BEATRICE – A business organization that represents downtown Beatrice retailers has a new director.

Virginia Gifford, a native of Lakeville, Minnesota….has been hired to be the new Executive Director for Main Street Beatrice.  The organization is affiliated with the National Main Street Organization.

Gifford was formerly an economic developer serving Furnas and Harlan Counties in south-central Nebraska.

She attended Monday night’s Beatrice City Council meeting.