LINCOLN (September 23, 2008)—Judges for the Nebraska Community Improvement Program (NCIP) will be visiting 22 communities and counties during the first two weeks of October to evaluate communities on the progress made in community and economic development throughout the past year.    
    
Each community or county has a maximum two hours in which to present its community and economic development projects in a way that strongly impresses the judging teams.  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.
    
“These are hardworking communities with great volunteer efforts,” said Carla Becker, a 2007 NCIP judge.  Another past judge, Kimberly Neiman stated “It’s always a pleasant surprise to see how progressive and innovative Nebraska communities are.  Every town would benefit from entering NCIP competition.”  
    
Judging for Special Awards Projects is being conducted throughout September.  The judges will determine first place winners for each population class in the categories of Volunteer and Leadership Development; Youth Involvement and Leadership Development; Technology, Infrastructure and Planning; Community Services; Parks, Recreation and Environmental Awareness; Arts and Humanities and Cultural Experiences; Business Assistance and Development; Workforce Development; and Tourism Promotion and Development.
   
Communities to be visited and the judging dates and times are:

Week 1—October 6-10
Class I: (0-800 population); Judges: Linda Haack, Mike Davis and LaDene Rutt; Escort: LuAnn Schindler
Bassett (638 pop.), Oct. 6, 1-3 p.m. CST
Potter (402 pop.), Oct. 7, 12:30-2:30 p.m. MST
Farnam (227 pop.), Oct. 8, 8:30-10:30 a.m. CST
Eustis (462 pop.), Oct. 8, 1-3 p.m. CST
Alexandria (185 pop.), Oct. 9, 9:30-11:30 a.m. CST

Class IIa:  (801-1,700 population); Judges: Doyle Howitt, Kimberly Meiman and Harry Milligan; Escort: Gerry Osborn
Scribner (966 pop.), Oct. 6, 9:30-11:30 a.m. CST
Winnebago (900 pop.), Oct. 6, 2-4 p.m. CST
Laurel (986 pop.), Oct. 7, 9-11 a.m. CST
Hartington (1,640 pop.), Oct. 7, 12:30-2:30 p.m. CST
Loup City (996 pop.), Oct. 8, 9:30-11:30 a.m. CST

Class VI: (Multi Communities)
Pawnee County, Oct. 10, 9:30-11:30 a.m. CST
Seward County, Oct. 10, 2:30-4:30 p.m. CST

Week 2—October 13-17
Class IIb: (1,700-5,000 population); Judges: Debbie Seberger and Carolyn Nordberg; Escort: Korla Keller
Syracuse (1,864 pop.), Oct 13, 9-11 a.m. CST
Aurora (4,300 pop.), Oct 13, 2-4 p.m. CST
Imperial (1,982 pop.), Oct. 14, 9-11 a.m. MST
Kimball (2,233 pop.), Oct. 14, 2:30-4:30 p.m. MST
Ainsworth (1,862 pop.), Oct. 15, 3-5 p.m. CST
Wahoo (4,036 pop.), Oct. 16, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. CST

Class III: (5,001-50,000 population)
Seward (6,426 pop.), Oct. 13, 9 -11a.m. CST
Alliance (8,331 pop.), Oct. 14, 9 -11a.m. MST
Papillion (16,363 pop.), Oct 15 2:30-4:30 p.m. CST
South Sioux City (11,925 pop.), Oct. 15, 9-11 a.m. CST

Outstanding communities and projects will be recognized with plaques and cash awards by Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy at the Annual NCIP Recognition Day Banquet, November 14 in Kearney.  The banquet will cap the “Renewable Nebraska” Governor’s Conference on Rural Development, held earlier that day.

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

For more information, contact Lindsay Papenhausen, NCIP coordinator, at 800-426-6505, 402-471-6587, or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit www.neded.org
Patty Wood at 800-426-6505, 402-471-1559, or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it