This is an RSS Feed of all the latest news from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. http://www.neded.org Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:22:09 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.neded.org/images/M_images/rss.png http://www.neded.org This is an RSS Feed of all the latest news from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. http://www.neded.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1082&Itemid=2364 MARCH 15, 2010 (HOLBROOK, NEB.)-Up your game and get your product off the sidelines and into the limelight with a 2010 GROW Nebraska Product Evaluation. The event will be help April 22 during the 2010 GROW Nebraska MarkeTech Conference that includes social media and Web site marketing sessions. Six industry Product Evaluators will be offering their expertise and marketing tips as part of the process. To meet them, go to www.grownebraska.org/producteval and click on the 2010 Product Evaluators link. "Entrepreneurs and business owners who want to market and sell products made or designed in Nebraska can gain valuable insight regarding their product's marketability, pricing and packaging. These products consistently draw the attention of purchasing agents," said GROW Nebraska CEO, Janell Anderson Ehrke. Even if you only sell retail, said Ehrke, the evaluation is highly beneficial. Recommendations include ways that products or marketing campaigns can be improved or expanded,... Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:54:16 +0100 http://www.neded.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1081&Itemid=2364 MARCH 11, 2010 (LINCOLN, NEB.)-The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has awarded $205,000 in 2009 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) third cycle funding to 12 communities with ongoing planning efforts, and $700,000 in 2009 CDBG funding to two communities for Phase II Downtown Revitalization implementation efforts. The grants are all part of Nebraska's annual allocation of CDBG funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Funds are administered by DED. The communities receiving planning grants are: Ainsworth-$30,000 to develop a main street and highway corridor plan Bridgeport-$13,500 to update its comprehensive plan and zoning ordinances Chambers-$17,600 to conduct a water system study Genoa-$15,700 to develop a comprehensive plan Geneva-$23,400 to undertake a senior center feasibility study Lindsay-$18,700 to undergo a sewer system study Mead-$18,000 to conduct a water system study Schuyler-$14,000 to design a park master plan Stanton-$24,100 to undergo a sewer system study Sutherland-$30,000 to develop a comprehensive... Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:57:51 +0100 http://www.neded.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1080&Itemid=2364 MARCH 9, 2010 (LINCOLN, NEB.)-What issues impacting Nebraska's development and economy are you most concerned about or interested in? Get all the latest information you need at one of two free 2010 briefings hosted by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED). The first will be held Thursday, April 15, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (MT) in Bridgeport at the Prairie Winds Community Center, 424 N. Main St. The second is scheduled for Thursday, December 2, in Lincoln. More details will follow. The annual briefing is geared to new economic developers and others interested in economic development programs and services. DED staff talks about components that make up the state's economic growth and development, including business and tourism attraction, existing business retention and expansion, housing, community development, and entrepreneurship. Lunch is provided by the Nebraska Public Power District. To reserve your place at the Bridgeport briefing and lunch, please register no later than April 7 with... Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:24:08 +0100 http://www.neded.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1079&Itemid=2364 POTTSTOWN, PA, March 5, 2010 - Neapco Components, a subsidiary of Neapco Holdings, LLC announced today that its manufacturing operations in Pottstown, Pennsylvania will be phased out over the next 18-24 months and consolidated into its manufacturing facility in Beatrice, Nebraska. Neapco Components will continue manufacturing in Saltillo, Mexico as well as maintain warehouses in Beatrice Nebraska, Riverside, California, Pottstown, Pennsylvania and Mississauga, Ontario. According to Executive Vice President and General Manager of Neapco Components Keith Sanford, the combining of the manufacturing operations into Beatrice allows the company to better concentrate its focus on driveline products for aftermarket and original equipment customers. "Consolidation of our manufacturing operations will allow Neapco Components to better execute our long term plan to move the company forward and ultimately will position Neapco even more competitively in the marketplace." said Sanford. "The consolidation will take place through 2011. Neapco Components will continue to offer and... Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:23:28 +0100 http://www.neded.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1078&Itemid=2364 MARCH 3, 2010 (LINCOLN, NEB.)-Bellevue, Columbus, Fremont, Grand Island, Kearney, Norfolk and North Platte have received $1,360,342 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to pursue community projects targeting neighborhoods benefitting low- and middle-income residents. These grants, made in the Community Revitalization (CR) category, are administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development from the state's annual allocation of CDBG funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The cities participated in an initial three-year Community Revitalization effort that began in 2005 with a Comprehensive Needs Assessment and Revitalization Strategy. A recent updated Strategy allowed them to extend their participation for three more years (2009-2011). Each city will provide local funds for the projects. Following are the individual awards based on 2009 CR formula recommendations: Bellevue-$245,436 to rehabilitate at least five owner-occupied homes; install a new shelter, playground equipment, lighting and signage at Thompson Park; and implement a... Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:25:28 +0100 http://www.neded.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1077&Itemid=2364 MARCH 1, 2010 (LINCOLN, NEB.)-The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has awarded $25,000 in Community Development Assistance Act (CDAA) tax credits to the Ansley Area Community Foundation. The credits will be used to construct a new fire hall that houses fire protection services for the villages of Ansley and Berywn and the surrounding Rural Fire District. To date, $65,000 of a $350,000 FY 2010 allocation of CDAA tax credits have been awarded. The Ansley Fire and Rescue Department currently provides emergency services to 1,220 people residing in an approximately 229-square mile area. The foundation of the oldest part of the facility, built in the 1960s, is sinking. As a result, overhead doors are misaligned and don't open or close properly. The department has had to choose which equipment to store in the sinking building. The building's floor and wall blocks have been repaired twice. An addition was built in 1990, however this building is not big enough to store all necessary fire and rescue... Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:30:25 +0100 http://www.neded.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1076&Itemid=2364 FEBRUARY 22, 2010 (LINCOLN, NEB.)—The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has turned administration of the Edgerton Quality Award Program over to the new nonprofit Nebraska Performance Excellence Center (NPEC). The Edgerton Quality Award Program, which recognizes Nebraska businesses for efforts in performance excellence and quality, features past recipients who are industry leaders in the manufacturing, nonprofit, service, education and health care sectors; all are committed to organizational learning, performance excellence and sharing best practices. “We’re delighted that the Edgerton Award program will continue to recognize and serve our state’s cutting-edge and innovative industries,” said Richard Baier, DED director. NPEC provides access to low cost performance improvement education and services, encouraging Nebraska businesses and organizations to examine existing business practices, support innovation and continuous improvement, and honor performance excellence and quality achievements. The Center also uses the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence to advance Nebraska businesses’ organizational excellence and competitiveness. “The Performance Excellence... Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:08:50 +0100 http://www.neded.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1075&Itemid=2364 FEBRUARY 19, 2010 (LINCOLN, NEB.)—The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has awarded $25,000 in Community Development Assistance Act (CDAA) tax credits to the Seward County Court Appointed Specialty Advocates (CASA) program. The credits will be used to renovate a building into a nonprofit incubator that houses the CASA program and other nonprofit organizations. To date, $40,000 of a $350,000 FY 2010 allocation of CDAA tax credits have been awarded. Seward CASA advocates for abused and neglected children through the court system. The program is an extension of a Seattle, Wash. program where a judge, concerned about making rulings about the lives of abused and neglected children without having sufficient information, conceived a program of community volunteers trained to advocate for their rights. In 1990, the U.S. Congress expanded the CASA concept by passing the Victims of Child Abuse Act. Today, there are more than 900 CASA programs with 70,000... Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:39:12 +0100 http://www.neded.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1074&Itemid=2364 (La Vista, Neb.) Gov. Dave Heineman, state and local representatives and other special guests joined Yahoo! executives to celebrate the opening of Yahoo!’s new data center facility today in LaVista. Yahoo! representatives taking part in the ribbon-cutting included Jerry Yang, co-founder and chief Yahoo!, David Dibble, executive vice president of service engineering and operations, and Scott Noteboom, director of data center engineering operations. State Attorney General Jon Bruning, U.S Rep. Lee Terry and LaVista Mayor Doug Kindig participated in the event, along with representatives of the team involved in recruiting Yahoo! to Nebraska last year. Organizations included: the Nebraska Departments of Economic Development and Revenue, the Greater Omaha Area Chamber of Commerce, Omaha Public Power District, the Sarpy County Board, and Sarpy County Economic Development Corporation. “I want to congratulate the team that helped recruit this project to our state,” Gov. Heineman said. “Your work made all the difference. We... Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:55:02 +0100 http://www.neded.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1073&Itemid=2364 FEBRUARY 9, 2010 (LINCOLN, NEB.)—How equipped are you to develop and engage in an effective community planning process? For that matter, what are you doing to recruit or retain volunteers in your town? To find out, plan to attend a regional training on these and more topics in February and March in a city close to you. Nebraska Community Improvement Program’s (NCIP) Regional Nomination Training will be offered in six cities, February 23-March 10. Find the one most convenient for you and sign up now. The training will examine the 2010 NCIP nomination process, provide how-to nominating tips, and talk about the 2010 NCIP Awards Guide. The workshop will also provide information on the website nomination submission for the Governor’s Community Spirit Award. Workshops on planning and volunteer recruitment & retention will offer concrete steps for preparing communities for future economic growth and development. Community organizations new to NCIP also will... Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:13:53 +0100