HOLBROOK, NEB. (November 29, 2005)—GROW Nebraska has opened two holiday stores featuring Nebraska products for the discerning shopper—The Hilltop Mall in Kearney and Westfield Gateway Mall in Lincoln.

In addition to providing quality, “made in Nebraska” merchandise, the stores are a training venue for GROW members/entrepreneurs eager to gain experience in operating a retail business. By working directly with consumers, members are getting to see what sells and why.

“Our members are actually getting the opportunity to see what does and doesn’t sell, and evaluate what needs to be changed, whether it’s packaging, price or product,” said Janell Anderson Ehrke, GROW Nebraska founder and CEO.

GROW members also are networking with other entrepreneurs, and learning how to create holiday season gift baskets that appeal to specialty markets. Several members are even working together to produce combination gift baskets.

Ehrke believes that the stores are a positive step toward expanding GROW Nebraska members’ product appeal and markets. Her goal is for the two holiday stores to achieve $75,000 in product sales.

“These growth platforms mean additional jobs, or in a few cases, company survival,” Ehrke said. “Also, what better way to stimulate the state’s overall economy than to provide Nebraskans with the opportunity to buy Nebraska products.”

In 2006, GROW Nebraska plans to offer 24 hour, 7-day a week access to Nebraska products through an ecommerce site, provided the organization’s funding goals are met. Ehrke believes that this project will not only expand marketing opportunities for business members, but also become a premier program that other states will want to replicate.

GROW Nebraska products are available year-round at:

· The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, Kearney

· Celebrate Nebraska at Crane Meadows Visitor Center, Alda

· Style Plus, West Point

· Art on the Farm, Cozad

· From Nebraska Gift Show, and Every Day Elegance Boutique & Studio, Lincoln

· McConaughy’s Fine Dining, Fremont

· Old Market Sundries, JT Kandyland Express, and Star Spangled West, Omaha

· Nebraska Food & Gifts, Hastings

· 6 South Designs, Pender

· Carden Lane, York

· Cryin’ Creek Candles, Weeping Water

·Thiele Pharmacy and Gifts, Alliance.

Participating Affiliated Foods Stores also are offering special 2005 Nebraska Holiday Gift Baskets at:

·Main Street Grocery, Wausa

·Browns Thrift Store Inc., Sutton

·Crete Food Market, Crete

·Drickey’s GW Market Inc., Spencer

·Joe & Al’s South, Columbus

·Henderson’s IGA, Valentine

·Lou’s Thrifty Way Market, Norfolk

·Macke’s Grocery, Mullen

·Maline’s Super Foods, Sutherland

·Peoples Grocery, Crofton

·Petersons Supermarket Inc., Gothenburg

·Rightway Inc., Franklin

·The Grocery Kart, Broken Bow

·Ewoldt’s Grocery, Thedford

·Bruning Grocery Inc., Bruning

·Hometown Market, Pierce

·Grand Central Foods, York

·Fiesta Foods, Cozad

·Fiesta Foods, Hartley, Iowa

·Mound City Foods, Mound City, Mo.

·Bonesteel Grocery and Hardware, Bonesteel, S.D.

·Hanks Foods, Pipestone, Minn.

·Oakley’s Shurfine, Oakley Kan.

·Dan’s Food Center, Hull, Iowa.

The GROW Nebraska Gift Guide also is available online at growneb.com.

A program of Central Plains Foundation Inc., GROW Nebraska helps maximize the state’s entrepreneurial spirit and build Nebraska businesses globally by providing sustainable business environments through marketing, education, business building services, and accessing markets.

To learn more about GROW Nebraska, or Nebraska entrepreneurs and businesses, visit the GROW website at: www.grownebraska.com

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Janell Anderson Ehrke at 888-476-9632, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it