Nex-Tech
LENORA - Nex-Tech has made a $100,000 loan to support the effort of 1872 Restaurant and Events to open an Italian restaurant and offer other entertainment services to the people of Stockton, and the surrounding area.
The loan was made possible through the Nex-Tech Revolving Loan Fund, which provides funds to eligible local businesses to create employment and contribute to sustaining the local economy. The loan is a testament to our commitment to making life better for the customers and communities we serve.
The new restaurant and events center located at 323 Main St., Stockton, will provide an additional food option for the community and contribute to enhancing the quality of life in Stockton and the region.
1872 Restaurant is currently open to the public and offers dine-in and carryout options, plus other specials.
Speaking of the loan, CEO of Nex-Tech, Jimmy Todd, said, “We are happy to be able to go beyond providing world-class fiber broadband to our communities, to also providing financial resources for a local business”.
The restaurant project entailed the restoration of downtown Stockton’s most historic properties and brought together Rooks County Economic Development, the City of Stockton, and the Kansas Department of Commerce.
Named after the year the town was founded, 1872 blends small-town charm with made-from-scratch Italian and American cuisine to create a dining experience that honors both heritage and hospitality.
1872 Restaurant and Events is the brainchild of longtime Stockton resident Kenneth Walker, who said, “The support from Nex-Tech and Rooks County Economic Development has been incredible. Together, we are restoring not just a building, but a sense of momentum for Stockton’s future.”
Rooks County Economic Development Director, Roger Hrabe, worked with Kenneth to bring the restaurant to fruition. Roger said, “we are excited to be a part of the 1872 Italian restaurant project in Stockton and thankful to Nex-Tech for their partnership in getting this new business venture underway. We look forward to welcoming everyone to this unique restaurant.”
“Nex-Tech is always looking out for businesses and entrepreneurs wanting to start or grow their businesses within our service area in northwest and central Kansas. We currently have over a million dollars in our revolving loan fund and want to get these to our local businesses who need them,” said Friday Otuya, Nex-Tech's Community Engagement Specialist.
Interested businesses should contact our Community Engagement desk via [email protected].
Nex-Tech is a participant in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program (REDLG) through which it has supported many rural projects and business initiatives, created jobs across the region, and contributed to a sustainable local economy.
So far, the company has loaned out over ten million dollars, and this investment has created nearly 300 jobs across the region.
Projects funded include a medical facility, a housing project, a local plumbing business, a motel business, hospitals and health centers, restaurants, a welding shop, county and city governments, a senior center, construction companies, an energy exploration firm, a fiber processing facility, an auto repair shop, and more.
For more information about the Nex-Tech Revolving Loan Fund, visit: https://www.nex-tech.com/about/economic-development/community-loans-grants/.