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One call started it all: How Kaufman Trailer came to Beaver City
by Gene O. Morris
The Rev. Wesley Russell did what we all need to do. He had an idea, he followed through with it, and now Beaver City is better off — and will be for many years to come.
Like everyone who lives in a small town, Pastor Russell was aware of his community's need for jobs. He had heard about the work of the Beaver City Economic Development Board and the efforts of the town council, and he was eager to help in any way he could.
His chance came in 2004. While visiting with a fellow pastor, the Rev. Derald Hunt of Colorado Springs, Pastor Russell learned that one of Pastor Hunt's classmates had gone into the trailer manufacturing business. The business was successful and had grown to the point that the owner wanted to establish a trailer production facility to serve the western half of the United States.
Pastor Russell knew his community was small and off the beaten path, but he also knew the high quality of the people living there, so after alerting the town council and economic board, he placed a very important call.
A call that changes everything.
Rev. Russell called Robb Kaufman, the owner of Kaufman Trailers. The men had met briefly in the past, but it had been many years before and their careers had taken them in different directions. After a few minutes of small talk, Rev. Russell made his suggestion: how about Beaver City? Yes is was small, yes it was off the beaten path, but the quality of people living in the area have the work ethic to make an enterprise successful.
Kaufman was intrigued by Pastor Russell's suggestion, and after some time and a series of phone calls, a visit to Beaver City was arranged.
The State of Nebraska and the Town of Beaver City laid out the red carpet. Accompanied by his son, Caleb, and the company president, Tim Carter, Robb Kaufman flew into Lincoln where the Kaufman delegation was met by Gov. Dave Heineman, Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy and the leading officers of the Nebraska Economic Development office.
From there it was on to Beaver City, where the Kaufman group was greeted by Pastor Russell and the town's economic board, including the mayor, Ken Becker; the bank president, Meredith Williams; the newspaper editor, Doug Garey; and Steve Forbes, who at the time was co-manager of the town's super market.
Kaufman bonds with Beaver City.
The town and the company immediately bonded. The wheels were in motion. Both the town and the state gave the project their backing, and by late summer of 2005 the project was ready to roll. Work quickly progressed, and the Kaufman Trailer plant in Beaver City opened in January of 2006.
It helped that the town had an economic development site ready and waiting. The 17-acre site, on the north side of Beaver City, has since been purchased by Kaufman and is now the site of Kaufman's original 23,220-foot building, plus a new 48,800 enclosure which will be used for steel storage, stacking bays and future expansion.
Last month, while he was in Beaver City for a tour of the Kaufman operation, Lt. Gov. Sheehy pointed to the Kaufman-Beaver City story as a model for economic development in this state and region.
An inspiration to small towns.
"We hold Kaufman Trailers up as a billboard of what can happen in Nebraska." Lt. Gov. Sheehy said. "Kaufman Trailers has already made a significant contribution to the economy of Nebraska and the Beaver City area and continues to be a manufacturing leader. During these tough economic times, Kaufman Trailers has made a strategic decision to expand, knowing that our nation will come out of this recession and that their company will be much better poised to excel in the future."
It's a story which should be an inspiration to small towns all across America. And, remember, it all started with one person making a phone call.
"It has been a humbling experience," Pastor Russell says. "I'm so grateful and inspired by how our town and our state responded to this opportunity."
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