US92 hosts highlighting local businesses every week

NORFOLK - For the second week, US92 morning show hosts Jim Mackey and Jenna Witt shined a spotlight on a local business.

“We wanted to do something where we could feature different businesses in our community, in the communities of northeast Nebraska, give them some extra love and make it fun for our listeners,” Mackey said.

This week, they featured Cornhusker Auto Center.

President Al Rajaee said in his 32 years running the business, the coronavirus lockdown has been one of the toughest challenges.  He said there's an inventory shortage since manufacturers shut down for more than two months.

"So nationally, that has basically taken about roughly two-and-a-half million new vehicles out of circulation," Rajaee said.  "So the challenge now is building that inventory back up.”

Through those struggles, he said it's nice to have the radio exposure.

“It is a fun event that US92 is putting together, where they’re getting the listeners involved," Rajaee said.  "It’s about generating that community ownership and we couldn’t have done it better without the help of US 92 and that recognition that they gave us.”

That's exactly what US92 said it's going for.

“I think that something creates a lot more fun around different things is learning about what the businesses are in the community, where they came from," Witt said.  "When you get to know somebody, you’re more likely to do business with that family or business owner, whomever is out there trying to stay afloat in the COVID-19 era.”

How does Business of the Week work?  US92 gives clues about the business on Facebook throughout the week and listeners have to guess which business it is.  Those who guess correctly enter into a drawing for a prize from the featured business and a cash reward from the station.  On Fridays, Jim and Jenna go on Facebook Live and reveal who the winner is, as well as interview someone from that week's company.

“Giving a little extra love to the businesses in the community, learn about them and, hopefully through that, go out and support our local business,” Mackey said.

“To create this excitement again in this COVID-19 era also brings businesses back," Witt said.  "If you don’t having a thriving business in your community, you don’t have a community.”

Jim and Jenna said they won’t just focus on Norfolk merchants.  They’ll be hitting businesses all over northeast Nebraska.

If you would like to learn any more about the companies featured on Business of the Week, you can go on the US92 or Jim and Jenna Facebook pages.