LINCOLN, NEB. (June 25, 2009)—The communities of Ainsworth, Bassett, Deshler and Farnam have been selected to kick off the first Nebraska Community Improvement Program (NCIP) Leadership Development Challenge. NCIP is a program offered through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

“Ainsworth, Bassett, Deshler, and Farnam are excellent candidates for the NCIP Leadership Development Challenge because all four have a strong commitment to community development,” said Christina Bartels, NCIP coordinator. “Leadership and volunteer development are integral pieces to sustaining community development.  These communities have all been very active in NCIP over the years and understand the importance of taking a proactive approach to community development.  This will make them successful in the NCIP Leadership Development Challenge.”

The NCIP Leadership Development Challenge consists of curriculum designed to help communities foster leadership and volunteerism. In addition to the curriculum, Ainsworth, Bassett, Deshler and Farnam—all active NCIP communities—will receive research from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) that compares and contrasts each community to similar sized and comparable communities. The curriculum consists of a community-based leadership module; a community analysis/planning module; case studies focused on economic development, housing, health, education and government issues; and a capstone project that will be submitted to DED. These projects will be evaluated for potential implementation funding sources.

At its last town hall meeting, Ainsworth (pop. 1,862) recorded more than 85 individuals ranging from youth to senior citizens. While the population is aging, more youth and young adults are stepping up to volunteer for the community’s many different events and activities, all which require numerous committees and volunteers. Ainsworth’s NCIP Committee will partner with various organizations, including the Brown County Foundation, Vitalization Committee, Fire Department, Airport Authority, Chamber and Economic Development and many others to accomplish measurable outcomes, such as increased youth and organizational participation. For information, contact Kristin Simonson or Kathy Worrell at 402-387-2740, ext. 10, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Bassett (pop. 743) created a Strategic Action Plan a few years ago whose goals and ideas have been actively implemented. The Bassett City Council meets with the City Clerk and Economic Development Coordinator at the beginning of each year to brainstorm and set future projects and goals to accomplish. Many residents also share ideas and concerns with the city clerk who, in turn, shares the information with either the Economic Development Coordinator or City Council members. A core group of 20 volunteers are actively involved in helping promote and realize each year’s targeted projects and goals. For information, contact Debbie Seberger at 402-684-3319 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

As many as 75 percent of Deshler’s (pop. 879) children and youth volunteer for various projects through their schools, and 50 percent of adults, including beautifying the town’s entrance and boulevard from its business district to the activity center, fairgrounds and public school; creation of a welcome sign and arboretum at the town’s east entrance; landscaping at the west entrance; and a friendship garden featuring a dragon sculpture and gazebo previously destroyed in a tornado. Other suggested projects through the years include establishing an endowment fund, improving city streets, creating a new Library/Senior Center/Community room or making the existing library handicapped accessible, landscaping the hiking/biking trail, developing a tourism niche, revitalizing the downtown business district, refurbishing the current grocery store wall mural, establishing funding for more murals and sculpture projects, and sprucing up homes and vacant properties. Deshler volunteers also have helped make improvements to City Park and Tom’s Ball Field, completed the 2008/2009 “No Child Left on Their Behind” program that developed a Safe Routes to School map, worked with the city, chamber, Reineke Mfg., Victory Too, The Deshler Rustler and Midwest Bank to create a town brochure and business insert, and conduct “Clean Sweep of Deshler,” that eliminates litter and clutter along Deshler’s public grounds. For information, contact Julie Buescher, Eric Leichty, or Kris Miesner at 402-365-4260 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Given Farnam’s size (pop. 204), the community maintains a good level of citizen participation (50-60 volunteers) during its annual November goal setting process. The Farnam Economic Development Corporation hosts monthly meetings to tweak and keep projects on track. Five subgroups work on the five goals regularly set during the previous goal setting meeting. The community also conducts community surveys every three years. During the summer, Farnam’s Youth Community Improvement Committee goes through a leadership process to enable them to carry out their own projects more effectively and efficiently. Milan Wall and Vicki Luther, co-directors of the Heartland Center for Leadership Development conducted a project involving Farnam and five other Hi-Line communities that reinvigorated their community improvement efforts and provided insight about available help. For information, conducted Dan Widick at 308-569-2333 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For information about NCIP and/or the NCIP Leadership Development Challenge, contact Christina Bartels at 800-426-6505, 402-471-3172, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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