)

Arts and Humanities

• Art in the Park (July 16)
• City Singers
• Concerts in the Park (June, July, August)
• Grand Island Little Theater (Four productions each year)
• Grand Island Community Concert Association
• Prairie Winds Art Center (local artists display and conduct workshops)
• Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer (pioneer heritage, class offerings for area schools and summer school)
• Hall County Historical Society (restoration projects and events; "Voices from the Past" programs

Economic Development

• Local Economic Development Director and Board
• One Stop Workforce State Office

Education

• Central Community College (academic and vocational training in 50 programs including nursing/dental hygiene)
• Bellevue University ("fast track" bachelors program designed for nontraditional student)
• College Park (consortium of public/private colleges/universities-fiber optics/satellite technology for distant learning)
• District and Hall County Cooperative Extension Service resources
• English as a Second Language classes
• Excellent public and parochial schools
• Edith Abbott Memorial Library Baby Talk Program (encourages parents to read to babies and small children)
• Boys Town (family style living facility for children; parent training program)
• Hall County Historical Society

Environmental

• Crane Meadows (crane watching, nature and preservation studies)
• Platte Valley Whooping Crane Habitat Maintenance Trust
• National Audubon Society Rowe Sanctuary (Gibbon)
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife regional office
• Niobrara-Missouri National Scenic Riverways office (O'Neill)

Government

• Mayor, City Council, City Administrator and County Board of Supervisors
• Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center
• Nebraska State Patrol Academy
• City Police-County Sheriff joint office
• DARE program and Community Youth Council
• Heartland Vision (grass roots, long-range planning for community)
• Immigration and Naturalization Service office
• Drug Court

Hospitality

• Small-town atmosphere with city conveniences, low per diem costs
• Thirty-one church denominations
• Retail shopping area servicing 100 mile radius
• Diverse ethnic heritage (Ethnic Festival, July 28-30)

Industry

• Automotive frame straighteners (Chief Automotive)
• Ammunition production (Hornady's, 3D Ammunition)
• Beef and food processing and distribution (Swift, McCain Foods)
• Builders (Chief, Cleary)
• Factory built homes (Bonnavilla)
• Farm machinery manufacturing (New Holland)
• Fiberglass (Concept Fiberglass)
• Grain handling, drying and storage equipment (Global Industries, Chief)
• Insurance claim processing (Principal Financial)
• Light manufacturing (automotive, tool and die, interior decor-GIA, Leon Plastics, Overhead Door)
• Polyvinyl pipe (Diamond Plastics)
• Telecommunications (ITI Marketing, US West, Alltel and Nebraska Cellular)
• Trucking (terminals, repair)
• Warehouse distribution (Country General)

Medical

• St. Francis Medical Center (with chemical dependency unit; student wellness center at Senior High School; outstanding oncology center)
• Veterans Administration Medical Center
• Nursing homes including Alzheimer unit
• Retirement facilities including assisted living
• Rural clinics

Parks and Recreation

• Fonner Park (livestock expositions centers, horse racing (Feb.- May); planned expansion for a $35 million event center)
• Hall County Park
• Heritage Zoo
• Kids' Kingdom (playground built entirely by volunteers
• Island Oasis Water Park
• Soccer fields, baseball and softball complexes, tennis courts, four golf courses)

Volunteerism

• Capital campaigns (Crane Meadows, GI Little Theater, Historic Renovation, Humane Society, YWCA, United Way
• Community free clinic
• Habitat for Humanity
• H.O.S.T. program (adults helping one student at a time with language and reading skills)
• Leadership Inc. (development of local leadership talent and community commitment-adult & youth)
• Team Mates (mentoring at-risk youth)
• Volunteers/hospital (adults and youths)
• NGO's (numerous; funded by capital campaigns and volunteer hours)
• Service Organizations (18+)
• United Way

Water

• Children's Groundwater Festival (March)
• Management practices (surface/ground, state and multi-state)
• Central Platte NRD (only state in nation with natural resource with watershed boundaries)
• Irrigated agriculture (irrigation districts, pump irrigation for gravity and pivot application)