Ord is a pro at showcasing outstanding projects

LINCOLN, NEB. (April 12, 2006)—Ord (pop. 2,481) knows what it takes to become a Showcase Community. The city was named Honorary Showcase Community in 2003, followed by the top honor, Showcase Community, in 2005.

What’s Ord’s secret formula? Not unlike the Energizer Bunny®, it simply “keeps going...and going...and going.” In 2005, a laundry list of more than 20 projects earned Ord Showcase honors. Since then, that list has grown to include:

• Recruitment of a 50 million gallon ethanol plant, Val-E Ethanol, LLC, that is expected to be fully operational in spring 2007 and create 35 jobs.

• Pursuit of a downtown renovation project using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.

• Announcement of an $8 million expansion at Valley County Hospital.

• Designation as the state’s first Certified Economic Development Community

• Featured in the New York Times, USA Today, Omaha World-Herald, and W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s 2005 Annual Report for its progressive approach to economic development.

• Development of a housing program to remove dilapidated housing and construct hew housing on the cleared lots.

The Showcase Community Designation honors one community per year in conjunction with observance of Community Development (CD) Week. It recognizes those communities that have demonstrated exceptional capacity during the past five to 10 years to identify development goals and strategies, combine local, state and federal resources to achieve those goals, and accomplish major projects that positively impact the community.

Governor Dave Heineman will officially proclaim CD Week in Nebraska, designate the 2006 Showcase Community, and present awards from the cities of Lincoln and Omaha on April 17.

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
For more information about the 2006 CD Week, or CDBG program, contact Jerod Trouba at 800-426-6505, or email: ncip1. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it