Melissa Dush serves as the Executive Director of Sherman County Economic Development and President of the Sherman County Sprouts Early Childhood Initiative. In July 2024, under her leadership, the Sherman County Sprouts Child Development Center opened in Loup City, creating 30 new high-quality child care slots for children ages 0–5—significantly expanding early childhood resources in the community.  As an Economic Development Director, Melissa supports area businesses by connecting them with resources, drives efforts to expand local housing opportunities, and promotes tourism to strengthen the region’s economy and community identity. 

Melissa holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Family Studies and Early Childhood Development from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She continued her education at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, earning a Graduate Specialization Certificate in Youth Development Programming in 2015. Her background in child and youth development, paired with her dedication to rural community growth, drives her work in creating sustainable and impactful initiatives throughout Sherman County.  She is also the proud mom of a 4-year-old daughter, 2-year-old son, and 1-month-old daughter—an experience that deepens her passion for strengthening support systems for families and young children.