Trae Miller hopes to pave way for other young professionals
It took Trae Miller and his wife Allie four years to bring their family home.
“We started trying to come back in 2009, and it took until 2015 to find a job that paid what we needed,” Miller said.
That job is as executive director of the Logan County Economic Development Corp., a position he’s held since February 2015.
Miller exudes a sense of relaxed impatience; he slumps into an easy chair for an interview, but fidgets the entire time, anxious to get on with the next task. When asked what his vision is for Logan County, his eyes light up.
“My goal is enabling people like me to come back to this community,” he said. “We decided we wanted to come in 2009, and it took us until 2015 to do it.”
In a January 2015 Journal-advocate article about his appointment, Miller said he felt there were other young professionals in similar situations. He said he would like to see career opportunities in Logan County for them, adding that the loss of the “intellectual property” these young people represent hurts the local economy.
Miller is a fifth-generation native of northeast Colorado, having grown up on the family farm near Atwood. A 2005 graduate of Merino High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing from Colorado State University. Before returning to Sterling, Miller worked as an ingredients buyer for a feed company.
He describes his work as “the hardest job I’ve ever had,” and said there are many factors that go into any economic development success.
“There are a lot of exciting projects in the works throughout the community right now, including retail, food related, and industrial,” Miller said. “LCEDC worked on a few grant initiatives that included the Community Business Preservation Grant from the state and we found out on March 21 that we were selected and will be able to support four business applicant partners with funding.”
Miller sees his task not just as a way to start or bring in new businesses, but to create opportunities. Entrepreneurs are everywhere, and they usually need only the opportunity to take root and grow, and they can thrive. To that end, two of Miller’s favorite projects, The Annex at Fourth and Ash streets, and the Northeast Colorado Entrepreneur Pitch competition.
The Annex is the converted Logan County Courthouse Annex, which once housed county courts, sheriff’s office and the jail. After sitting empty for decades, Miller spearheaded the effort to convert the main floor and jail into a co-working environment. Several small businesses now rent office space there. A large workroom and a separate conference room also are available, and see frequent use for those who don’t have their own offices. The entire facility is wired for free wi-fi connectivity, as well.
“The facility is a sign of success for me in that it is something tangible,” he said. “But I don’t get anything done without everybody else’s support and participation.”
A year ago Miller created the Northeast Colorado Entrepreneur Pitch competition and invited business-minded people from the area to bring their big ideas to a panel of judges. Tanya Flemister of Yuma won the $17,500 first prize. She has since grown her SWAY Headbands business and launched a dazzling new website with professional models showing off the headbands.
Miller said the 2024 competition is accepting applications and the finals will be held May 23rd at NJC.
“This year we are focusing on early stage businesses or business ideas and including a separate youth category,” he said.
Miller said he frequently hears that certain types of retail stores would help attract Front Range Coloradans to rural areas. Asked whether there are any possibilities in the offing, he shrugged and smiled.
“We’re working on it,” he said. “We’re always working on it.”