ORGANIZE
Designate a community improvement committee. An existing or new community-wide organization can serve as this committee. It is recommended that this community have a broad-base of members and if applicable to have four officers. The benefits of organizing a community-improvement committee is not only the increased communication, but also the decrease of duplication by other organizations.

SIGN UP
Submit the NCIP Entry Form and Government Resolution to the NCIP Coordinator by September 4th. These forms are necessary for participation in the program and can be found in the Awards Guide.

WAYS TO PARTICIPATE
Sustaining NCIP Community: This method is for communities who want to remain part of the NCIP family. NCIP participants submit a one-page summary of their annual improvement activities. A community may participate as a sustaining community for two years. Entrants can request a community visit to assist with their visioning and goal setting.

NCIP Special Awards Participant: Entrants may nominate up to three projects for individual special awards recognition.

NCIP Community Development Awards Participant: Entrants submit a report book on the community planning process and projects for special awards and community development awards recognition.

COMMUNITY PLANNING PROCESS
Participants are encouraged to recruit a broad base of citizen participation to vision, set goals and implement projects. Traditionally, NCIP assists communities who are in need of assistance with implementing a townhall meeting.

SUBMIT YOUR COMMUNITY'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Record your community's accomplishments in a summary of project activities, project summary write-ups or a report book and submit to the Department of Economic Development by August 31.

JUDGING
Communities submitting a report book will receive a judges visit in September or October. A separate team of judges will review special awards nominations based on project summary write-ups.

CELEBRATE
Join community volunteers at the annual Community Quest Conference in November. Receive training on leadership, community and economic development topics from top professionals and celebrate the many successes of Nebraska's communities.

 NCIP volunteers have proven there are three components to community success:

• Community Planning Process
  Proactive planning by broad-based community volunteers creates a shared community vision or blueprint for the future. Citizen participation will build consensus and support for community projects. NCIP helps communities organize, set goals, and prioritize projects.
  

• Volunteer and Leadership Development
  The most valuable resource in a community are the volunteers of all ages, occupations and backgrounds. NCIP assists with volunteer recruitment, development, training and recognition strategies.

• Community and Economic Development Accomplishments
  Completing outstanding accomplishments depends on communities' capacity to incorporate the planning process, and volunteer and leadership development into their activities. NCIP helps communities develop project action plans and identify appropriate human, material and financial resources.

Previous Award Recipients