SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 (LINCOLN, NEB.)—Judges for the Nebraska Community Improvement Program (NCIP) will be visiting communities and counties in October to evaluate communities that have submitted NCIP entries 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.
    
Judging for Special Awards Projects was conducted September 22-28.  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. Special project winners will be announced at the Annual NCIP Banquet on November 19.
   
Communities to be visited and the judging dates and times are:

Week 1—October 4-8

Class II: (701-1,100 population)
Pawnee City (1,033 pop.), Oct. 4, 9:30 a.m. CST
Henderson (986 pop.), Oct. 4, 3 p.m. CST
Scribner (971 pop.), Oct. 5, 9:30 a.m. CST

Class III: (1,101-4,000 population)
Hartington (1,640 pop.), Oct. 4, 11:15 a.m. CST
Ainsworth (1,862 pop.), Oct. 4, 5 p.m. CST
Imperial (1,982 pop.), Oct. 5, 12:15 p.m. MT

Week 2—October 18-22

Class I: (0-700 population)
Farnam (227 pop.), Oct. 18, 11:30 a.m. CST
Bassett (660 pop.), Oct. 18, 6 p.m. CST
Wolbach (287 pop.), Oct. 19, 9:30 a.m. CST
Alexandria (185 pop.), Oct. 19, 3 p.m. CST

Class IV: (4,001-plus population)
 Alliance (8,063 pop.), Oct. 18, 3 p.m. MT
Seward (6,214 pop.), Oct. 19, 2:30 p.m. CST
Wahoo (4,225 pop.), Oct. 20, 9 a.m. CST
Nebraska City (7,228 pop.), Oct. 20, 2 p.m. CST

Class V: (Multi-Community/County/Regional)
Pawnee County (3,078 pop.), Oct. 18, 9:30 a.m. CST
Seward County (16,482 pop.), Oct. 18, 2:30 p.m. CST

Outstanding communities and projects will be recognized at the Annual NCIP Recognition Day Banquet, November 19 in Kearney.  The banquet will cap the Governor’s Conference on Rural Development “Rethinking Strategy for Sustainable Communities: Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Workforce,”, held earlier that day.

NCIP and Governor’s Conference on Rural Development sponsors include AG Processing Inc., Black Hills Corporation, Union Pacific Railroad, Dawson Public Power District, NMPP Energy, Kearney Visitors Bureau, First National Bank North Platte, Platte Valley State Bank and Trust Company, First National Bank Columbus, Fremont National Bank and Trust Company, Nebraska Community Foundation, Hemingford Cooperative Telephone Co., Consolidated Companies, and Nebraska Public Power District.

For more information, contact Christina Bartels, NCIP coordinator, at 800-426-6505, 402-471-3172, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit www.neded.org.