LINCOLN (September 18, 2007)—There are no Paula’s, Randy’s or Simon’s among them, but make no mistake—the community development professionals and volunteer judges who will take to the highways, September 24-October 4, benefit from their own form of ‘star treatment’ when judging Nebraska Community Improvement Program (NCIP) Award entrants. This year’s teams of Linda, Carla, Arlene, Jerry, Carolyn, Alicia, Judy, Deb, Kathy and Kim, will visit 17 communities and two counties to judge entrants. A total of 57 communities and counties have joined the 2007 NCIP.  

With just two hours, each community or county is challenged to present their community and economic development projects to a two-member judging team in a way that leaves long-lasting impressions.  NCIP participants are evaluated on the Community Development Process, Volunteer and Leadership Development, and Community and Economic Development.  Communities provide judges with written information, and host special presentations and community tours.

“I was impressed by everyone’s excitement about their communities and the projects they entered,” said a 2006 NCIP judge. “There’s a real atmosphere and attitude of success. I always learn something and it renews my faith in the great strengths of the state, and how wonderful our people are.”         

Judging for Special Awards Projects was held in Lincoln during the week of Sept. 10.  The judges determined a first place winner for each population class in the categories of Volunteer and Leadership Development; Youth Involvement and Leadership Development; Public Works, Facilities and Services; Environmental Projects and Awareness; Community Services; Parks, Recreation and Forestry; Arts and Humanities; Business Assistance and Development; and Tourism Promotion and Development.

Communities to be visited and the judging dates and times are:

• Class II: (701-2,000 population) 
  Laurel (986 pop.), Sept. 24, 10 a.m.-noon CST
  Ainsworth (1,862 pop.), Sept. 24, 3:45-5:45 p.m. CST
  Loup City (996 pop.), Sept. 25, 2-4 p.m. CST
  Ravenna (1,341 pop.), Sept. 26, 9-11:05 a.m. CST

• Class III:  (2,001-5,000 population) 
  Wahoo (4,063 pop.), Sept. 24, 9-11 a.m. CST
  Aurora (4,300 pop.), Sept. 24, 2:30-4:30 p.m. CST
  Gothenburg (3,681 pop.), Sept. 25, 9-11 a.m. CST
  Kimball (2,500 pop.), Sept. 25, 3-5 p.m. MST

Week 2—October 1-3

• Class I: (0-700 population)
  Alexandria (197 pop.), Oct. 1, 9:30-11:30 a.m. CST
  Farnam (227 pop.), Oct. 1, 4-6 p.m. CST
  Bassett (652 pop.), Oct. 2, 2-4 p.m. CST

• Class IV: (5,001-8,000 population)
  Nebraska City (7,228 pop.), Oct. 1, 9:30-11:30 a.m. CST
  Sidney (6,424 pop.), Oct. 2, 2-4 p.m. MST
  Seward (6,426 pop.), Oct. 3, 1-3 p.m. CST

• Class V: (8,001-50,000 population)
  Columbus (21,414 pop.), Oct. 1, 9:30-11:30 a.m. CST
  Alliance (8,331 pop.), Oct. 2, 1-3 p.m. MST
  South Sioux City (11,925 pop.), Oct. 3, 2:30-4:30 p.m. CST

• Class VI: (Multi Communities)
  Seward County (located in Seward), Oct. 1, 1:30-3:30 p.m. CST
  Pawnee County (located in Pawnee City), Oct. 4, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CST

Outstanding communities and projects will be recognized with plaques and cash awards by Governor Dave Heineman at the Annual NCIP Recognition Day Banquet, November 2 in South Sioux City.  The banquet will cap the “Invest in Your Community” NCIP Conference, held earlier that day.

The plaques and cash awards for NCIP are provided by investor-owned natural gas and telephone companies: Glenwood Telephone, Great Plains Communications, SourceGas, Northwestern Public Service, Northern Natural Gas, and Aquila.

For more information, contact Lindsay Papenhausen, NCIP coordinator, at 800-426-6505, 402-471-6587, or E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.neded.org.