Vision
Moving toward excellence by evaluating and improving the quality of life in our community: McCook on the MOVE.
Mission
Enhancing the quality of life for our residents by collaborating to focus on education, family, economic vitality and health.
Values
MOMENTUM
We are working together to encourage communication between organizations in McCook to foster teamwork and move forward on similar initiatives and goals.
OPPORTUNITIES
We are creating the space for transition among leaders and using our assets to meet current needs, while ensuring that adequate resources are available for entrepreneurs and future generations.
VISIONARY
We value the input and ideas of each resident, organization and consumer in our region and are determined to give each person a voice in community improvement.
EXCELLENCE
We are constantly seeking ways to identify areas for improvement in order to provide the highest quality of life for our residents, jobs for the region and retail for consumers.
ABOUT COMMUNITIES OF EXCELLENCE 2026
Communities of Excellence 2026 (COE 2026) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that hosts a national learning collaborative of communities across the country, trains communities in the Baldrige-based Communities of Excellence Framework, and provides opportunities for communities to work together, share successes, challenges, ideas and best practices, and learn from each other on their performance excellence journey.
See below to learn more about the National Learning Collaborative: A Systematic Approach to Excellence in Communities: Using a Baldrige-based Framework to Lead Transformation.
Pillars - COMMUNITIES OF EXCELLENCE
HEALTH
Projects
Wellness McCook Initiative - pool, sports complex, pickleball courts
FAMILY
Projects
Story Walk, support and promote transportation services
ECONOMIC
VITALITY
Projects
Rural workforce housing, North Point Subdivision
EDUCATION
Projects
MCC East Campus, educational opportunities for students
Benefits of Joining
Fostering Community Connections and Advancement.
We function as an inclusive and impartial hub, free from competition, partisanship, and redundancy. Our purpose is to celebrate and amplify the positive initiatives underway in McCook, while assisting those with the capability and willingness to address any unmet needs.
Our mission involves bolstering intentional excellence in performance that transcends traditional geographical, sectoral, and industrial boundaries, enabling collective impact beyond the reach of any single organization, entity, or community. By following the vision of Communities of Excellence, we hope to serve our unique community's needs with one vision.
Testimonials
“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they have the heart.” – Elizabeth Andrew
I have found my involvement with Communities of Excellence very enriching. I was able to develop relationships with a wide variety of community leaders in a short period of time and advocate for the community more effectively. Being able to adequately combine all the enhancements happening across our many organizations into one cohesive community message has been a fruitful endeavor.
-Jacob Rissler
Director of Institutional Advancement, Mid-Plains Community College
The McCook Communities of Excellence initiative has been a valuable eye opener for me. The COE framework can be applied in many ways around community development, healthcare, education, residents and so much more. It has been a great way for the community to foster excellence, collaborate with various groups, and look at ways we can make significant improvements within the community to enhance the overall well-being and quality of life in McCook.
-Charlie McPherson
Executive Director
McCook Economic Development Corp.
McCook Community Foundation Fund is proud to be part of the Communities of Excellence because it will help move McCook forward. No one from the outside can fix our community for us. It is up to each and every one of us to work together and make a difference. And perhaps even more importantly, we can experience pride by contributing to something greater than ourselves...making McCook an even better place to call home.