By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
MCCOOK – Growing up on a farm outside Indianola, Amanda Engell was surrounded by the values of small-town Nebraska – where neighbors know each other by name, Friday nights revolve around school events and 4-H ribbons hang proudly on bedroom walls.
She loved that life, but like many young people, she envisioned a future somewhere else. College, a career in interior design and maybe even big-city living were on her horizon. What she didn’t expect was that those experiences would eventually bring her right back to southwest Nebraska – and that she’d return with the tools to help shape her community’s future.
Now 29, Engell serves as director of housing development for the McCook Economic Development Corp., where she’s addressing one of the community’s most pressing needs: creating more homes for families who want to put down roots in the area.
Finding her place at UNK
After graduating from McCook Senior High – located about 10 miles from her hometown – Engell followed her older sister Emily’s footsteps to the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where she majored in interior design with a minor in construction management.
“It was the smart move,” she said. “It made financial sense, and it wasn’t far from home. I was already familiar with UNK and Kearney, and when I toured the interior and product design department, I really liked the professors who were there.”
At UNK, Engell immersed herself in campus life. She joined the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, helped launch the Lopers for Sustainability organization and was active within the interior and product design program.
Alongside her classes, she interned with Wilkins ADP, an architecture and design firm in Kearney, and Artistic Cabinetry, a local business that specializes in custom kitchens and baths. Her favorite part of the UNK program was the emphasis on networking and learning from professionals in the field.
“I think that’s a big strength,” she said. “This allows students to not only gain some real-world perspective but also build valuable relationships. It makes them more comfortable in a professional setting and encourages them to think about things they might not encounter in the classroom.”
Those experiences gave her a strong foundation for her career and continue to shape the way she approaches her work today. Engell remains involved with the interior and product design program, providing mentorship for students and professional feedback on their projects.
“I know that was beneficial for me, so it’s something I want to pass on to them,” she said. “Plus, it’s really fun to see what they’re working on.”
Engell graduated with honors in 2019, then transitioned into a full-time position with Artistic Cabinetry. Since her now-husband Will also grew up in the McCook area, the couple decided to make their first home in the community.
“I honestly had no intention of moving back,” she said with a smile. “I just didn’t think there would be career opportunities for me in this area. It’s something I never really considered. But I’m happy to be back.”
A new direction
Engell continued in her position with Artistic Cabinetry for another three years, either commuting to locations in Kearney and Johnson Lake or working remotely. Her professional promise was recognized in 2022, when the National Kitchen and Bath Association named her one of 30 designers in the U.S. and Canada under the age of 30.
Then her career took an unexpected turn.
“When I moved back, my husband and I lived in a really small house in McCook,” she explained. “It was a great house, but I wanted something different, and it was so hard to find a home that fit our needs and our price range.”
More than half the homes in McCook were built before 1960, according to Engell, and very few newer builds were hitting the market.
That realization sparked conversations with board members at the McCook Economic Development Corp. who were already discussing the same issue. They planned to create a new position focusing solely on housing development – and they wanted Engell to apply.
She accepted the role in July 2022, leaving her design career for what she describes as a leap of faith.
“It was a difficult decision, because the job didn’t seem to align with my degree,” she admitted. “But I think it’s a great example of how what you learn is transferrable in ways you probably didn’t envision.”
Building momentum
In just a few years, Engell has overseen housing projects that are changing McCook’s landscape.
The Economic Development Corp. was awarded a $700,000 grant through the state’s Rural Workforce Housing Fund that was bolstered with $350,000 in matching funds. That money is available to developers as low-interest financing to spur construction.
The nonprofit also invested about $1 million in infrastructure for a new subdivision that could eventually include up to 30 homes. Five have been built and sold so far, and construction will start soon on three more.
“Thirty homes for a community our size is huge,” Engell said. “That’s pretty impactful for our community.”
On top of that, the project is serving as a catalyst for private development, with more contractors now interested in building there.
“I think we’re putting McCook on the map,” Engell said. “People are noticing what we’re doing, and they see the potential for growth in western Nebraska.”
Although her role now focuses heavily on development, Engell still relies on the skills she gained at UNK. She regularly helps select products for new builds – flooring, siding, paint, shingles, countertops and cabinetry – saving money while ensuring projects maintain a cohesive design. Her construction management training is equally valuable since she oversees projects alongside contractors, visiting job sites almost daily to ensure the work is proceeding as planned.
The McCook Economic Development Corp. also co-manages two low-income housing projects in town.
“I enjoy this job because it truly benefits our community and the people who live here,” Engell said. “I get to help them achieve their dream of homeownership.”
Rediscovering her home
Now a mother of two boys, ages 2 and 7 months, Engell sees the region with fresh eyes. She points to the strong health care system, community college, local businesses and overall sense of safety and belonging as selling points.
“There are a lot of reasons to love living here,” she said. “Now that I have children, I see more of those benefits.”
It’s a slower pace of life, but one filled with community events, youth activities and close-knit relationships – the same qualities that made her childhood special.
“For me, I look at it from the perspective of I’m helping shape what McCook can be for when my children are adults or when my grandchildren are adults, so I think that’s really special. And I think that’s what it takes to keep rural Nebraska alive – people who are willing to invest in their community and keep pushing forward.”
