SIDNEY, NEB. (July 15, 2005) — Governor Dave Heineman visited Commercial Resins in Sidney today as part of his promotional tour to convey the many benefits that the new Nebraska Advantage package offers the rural businesses and industries that are the lifeblood of many Nebraska communities.

“Investing in our rural communities is an investment in our heritage and future,” Gov. Heineman said. “The Nebraska Advantage is one way we, at the state level, can help boost our rural economies and communities by supporting the work of a new generation of innovative rural entrepreneurs.”

A portion of the state’s new benefits package, the Rural Development Advantage, provides benefits to companies that create two new jobs and invest $125,000 in counties with fewer than 15,000 residents. This new provision, proposed by Senator Mick Mines, District 18, at the request of the Governor, also allows tele-workers to count as new employees.

“Commercial Resins Company is very glad to be here in Sidney, Neb. We are excited about the future prospects for our business in the Rocky Mountains and expect to be here a long time,” said Ron Carlson, Jr., owner. “The economic development departments of the State of Nebraska and Cheyenne County were instrumental in our being able to relocate our pipe coating plant from Oklahoma to Nebraska. We have received a good deal of support from the local community and have been fortunate to find 24 great employees. Many local contractors put in many hours to help us get the coating plant into production in record time.”

The Nebraska Advantage 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, expansion 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.

In addition to the Nebraska Rural Development Advantage, the overall Nebraska Advantage package targets a wide-ranging list of qualifying businesses and industries, and provides 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 equal to 3% for qualifying businesses conducting R&D activities; and tax credits for businesses with five or fewer employees that make up to $10,000 new investment in economically challenged areas.

Also incorporated into the structure of the Nebraska Advantage package, is the Rural Development package with the Nebraska Agriculture Innovation Advantage and Building Entrepreneurial Communities.

“Each of these components will help keep Nebraska’s economy strong through 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