LINCOLN, NEB. (March 6, 2008)—For 45 years, the Nebraska Community Improvement Program (NCIP) has recognized communities for outstanding community, economic and leadership development efforts. The program encourages communities to develop a community planning process then work to implement a plan with a strong reliance on community volunteers. 
NCIP, a program of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, will be hosting several workshops to highlight program changes and assist new NCIP communities with the entry process.  Workshop dates and locations are as follows:

• Tuesday, April 8, 4-6 p.m.—Loup City, Chamber of Commerce Office, 133 S. 8th St.
• Monday, April 14, 6:30-8:30p.m. (MST)—Alliance, Library Learning Center, 1750 Sweetwater, Room B
• Tuesday, April 15, 2-4 p.m.—Eustis, Senior Center, 111 N. Main St.
• Thursday, April 24, 10 a.m.-noon—Nebraska City, American National Bank, 10th St. and Central Ave., Basement Meeting Room
• Tuesday, April 29, 3-5 p.m.—Bassett, RC&D Building, East Highway 20
• Wednesday, May 7, 6-8 p.m.—Laurel, Community Learning Center, 5th and Wakefield Sts.

The program recognizes both individual projects (Special Awards) and overall community development efforts (Community Notebook Awards).  Community Notebook entrants will receive on-site visits by judges who are trained in community and economic development.  All award winners will be recognized by Governor Dave Heineman at the 2008 NCIP Awards Banquet, Friday, November 14 at the Kearney Holiday Inn. 
Communities wanting to participate should submit the Intent to Enter, Community Goals sheet, and Government Resolution by March 31. These documents can be found in the NCIP Awards Guide, which can be downloaded at www.neded.org. 

To register for the training workshops or for more information on NCIP, contact Lindsay Papenhausen at 800-426-6505, 402-471-6587, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit the Web site: www.neded.org.

NCIP is sponsored by the following investor-owned utilities, which provide cash awards for NCIP award recipients: Aquila, Glenwood Telephone, NorthWestern Energy, SourceGas, Northern Natural Gas, and Great Plains Communications. 

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT
Patty Wood at 800-426-6505, 402-471-1559, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it