GOTHENBURG, NEB. (July 14, 2005) - Gov. Dave Heineman was at Frito-Lay Inc., in Gothenburg today to convey the many benefits that the new Nebraska Advantage package offers business and industry. Rural cooperatives, groups and associations get another opportunity to apply for grants through the Nebraska Agriculture Innovation Advantage as part of the new generation of benefits under the jobs creation package that the Governor recently signed.

“Agriculture remains Nebraska’s most important industry, and innovation is key to continued growth in the agricultural sector,” Gov. Heineman said. “Frito-Lay here in Gothenburg is representative of the innovation and growth that the Nebraska Advantage rewards.”

"Corn for the Gothenburg facility is grown under contract with 140 producers in an eight-county area stretching from Minden to North Platte and Eustis to Callaway," said Pat Trotter, senior group manager of Corn Operations, Frito-Lay North America. "This year we will ship more than 600 million pounds of Nebraska corn from this facility. That corn will be used to produce some of America's leading snacks--Doritos, Fritos and Tostitos. Literally, any time you purchase one of our corn-based snacks west of the Mississippi River, you can be almost certain, they started right here in Nebraska, right here in Gothenburg."

More specifically, the Nebraska Agriculture Innovation Advantage, introduced by Sen. Elaine Stuhr, District 24, reauthorizes a value-added grant program, within the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, to provide grants of as much as $75,000 to cooperatives, groups or associations to offset the costs of research, educational training and market development for value-added products sold by agricultural producers. It also increases funding for ethanol.

“Any time we can support businesses that produce value-added products and help economic development in rural areas, we’re supporting the entire state,” said Keith Olsen, president of Nebraska Farm Bureau.

The Nebraska Advantage package was designed to create a business climate that makes Nebraska the preferred location for starting or growing a business. The long-term goals of the package are to promote growth of existing companies through job retention and new capital investments; increase the number of successful new business ventures in the state; foster the commercialization of new products and ideas; and recognize the different needs of Nebraska's diverse industries.

The overall Nebraska Advantage package targets a wide-ranging list of businesses and industries, including sales tax exemptions for designated manufacturing machinery, equipment and related services.

Gov. Heineman also signed into law $15 million for job training, providing a flexible, discretionary custom job training program to help ensure that the state’s workforce is prepared for advances in rapidly changing industries.

The Nebraska Advantage Act also provides tax credits for businesses with five or fewer employees that make up to $10,000 new investment in economically challenged areas; a separate tier for qualified businesses (non-retail/local service businesses) with refundable tax incentives for projects that create two new jobs and invest $125,000 in counties with fewer than 15,000 residents; and the classification of tele-workers as new employees.

“Each of these components will help keep Nebraska’s economy strong through a greater investment in businesses of all sizes, and in the workforce of tomorrow,” Gov. Heineman said.

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development administers the Nebraska Advantage package.

For more info contact:

Richard Baier, 402-471-3747