Eleven students from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Community and Regional Planning program spent the fall semester transforming classroom concepts into real-world impact by creating an economic development plan for the people of Elmwood. The collaborative initiative aims to chart a community-driven roadmap for economic growth while preserving Elmwood’s unique character.
Under the guidance of Zhenghong Tang, professor of community and regional planning within the College of Architecture, students worked closely with residents to ensure the plan reflected local priorities.
“Our Community and Regional Planning students in the planning studio class contributed to every part of the planning process for Elmwood’s development plan,” Tang said.
The process began in September with a walking tour and listening session, where students learned about Elmwood’s strengths, challenges and aspirations. To deepen community input, the students designed a 12-question survey that garnered responses from more than half of Elmwood’s residents — a level of engagement that became the foundation for the plan.
Community members shared with students they believed their biggest asset for economic development was the small-town character and public facilities such as parks, the community center and the school. They also shared concerns such as declining downtown activity and limited job opportunities.
“We’re very thankful for the strong support from the village board, local residents, community members and Cass County Nebraska Economic Development Council,” Tang said. “This project gave our students real hands-on experience and shows how the university and local communities can team up to strengthen Nebraska’s small towns.”
In mid-November, students presented a draft of their plan during an interactive open house at the Elmwood Learning Center. About 35 community members explored poster stations highlighting different sections of the plan, asked questions and shared feedback. Poster stations on downtown infrastructure and downtown boundary map updates captured the most attention.
Residents also explored creating matching façades for buildings along Highway 1, gave input on preferred signage for the community and explored zoning updates to enhance the parks and trails system within the village.
Over the course of the evening, students gained valuable experience for their future careers as they fielded questions and shared their perspectives on opportunities for growth.
“I’m excited to see people collaborating,” said BJ Burrows, a local business owner. “I’m especially looking forward to seeing improvements and renewed efforts to re-establish our business district.”
Feedback from the open house was collected through conversations, comment cards and stickers on poster boards. Comments will guide the final version of the plan. Proposed ideas — such as creating more downtown apartments above Highway 1 businesses and developing a coffee house cooperative — sparked positive responses, while others will be re-evaluated based on community input.
The final report will provide actionable strategies and resources to help Elmwood pursue grants and implement projects that align with its vision for growth.
To learn more about the project or to explore how to partner with the Community and Regional Planning Program for a community project, contact Yunwoo Nam, the program's director, at ynam2@unl.edu.
