Continuing Brown County's community legacy

For Vance Heyer, Greater Nebraska is the place to be for young people looking to chart their own path. The Ainsworth native sees unfolding opportunity in not just his hometown, but in every corner of the state. That's one reason he returned home years ago and why he works to keep Brown County a wonderful place to live.

More than two decades into the 21 ^st century, the employment landscape has changed in rural areas. For many people, jobs are no longer corralled by geographic constraints. With the expansion of high-speed internet, remote work has become a common mode of life. And when people don't have to report to an office every day, they can choose to live in places they care about.

"People are bringing their jobs with them," Heyer said. "It's a matter of where we want to call home."

Heyer lived in Lincoln while studying at UNL, then moved to Kearney for a short while for work. While he found much to like about both cities, Brown County kept calling him home.

"Living in those communities and returning to visit, it became clear to me that the small-town, neighborly environment was attractive to me," he said. "Also, there was opportunity here."

Traditional employment opportunities are also becoming more abundant in Greater Nebraska communities, Heyer said. As older generations retire and transition out of the workforce, more jobs become available for younger workers.

"That's opening the door for a lot of good employment opportunities."

Organizations like the Brown County Community Foundation Fund, an affiliated fund of Nebraska Community Foundation, are working to ensure Greater Nebraska communities remain vibrant places to live, work, and play. Heyer has been a member of the organization's fund advisory committee since 2019. The Fund has contributed to many important community projects, including the recently opened Ainsworth Child Development Center, which provides current and future residents with peace of mind that their children will receive high quality early childhood care.

Heyer's dedication to Brown County's ongoing success led him to designate BCCFF as a beneficiary on his life insurance policy, specifically the Fund's unrestricted endowment. He credited NCF's Director of Gift Planning Todd Mekelburg, along with other NCF staff members, for illustrating the power of planned giving through training events and conversations. Heyer also wanted to walk the walk when asking other community members to consider giving.

"How credible am I asking people to do that if I'm not willing to do the same?

Planned giving could have an incredible impact on Greater Nebraska, according to NCF's Transfer of Wealth Study. In Brown County alone, $272 million will transfer between generations during the next decade. Just 5% of that amounts to $14 million. Nebraska Community Foundation's Five to Thrive campaign encourages Nebraskans to consider designating just 5% of their estates to their local affiliated fund. That seemingly small amount, if endowed, could be a giant boost for community-building endeavors.

"The unrestricted endowment has the most bang for your buck, by far," Heyer said.

Since its inception in 1995, BCCFF has benefited from the dedication of countless residents eager to see their hometowns thrive. Thanks to them, the Fund's unrestricted endowment is strong enough to support big projects. Heyer plans to continue their work.

"I just want to be part of that community legacy."

For information on how you can give back to your hometown, contact Nebraska Community Foundation's Office of Planned Giving, 402.323.7330 or [email protected].