UpTown Image brings boutique experience to small town

Wells credits E3 for securing funding
DALTON -- Near the center of town, across from the market, is a recently finished building that is home to UpTown Image.
UpTown Image is a salon, and more, offering men's and womens hair cuts and styles, and an assortment of womens tops and accessories.
Kayla Wells is a hometown girl, having grown up in the Dalton area. When asked why she opened a store in Dalton, her answer was easy: "Why not?"
She first opened the salon in 2014 when she was 21. She said it worked well when she was young, but something needed done with the old building.
She said community support is what keeps her open.
"I kind of got a corner on the market here in Dalton. I grew up in Dalton, and when I went to hair school 12 years ago my goal was always to own a salon in Dalton," Wells said.
Wells focuses UpTown Image on what she is best at: hair and hair treatments.
"I pretty much just do hair services so color, cut, perm, men's cuts. We have a tanning bed. I don't do nails," she said.
In addition to all things hair style, she has added shirts and accessories.
"Well, I don't really remember what really sparked me to do that. I've been doing that for almost five years. That's an add-on to the business. It's just kind of a fun way to stay busy when I'm slow behind the chair," she said.
She said she wants to work with Shirt Tales to provide Leyton Schools and Nebraska Husker apparel as well.
Her hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
She said funding for the business would not have happened without the assistance of E3 and E3 Navigator Alisha Juelfs.
"I would like to put out there and thank the E3 committee in Sidney. They support entrepreneurs. They were able to turn me on to a grant and I actually received that grant, which helped with the build of this building. So, that was huge," Wells said.
In October 2021, E3 -- Energizing Entrepreneurial Ecosystems -- was introduced as a three-year community-building experience to support entrepreneurial ecosystems in Valley County, Holt County, Keith County, Sidney, Red Cloud and McCook through extensive training, education and peer learning opportunities. The last visit took place in Red Cloud earlier this year. The community visits are opportunities for business and community leaders of E3 communities to share what is working, and where the challenges are.
Sidney and Cheyenne County E3 paid positions are grant-funded. E3 leaders have said they want to develop a program for E3 to continue.