LINCOLN, NEB. (September 23, 2009)—Judges for the Nebraska Community Improvement Program (NCIP) will be visiting communities and counties during the first two weeks of October to evaluate communities that have submitted NCIP entries on the progress made in community and economic development throughout the past year.     
     
Each community or county has a maximum two hours in which to present its community and economic development projects in a way that strongly impresses the judging teams.  NCIP participants are evaluated on the Community Development Process, Volunteer and Leadership Development, and Community and Economic Development.  Communities provide judges with written information, and host special presentations and community tours.
     
Judging for Special Awards Projects is being conducted throughout September.  The judges will determine first place winners for each population class in the categories of Volunteer and Leadership Development; Youth Involvement and Leadership Development; Technology, Infrastructure and Planning; Community Services; Parks, Recreation and Environmental Awareness; Arts and Humanities and Cultural Experiences; Business Assistance and Development; Workforce Development; and Tourism Promotion and Development.
    
Communities to be visited and the judging dates and times are:

Week 1—October 4-9
Class I: (1-500 population)
Steinauer (74 pop.), Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-Noon CST
Alexandria (185 pop.), Oct. 5, 3:30-5:30 p.m. CST
Farnam (227 pop.), Oct. 6, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. CST

Class II: (501-1,700 population)
Pawnee City (1,033 pop.), Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-Noon CST
Franklin (1,026 pop.), Oct. 5, 5-7 p.m. CST
Bassett (638 pop.), Oct. 6, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. CST

Week 2—October 12-16
Class III: (1,701-5,000 population)
Wahoo (3,942 pop.), Oct. 12, 9-11 a.m. CST
Gothenburg (3,619 pop.), Oct. 12, 3:30-5:30 p.m. CST
Imperial (1,982 pop.), Oct. 13, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MT
Ainsworth (1,862 pop.), Oct. 14, 9-11 a.m. CST

Class IV: (5,001-plus population)
Alliance (8,959 pop.), Oct. 12, 4-6 p.m. MT
Seward (6,427 pop.), Oct. 13, 2-4 p.m. CST
Nebraska City (7,228 pop.), Oct. 14, 9:30-11:30 a.m. CST

Class V: (Multi-Community/County/Regional)
Pawnee County, Oct. 16, 9:30-11:30 a.m. CST
Seward County, Oct. 16, 2:30-4:30 p.m. CST

Outstanding communities and projects will be recognized with plaques and cash awards at the Annual NCIP Recognition Day Banquet, November 6 in Kearney.  The banquet will cap the “Leading Through Innovation” Governor’s Conference on Rural Development, held earlier that day.

The plaques and cash awards for NCIP are provided by investor-owned natural gas and telephone companies: Glenwood Telephone, SourceGas, Northwestern Energy, Northern Natural Gas, and Black Hills Corporation.

For more information, contact:
Christina Bartels, NCIP coordinator, at 800-426-6505, 402-471-6587, or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit www.neded.org.
Patty Wood at 800-426-6505, 402-471-1559, or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it