“From Recipe to Reality”, part of the Food Processing Center Food Entrepreneur Assistance Program at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, will be presented at the Harms Advanced Technology Center at Western Nebraska Community College on Saturday, October 24, 2009.
The seminar will provide entrepreneurs with an understanding of the key factors that need to be considered when starting a food manufacturing business. Topics include market research, product development, packaging, labeling, pricing, product introduction, promotional materials, food safety and legal and business structure issues. The one day seminar, which runs from 8 am to 5 pm on October 24th, will provide entrepreneurs with valuable insight on the basics of starting a food business that would take months or even years to research on their own. Further information can be obtained from:
Jill Gifford
University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Food Processing Center
143 Food Industry Building
Lincoln, NE 68583-0930
Jgifford1@unl.edu
402-472-2819
Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Gering Moves Forward on Sun Mart Remodeling
from www.kneb.com
Gering moves forward on remodeling old Sun-Mart building
Published Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 08:27 AM
The Gering city council Monday night moved forward with plans to place the city's library and a small business development center in the old Sun-Mart grocery building by approving a request for qualifications from architects.
The document requesting architects to provide their experience in providing designs for multi-use buildings says the project consists of remodeling approximately 27,000 square feet of space, approximately 45% of it for the library, 45% for the small business development center, and 10% common use space such as conference rooms and restroom facilities.
Chuck Karpf with the Panhandle Area Development District is working with the city on the project. He says the city should be commended for purchasing the old grocery store and repairing the roof so possibilities now exist for its re-use.
Karpf says the timing is right for the city and PADD over the next year or two to work cooperatively to get grants from the Economic Development Administration and other federal and state agencies to fund the project. Councilman Don Christensen says the small business center can be a Key ingredient" for Gering" and the project should be a priority in the upcoming budget. The city will also be discussing uses for the current library if the Sun-Mart project is successful.
Gering moves forward on remodeling old Sun-Mart building
Published Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 08:27 AM
The Gering city council Monday night moved forward with plans to place the city's library and a small business development center in the old Sun-Mart grocery building by approving a request for qualifications from architects.
The document requesting architects to provide their experience in providing designs for multi-use buildings says the project consists of remodeling approximately 27,000 square feet of space, approximately 45% of it for the library, 45% for the small business development center, and 10% common use space such as conference rooms and restroom facilities.
Chuck Karpf with the Panhandle Area Development District is working with the city on the project. He says the city should be commended for purchasing the old grocery store and repairing the roof so possibilities now exist for its re-use.
Karpf says the timing is right for the city and PADD over the next year or two to work cooperatively to get grants from the Economic Development Administration and other federal and state agencies to fund the project. Councilman Don Christensen says the small business center can be a Key ingredient" for Gering" and the project should be a priority in the upcoming budget. The city will also be discussing uses for the current library if the Sun-Mart project is successful.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Gering Council Members Visit Business Center
Gering city council members Don Christensen and Larry Gibbs, along with Gering City Manager Lane Danielzuk, visited the Black Hills Business Development Center in Rapid City, South Dakota on August 18, 2009.
Accompanied by Chuck Karpf from PADD, the trio spoke with Black Hills BDC CEO Jim Mirehouse about the center, then toured the recently completed center, which is located on the campus of the School of Mines and Technology. The group was able to visit with businesses owners located in the center, including the Engineering Measurement and Certification Center.
Accompanied by Chuck Karpf from PADD, the trio spoke with Black Hills BDC CEO Jim Mirehouse about the center, then toured the recently completed center, which is located on the campus of the School of Mines and Technology. The group was able to visit with businesses owners located in the center, including the Engineering Measurement and Certification Center.
Friday, August 14, 2009
PADD Accepting Housing Rehab Applications
The Panhandle Area Development District (PADD) is accepting applications for owner-occupied housing rehabilitation in the incorporated areas in Scotts Bluff County (excluding the City of Scottsbluff), Box Butte County and Morrill County.
Homeowners interested in being considered for funding should contact the Panhandle Area Development District at 308-436-6584 to have an application sent to them. All completed applications need to be returned to PADD at 1432 10th Street, Gering, NE 69341 on or before October 31, 2009.
Applications will be accepted on a first come, first eligible basis. Applicants meeting the income and other eligibility guidelines on the application will be contacted. An inspection of the home will be done to determine the level of rehabilitation the home needs.
Homeowners who have received housing rehab assistance in past programs administered by PADD are not eligible.
Homeowners interested in being considered for funding should contact the Panhandle Area Development District at 308-436-6584 to have an application sent to them. All completed applications need to be returned to PADD at 1432 10th Street, Gering, NE 69341 on or before October 31, 2009.
Applications will be accepted on a first come, first eligible basis. Applicants meeting the income and other eligibility guidelines on the application will be contacted. An inspection of the home will be done to determine the level of rehabilitation the home needs.
Homeowners who have received housing rehab assistance in past programs administered by PADD are not eligible.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
FHWA-NDOR Meeting a Success
Yesterday, the Panhandle Area Development District and the Ports to Plains, along with local, state, and federal representatives, met in Gering with FHWA administrators and NDOR officials, including Director Monty Frederickson, to discuss a resolution on how Federal Heartland Expressway earmarks can be utilized.
PADD Director Jerrod Haberman said, "Everyone in attendance, the FHWA, the NDOR, the Governor's representative, and our elected representatives all came into the room with a similar objective, they wanted to find a solution to build the Heartland Expressway in a manner that was suitable to local residents while meeting state and federal requirements."
Haberman continued "Having Congressman Adrian Smith and State Senator Le Roy Louden personally attend the meeting was incredibly helpful as they provided valuable suggestions and alternatives for resolving this issue. Having good represenatation from US Senator Ben Nelson, US Senator Mike Johannes, and Govenor Dave Heineman demonstrated the will to find a reasonable solution."
At issue was developing a finance plan, developing environmental reviews, establishing logical termini, having a project with independent utility, and alternative solutions such as Super 2.
At the outset of the meeting, the FHWA stated they were supportive of the Heartland Expressway but they have no role in project selection and are project neutral. The FHWA stated that earmarks must be implimented to follow federal requirements and they are responsible as project administrators for implimenting the rules.
The parameters of logical termini were quickly agreed upon. The Heartland Expressway from Minatare to Alliance was divided into three segments. One segment runs from Minatare to the Bayard turnoff, the second continues on L62A to the 385 juncture, the third is the segment from L62A to Alliance.'
The FHWA clarified that each of these projects in whole will be sufficient to meet independent utility, provided there is a finance plan in place to complete the respective segment.
The FHWA also clarified that environmental reviews would likely require a re-evaluation, but the re-evaluation may not necessitate starting from the beginning.
Development of a Super 2 alternative was discussed. The NDOR described their vision of a Super 2 Heartland but admitted the state does not have an official Super 2 definition. Local representatives stated upgrading the two lane in preperation for a future expressway is a logical approach. However, there were concerns the Highway 385 segment may not be conducive for this approach for various reasons. There was also concerns raised about acquiring right-of-way for a four-lane if the acquired land would not be utilized in the near future.
The concept of twinning the existing lanes was discussed as an alternative. The NDOR did not have an estimate for such an approach, but plans to investigate whether that would be a feasible alternative financially, logistically and saftey-wise.
"I believe we built a path to a resoultion that will not only be acceptable to all parties, but actually create an outcome that will please everyone." Haberman stated.
PADD Director Jerrod Haberman said, "Everyone in attendance, the FHWA, the NDOR, the Governor's representative, and our elected representatives all came into the room with a similar objective, they wanted to find a solution to build the Heartland Expressway in a manner that was suitable to local residents while meeting state and federal requirements."
Haberman continued "Having Congressman Adrian Smith and State Senator Le Roy Louden personally attend the meeting was incredibly helpful as they provided valuable suggestions and alternatives for resolving this issue. Having good represenatation from US Senator Ben Nelson, US Senator Mike Johannes, and Govenor Dave Heineman demonstrated the will to find a reasonable solution."
At issue was developing a finance plan, developing environmental reviews, establishing logical termini, having a project with independent utility, and alternative solutions such as Super 2.
At the outset of the meeting, the FHWA stated they were supportive of the Heartland Expressway but they have no role in project selection and are project neutral. The FHWA stated that earmarks must be implimented to follow federal requirements and they are responsible as project administrators for implimenting the rules.
The parameters of logical termini were quickly agreed upon. The Heartland Expressway from Minatare to Alliance was divided into three segments. One segment runs from Minatare to the Bayard turnoff, the second continues on L62A to the 385 juncture, the third is the segment from L62A to Alliance.'
The FHWA clarified that each of these projects in whole will be sufficient to meet independent utility, provided there is a finance plan in place to complete the respective segment.
The FHWA also clarified that environmental reviews would likely require a re-evaluation, but the re-evaluation may not necessitate starting from the beginning.
Development of a Super 2 alternative was discussed. The NDOR described their vision of a Super 2 Heartland but admitted the state does not have an official Super 2 definition. Local representatives stated upgrading the two lane in preperation for a future expressway is a logical approach. However, there were concerns the Highway 385 segment may not be conducive for this approach for various reasons. There was also concerns raised about acquiring right-of-way for a four-lane if the acquired land would not be utilized in the near future.
The concept of twinning the existing lanes was discussed as an alternative. The NDOR did not have an estimate for such an approach, but plans to investigate whether that would be a feasible alternative financially, logistically and saftey-wise.
"I believe we built a path to a resoultion that will not only be acceptable to all parties, but actually create an outcome that will please everyone." Haberman stated.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Wind Developer to Present at PADD Board Meeting
Mike Stienke from Wind Energy Consulting and Contracting in Enid OK will present “From Beginning to Wind” at the next PADD board meeting on August 13, 2009 at 12:10 pm. PADD's meetings are open to the public.
The presentation will discuss turnkey wind energy development including identifying the best wind sites in your county and connecting the appropriate landowners to wind development companies.
(Please note the presentation does not imply an endorsement from PADD. Every county should perform their own due diligence when working with any wind consulting company)
The presentation will discuss turnkey wind energy development including identifying the best wind sites in your county and connecting the appropriate landowners to wind development companies.
(Please note the presentation does not imply an endorsement from PADD. Every county should perform their own due diligence when working with any wind consulting company)
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