KILGORE, Neb. - A new outdoor furniture manufacturing business could soon be coming to Cherry County. Outback Sales LLC has applied for a conditional use permit to build a shop south of Kilgore, near the Niobrara River, in the newly established Amish community.

Business owner Harvey Kuhns presented his plans to the Cherry County Planning and Zoning Board on Tuesday, sharing his vision for the project.

“We recently moved here from Iowa. I have eight children with the oldest being 20. I would like to open up a shop and be able to have a place for our family to work,” said Kuhns.

The business would primarily focus on selling furniture to wholesalers, but Kuhns expressed interest in working with a local retailer as well.

“At this point not all the pieces of the puzzle are in place. We hope to have some sort of retail opportunity in Valentine, but we haven’t made any contacts. If someone wants to sell for us in Valentine, please contact us,” said Kuhns.

Planning and Zoning board members had one concern - delivering supplies across the current bridge, the Anderson Bridge. However, the Amish community is in the process of building another bridge, which Kuhns thinks will be operational before he starts work on his 64’ x 96’ shop and an additional 32’ x 40’ office space. Kuhns said the new bridge is going to be delivered in February, with work starting as soon as the weather allows.

Following Tuesday’s discussion, the Cherry County Planning and Zoning Board recommended that Kuhns’ conditional use permit be approved. The proposal will now go before the county commissioners for final approval.