LINCOLN, NEB. (December 10, 2007) — The Nebraska Department of Economic Development and Nebraska Rural Development Commission, announce the award of $341,716 to 14 partnerships through the Building Entrepreneurial Communities Act (BECA). This is the first application cycle for FY 2007-2008. BECA is part of the Nebraska Advantage package. 
“Each of these projects not only address very pressing needs with great care and intent, but involve many partners in doing so,” said John Jordison, Director of Government Affairs and Economic Development for Great Plains Communication, Inc., and current chair of the Nebraska Rural Development Commission.  “And therein lies the beauty of the BECA program—the more stakeholders there are in these projects, the greater the odds are for highly successful outcomes.”  
 
The BECA grants encourage regional projects.  All 14 applicants received some funding, with 12 of the 14 projects providing a 25 percent cash match. Two limited resource areas were awarded planning grants to establish collaborations and develop proposals for submission.  No match is required for planning grants. 

Projects include:

•  The city of St. Paul and Howard County partnership received $5,028.75 to create collaborations between existing and potential businesses, and to provide business education and technical assistance for the advancement of communities in Howard County.  The city of St. Paul and St. Paul Development Corporation will provide matching funds.
• The partnership between the cities of Gering and Scottsbluff received $70,000 to market a new workforce recruitment Web site: www.wehavejobs.net This Web site is the only one in the western region of the state offering active jobs and recruitment information. Twin Cities Development Association will provide matching funds.
• The city of Ord and Valley County partnership received $20,000 to create a marketing CD and job opportunities Web site, hire alumni to teach leadership classes, provide entrepreneurial support, and welcome newcomers. The city of Ord will match the grant with LB 840 Economic Development funds.
• The city of Geneva and the villages of Shickley, Fairmont and Milligan received $5,600 to invite alumni to “Come Home to Fillmore County” through direct mail, Web sites and podcasts.  All four communities and Fillmore County Development Corporation will provide the match.
• The city of Aurora and Hamilton County partnership received $11,440 to host Hamilton Strategic EDGE to increase management skills that lead to new, expanding and profitable small businesses and to help sharpen participants’ entrepreneurial skills.  The Bank of Marquette, Cornerstone Bank, Cline Williams, Heritage Bank, Wortman Motor Company, Aurora Mall, Runza and Hamilton Telecommunications will provide the match.
• Gibbon Country Community County Celebration (involving the communities of Gibbon, Arnold, and Creighton) received $23,200 to educate and train residents about creating rural tourism businesses that generate revenue for residents and attract tourism dollars to the community. The Ag Development Foundation Fund will provide matching funds.  
• Partners Western Nebraska Development Network and the village of Hemingford received a $5,000 planning grant to build a strategic coalition for western Nebraska. 
• Building and Enhancing Business and School Communication and Collaboration, a partnership of Knox County and the community of Creighton, received $16,000 to establish a positive school and business collaboration and communications in the county.  Students also will develop professional interview skills.  Creighton Development Corporation and Knox County Development Agency will provide the match.
• New Resident Recruitment, a collaboration of Brown and Keya Paha counties and project partner North Central Development Center, Inc., received $60,000 to educate residents about available job opportunities in north central Nebraska and to attract new residents.  Ainsworth Care Center, Ainsworth Feed Yards, Beck’s Well and Irrigation, Brown County Hospital, Buckley Steel/CNC Machining, Daniels Manufacturing, Dr. Evan Evans, Dr. Spann, Farmers Ranchers Coop, KBRB Radio, Madison’s Great Western, Mundhenke Insurance Agency, Palmer & Flynn PC & Super 8 Motel, Red and White Market, Subway, and Technologent/Your Selling Team will provide matching funds.
• Western Nebraska Community Web site and New Resident Service Bureau, a collaboration of Cheyenne, Deuel, Kimball, Garden, Scotts Bluff, Box Butte and Morrill counties received $35,500.  The High Plains Compass Community Web site will be a communication tool for existing and potential residents to improve retention of employees in western Nebraska.  The match will be provided by the city of Sidney LB840 Economic Development Funds and Cabela’s, Inc.
• Workforce Improvement Network, a partnership among the cities of Auburn, Seward and North Platte received $55,000 to enable each partnering community to implement an aggressive workforce development campaign promoting economic development within the respective community and its region.  Matching funds will be provided through the AIM Institute.
• Bringing Back People to Cedar County to Stay, which involves the communities of Fordyce and Hartington received $19,948 to recruit alumni, conduct entrepreneurial, leadership, and business training, and to attract new residents to the region.  Matching funds will be provided by the village of Fordyce, the city of Hartington Q125 Committee, and Hartington Economic Development.
• Elkhorn River Valley Business Development, a partnership between the villages of Beemer and Pilger, the city of Wisner, Stanton County, and Wisner-Pilger Public Schools received $5,000 to implement a planning study focused on small business development, entrepreneurship, business transfer and ways to attract new residents.
• Thayer County Entrepreneurship Incentive, a partnership between Thayer County and the village of Davenport received $10,000 to develop a strategy for the area that addresses business development, encourages youth and young adult participation in entrepreneurship programs, and educates youth about the opportunities for coming home to work and live. The Thayer County Economic Development Alliance, made up of the communities of Alexandria, Belvidere, Chester, Davenport, Gilead, Bruning, Byron, Carleton, Deshler, Hebron and Hubbell, will provide matching funds.

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Linda Fettig at 308-749-2291, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it