Panhandle Area Development District News

PADD Submits Store Proposal

2010-02-25T10:12:00.000-08:00

Gering natives' proposal picked for grocery store

from the February 23, 2010 Star Herald

The Gering City Council didn’t shop very long Monday night before heading to the checkout counter to choose a developer for a downtown grocery store.

Shortly after the meeting started, and following an eight-minute executive session, the council unanimously selected a joint effort from the Woodbury Corporation of Salt Lake City and WRK, LLC of Lincoln to re-open a store that has been closed for more than four years. The council followed the recommendation of its LB 840 Application Review Committee, which reviewed three proposals Friday morning.

The developers have a local tie. Josh Berger, WRK’s director of projects and construction, his brother Jordan Berger, who also works for the company, and the firm’s CSO, Mike Green, are all Gering natives. Zach Wiegert of the Woodbury Corporation is also a Nebraskan and was a University of Nebraska football star who went on to an NFL career.

“We have an interest in making this go,” Josh Berger said Thursday after his firm’s proposal was received by the city. “We’re excited about submitting and being part of the project, It’s a great project for Gering and we’re excited to be part of it.”

The Panhandle Area Development District of Gering and Harrison’s Homesteads of Scottsbluff also submitted proposals and finished second and third respectively.

The Woodbury Corporation and WRK, LLC submitted a proposal in January that was rejected because it arrived 90 minutes after the city’s deadline, City Administrator Lane Danielzuk said Monday. A North Platte firm also made an offer that was rejected last month but it did not submit a proposal this time.

Danielzuk, who served on the review committee, said Woodbury and WRK ranked at or near the top in the areas the committee used to make its recommendation.

“The redeveloper of record that was chosen tonight scored really well in all categories,” Danielzuk said.

Monday night’s decision doesn’t mean Woodbury and WRK will definitely open the closed grocery store, according to the city administrator. He said the city will enter into “good-faith” negotiations with the companies to try to hammer out a deal to open the grocery store.

Under a downtown redevelopment plan adopted in December, the firm selected through this process would receive city incentives and be able to buy the closed Sun Mart building, which the city owns, for $100,000 and would receive $475,000 in incentives from the city. But after Monday’s council meeting, Danielzuk said negotiations would start from scratch.

He said the new developers might hire as many as 50 full-time workers. The city is requiring the developer to guarantee jobs, wages and benefits for its employees as a condition of receiving city financial and tax incentives.There’s no timeline on when the store would open, Danielzuk said. Josh Berger said last week getting the business up and running would be a major task but one his investment group looked forward to tackling.

On Friday morning, the city’s LB840 Application Review Committee spent about an hour reviewing the three proposals, according to committee chairman Brent Holliday. The committee felt Woodbury and WRK “would be the best for the City of Gering,” Holiday said as he left the meeting.

He said the Bergers’ and Green’s roots in Gering weren’t a determining factor, noting that “all three had ties to Gering.”The LB840 committee ranked the applicants by investor financial commitment, city financial investment, square feet dedicated to grocery, grocery departments, hours of operation, number of full-time employees, wages and benefits, additional retail development, experience and references.

The effort to open a grocery store in Gering started not long after Sun Mart closed its doors in 2005. The city bought the building and has sought a business to open a grocery store since that time.

The project heated up last fall, as Gering negotiated with an out-of-state firm whose name has not been released. A second firm from North Platte also showed interest but in January both proposals were rejected, one because it arrived 90 minutes after the city’s deadline and the second because all the paperwork had not been completed, according to Danielzuk.

According to a press release issued by the city, once a first choice is selected, the city will begin “good-faith negotiations” with that company, using the Redevelopment Plan and Strategy that was amended last fall as a starting point. The city’s plan called for selling the store to a developer for $100,000 and offering $475,000 in financial assistance while asking the developer to spend at least $1.6 million, provide full-time jobs and reach other city-imposed goals.

If all goes well, a draft contact would be prepared that would detail the agreement between the city and the developer.

The agreement would be made available for public inspection and a public hearing would be held, according to the press release. If all those hoops are successfully jumped through, the city and the developer would have a deal and a grocery store would return to Gering.

LB840 committee members are Holliday, the owner of Nebraska Transport Company, who is the chairman of the committee, Jim Cauble, senior vice president of Platte Valley Bank, Craig Landers of Allo Communications, Dennis W. Wiedeman, owner of Wiedeman Financial, Dawne Wolfe, a banker at First National Bank, and Rawnda Pierce, executive director of Twin Cities Development. Danielzuk and City Treasurer John Mejia also serve on the panel.

Mayor Susan Wiedeman, who is a committee member, didn’t take part in the process, since she works for the Panhandle Cooperative, which would be in competition with a new grocery store. Dennis Wiedeman is her brother.

Council President Larry Gibbs sat in on Friday’s committee meeting. Gibbs also chaired Monday’s City Council meeting, since the mayor and Councilman Don Christensen were out of town at a conference.

Sidney Welcomes Two New Businesses

2010-02-25T08:48:00.000-08:00

from the 2-24-10 Scottsbluff Star Herald

Two Businesses have announced plans to relocate to Sideny, according to Sidney/Cheyenne County economic development director Gary Person.

Emagine Concepts Inc, a Colorado based manufacturing company, has made a commitment to expand tis operation to the Sidney and the Cheyenne County area. Person said the announcement by Emagine Concepts officials and Sidney/Cheyenne County economic development officials.

Erik Mellum, owner and CEO, said the company chose Sidney due to its location.

"The area makes good sense from a logistics point of view and I've been impressed by Sidney and the people we've met here. I'm hoping we will have a long, mututally beneficial relationship with Sidney and its wonderful citizens," said Mellum.

To assist the company in its expansion efforts, the Cheyenne County Commissioners, through the county's CDN+BG re-use loan fund, approved a $160,000 loan during their Tuesday meeting.

Emagine has a 20 year history of manufacturing wood products such as cabinets, custom stairs and soild surface finish using architechtural millwork, casework and design manufacturing and installation. The initial expansion will center around door manufacturing.

Sutherland Lumber Company has also announced an agreement with Emagine Concepts. The partnership arrangement will allow for products manufactured by Emagine Concepts to be sold under the Sutherland brand at their retail, warehouse and on-line stores

"The company intends to set up its initial operations at the Adams Industries Industrial Park northwest of Sidney thanks to the outstanding cooperative efforts of Don Adams and his management team," said Person.

Adams said Emagine Concepts "will be an asset to not only our facility, but to the community of Sidney and Cheyenne County."

Another goal of Emagine Concepts is to further expand its committment to its sustainable product manufacturing operations a the City f Sidney's Industrial Park location, possibly leading the way towards a "Green Energy Park" development on the east edge of SIdny. The company has been working with both local officials and state officials with the DED on the development of the green energy park idea.

Adams said the initial development is hoped to create 40 jobs with positions in crafts, technicians, laborers, sales, clerical and professional and magagerial staff. He said the mid to long term goal will be to create a substantial amount of investment and job creation in Cheyenne County.

Plans for the additional green energy product development will be announced at a later time. Emagine Concepts has several contractual relationships in place and the development may include up to three new company spin-offs as a result of the variety of the products. Panhandle Area Development District will assist the city through the administration of several of the grant processes.

Person saod local officials have enjoyed working with the owner and management team of Emagine Concepts. "We appreciate their committment to our area and I firmly believe this will be a great partnership between the company and the Sidney area."

The other business was announced by Ron Carlson who said that Commercial Resins Company Inc has purchased the assets of Industrial Structures Inc (ISI) in Tulsa, Oklahoma effective January 1.

"The eqipment and operations will be moved to our SIdney, Nebraska location over the first few months," he said.

ISI manufactureres riveted aluminum buildings and structures for a variety of industral uses. Most railroads in North AMerica utilize buildings constructed by ISI for crew quarters on their maintenance trains throughout the rail system.

Person said that ISI would maintain a permanent staff o 10 to 15 during construction periods an would utilize temporary personnel as needed throughout the year with a total anticipatedpayroll in the Sidney area of a million dollars annually. Person added that a variety of local companies in the are would also participate in the supply of materials and services to complete these buildings.

"Commercial Resins wishes to thank Adams Industries and the City Manager Gary Person, for their extensive help and support in making this businessexpansion possible." Carlson said.

Commercial Resins manufactures corrosion coating protection of oil and gas pipelines in a non-hazardous environmentally sound process. The company was founded in 1969 and has designed constructed and installed over 30 coating plants worldwide for oil and gas pipe and concrete reinforcing steel.

" We sincerely appreciate Ron Carlson Jr's continued commitment to the further development of the business and industry community of the Sidney and the Cheyenne County area," Person said. "The ISI purchaseand relocation to Sidney is just another outstanding example of his business leadershyip and we're truly appreciative of his investment efforts since first expanding Commercial Resins Manufacturing to Sidney in 2005,"

Lodgepole Receives $350,000 Grant

2010-02-05T13:42:00.000-08:00

Lodgepole has received a $350,000 CDBG grant to build new wastewater lagoon and expand the entire lagoon system to allow for complete retiontion from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. PADD assisted in writing the grant proposal.

Lodgepole currently operates two wastewater treatment lagoons a half mile southeast of the village. Built in 1956, the lagoons have remained essentially in their original condition, with no known improvements made for the past 42 years. Sludge build-up has greatly limited the system’s storage capacity. Lodgepole also has been approved for $1,133,787 in grants and loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development to complete the project.

Federal funds are made available to DED from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s CDBG program to assist with the development of businesses and communities throughout the state. Funding requests for this program are administered by DED and are available to local Nebraska governments and counties with populations less than 50,000.

CDBG Grant Deadlines for 2010

2010-02-04T08:08:00.000-08:00

Economic Development: Open Cycle Begins January 1

Housing: Pre-Apps due February 26; full app due May 7

Downtown Revitalization: Pre-Apps due March 19

Public Works: Applications due April 14

Planning Grants: Appliactions due April 14; 2nd Round due October 29

Water/Wastewater: Open cycle begins May 3

Tourism Development: Open cycle May 10

Harrison Receives LAWCON Grant

2010-02-01T13:57:00.000-08:00

On January 15, 2010 the Nebraska Game and Parks Board of Commissioners approved the application of the Village of Harrison for funding assistance in the amount of $37,500.00. The funds, along with funds from the village, will be used to renovate and upgrade the Harrison swimming pool. Chuck Karpf of Panhandle Area Development District and Becky Kindle of Harrison prepared and submitted the grant to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

CDBG Planning Grants Available

2009-12-10T07:46:00.000-08:00

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development will award a third cycle of 2009 Community Development Block Grant planning grants.

Applications will be accepted beginning January 11, and the process will remain open until all funding is gone.

For a copy of the application guidelines, go to http://www.neded.org/content/view/107/239/

PADD can assist in preparing CDBG applications. If you would like our assistace, please call us at 308 436-6584.

Carhenge a Finalist for Hampton Inn's A-A Landmark

2009-11-20T12:25:00.000-08:00

Carhenge is one of three finalists for Nebraska in Hamptopn Inn's All-American Landmark contest.

The other two Nebraska sites are the Strategic Air and Space Museum and the Stuhr Museum.

To vote, go to:

http://www.hamptonlandmarks.com/VoteLandMarkResults.aspx?statename=Nebraska&state=27&cat=10&vote=1

Morrill Receives $350,000 CDBG Grant

2009-10-30T15:58:00.000-07:00

OCTOBER 30, 2009 (LINCOLN, NE)-The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has awarded $350,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to Morrill to build a new elevated water tower that provides water equal to the daily demand of 300,000 gallons, and install a distribution system that restores water pressure and fire flow to previous comparable levels.

Morrill's (pop. 935) water system includes an undersized 55,000 gallon tower that provides static pressure of 48-53 pounds per square inch (psi) to 450 residential users and 75 commercial users. The village's total population is made up of 58 percent low- to moderate-income persons who will benefit from the project. The new water tower and distribution system will increase overall water pressure to a normal working level of 60-80 psi.

Morrill has been approved for grants and loans from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Clean Water Safe Revolving Fund totaling $775,251 to complete the project.

Federal funds are made available to DED from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's CDBG program to assist with the development of businesses and communities throughout the state. Funding requests for this program are administered by DED and are available to local governments with populations less than 50,000 and counties in Nebraska.

Jeff Kelley of PADD helped develop the grant application for the CDBG funds.

PADD Participates in P-16 Retreat

2009-10-30T15:51:00.000-07:00

Jerrod Haberman and Chuck Karpf of PADD participated in the P-16 retreat lat Friday evening and Saturday at the HARMS Center in Scottsbluff.

The Panhandle P-16 Leadership team met to develop a mission statement and chart the course of the P-16 initiative in the Panhandle.

The purpose of Panhandle P-16 is to educate the 11 counties of the Panhandle about the need for and benefits of collaboration. Leveraging technology, we will provide information, data, examples of best practices and successes. In order to build a shared understanding of the urgency of challenges and sites for opportunities in the panhandle, we will be committed to transparency of our processes and inclusive of the public. The primary goal of Panhandle P-16 is to keep well-educated and skilled people in the Panhandle.

PADD is looking forward to building this colloborative effort in the region.

PADD Presents at Economic Developers Forum

2009-10-30T15:42:00.000-07:00

PADD Director Jerrod Haberman presented "Its a Regional Economy" to the Economic Development Council of Colorado at the fall conference in Fort Collins, Colorado on October 22.

Jerrod discussed the need for economic developers to think regionally due to the demands from business and residents, our inter-dependent society and the hierarchy of regional trade. Jerrod also discussed the symbiotic relationship between urban and rural areas, changing realities in today's economy, the evolution of megaregions and the importance of rural transportation corridors to compliment all the issues discussed.

PADD Touts Heartland in North Dakota

2009-10-30T10:56:00.000-07:00

PADD Director Jerrod Haberman presented an update on the Heartland Expressway project at the US Highway 85 Corridor Initiative's October 14 Annual Meeting in Williston, North Dakota.

Jerrod emphasized the Great Plains region is worth the nation's investment due to our economic opportunities in core industries such as agriculture, gas, oil, and wind development along with our strong work ethic, quality schools, low crime rates, good health, affordable housing, and low unemployment. Jerrod stressed that without support from the federal and state governments to invest in strategic infrastructure projects like the Ports to Plains Alliance corridors, many quality places throughout the Great Plains could lose their vitality.

Panhandle Receives Homebuyer Assistance Funding

2009-09-03T12:35:00.000-07:00

-Western Nebraska Housing Opportunities, Scottsbluff—$305,000 to provide assistance for 75 homebuyers living in Scotts Bluff County, earning at or below 100 percent of the Area Median Family Income (AMI), who are purchasing newly constructed and/or existing homes, as well as for any needed rehabilitation work once the existing homes are purchased. Contact Rawnda Pierce at 308-635-6710 or twincitiesdev@wncc.net

- High Plains Community Development Corporation, Chadron—Two projects. $200,000 to provide assistance for homebuyers earning at or below 100 percent of the AMI and purchasing 20 existing homes; and $60,000 to improve services and activities, build capacity to undertake new activities, plan for new projects, and expand service area. Qualifying residents must live in Dawes, Sheridan, Box Butte and Sioux counties. Contact Marguerite Vey-Miller at 308-432-4346 or margueritem@gpcom.net

Food Entrepreneurship Seminar Coming to Scottsbluff

2009-08-31T14:14:00.001-07:00

“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

Gering Moves Forward on Sun Mart Remodeling

2009-08-25T07:13:00.000-07:00

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 Council Members Visit Business Center

2009-08-19T09:55:00.000-07:00

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.

PADD Accepting Housing Rehab Applications

2009-08-14T08:41:00.000-07:00

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.

FHWA-NDOR Meeting a Success

2009-08-06T07:53:00.001-07:00

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.

Wind Developer to Present at PADD Board Meeting

2009-08-03T08:41:00.000-07:00

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)

PADD Visits Blacks Hills Business Development Center

2009-07-22T08:03:00.000-07:00

PADD stafff members Jerrod Haberman and Chuck Karpf visited the Black Hills Business Development Center yesterdy.

Jim Mirehouse, CEO of the center, discussed the formation of the center, a partnership of Rapid City, Lawrence County, Rapid City Economic Development Partnership, the state of South Dakota, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and many other regional and local economic development entities. These entities 3.7 million dollars in funding for the 40,000 square foot facility came from several sources, including the state of South Dakota, Rapid City, the county, the EDA and other grant sources.

The center currently has 8 companies in residence and space for up to 3 more. In addition to the incubator/business development space, there is space for all of the regional development entities, including the SBA, SBDC, regional development district and regional loan fund. The center is located on the campus of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and works with the college on various projects as well as providing both jobs for students as well as internships.

Bridgeport and Minatare Receive CDBG Grants

2009-07-20T20:01:00.000-07:00

The Nebraska Department of Economic Deveolpment announced today that Bridgeport and Minatare have been awarded CDBG funds for water system improvements.

Bridgeport will receive $350,000 to construct two new municipal wells, rehabilitate an existing well plus interconnecting raw water transmission mains, a new uranium removal water treatment plant and distribution system improvements.

Minatare will receive $350,000 to replace its deteriorating, undersized water tower with a 250,000 gallon water tower, connecting distribution mains, fittings and valves to be located on 7th Street between Main St. and First Avenue.

PADD Visits Incubators in WY and CO

2009-07-19T13:20:00.000-07:00

PADD visited with executives and leaders of successful incubators in Wyoming and Colorado this past Thursday as part of their effort in developing a business plan for the region's Business Development Center.

PADD staff members Jerrod Haberman and Chuck Karpf met with Jonathan Benson and Christine Langley at the Wyoming Technology Business Center on July 16. After a discussion of the center’s formation, mission and success in incubating technology companies in Laramie and the current expansion into other Wyoming communities, Jerrod and Chuck were given a tour of the recently completed facility, which consists of approximately 20,000 square feet of rental business incubator space, office space and a 2,000 square foot data center which is utilized by several Wyoming companies both inside and outside the incubator.

A meeting was held on the afternoon of the 16th with Hill Grimmett, founder and coordinator of the Northern Colorado Food Incubator, a virtual food and kitchen incubator located in Ft. Collins, Co. Scott Hapner of the Ft. Collins Chamber of Commerce, Nikol Schwab of The Little Italian Kitchen and Amy and Gary Lasley of Rocky Mountain Salsa also joined the discussion of shared kitchens, food and kitchen incubators and the general direction of the ‘home grown and produced’ food business in the front range region.

After the meeting Jerrod and Chuck had a tour of the Rocky Mountain Salsa shared kitchen and further discussions with Amy and Gary. By the way, Rocky Mountain Salsa is available at Main Street Market in Torrington!

NNDC Seeks Economic Development Director

2009-07-19T13:18:00.000-07:00

Nebraska Northwest Development Corporation (NNDC) is seeking a self-directed creative thinker with a pleasant personality to serve as its Economic Development Director. NNDC is based in Chadron, NE, and focuses its efforts in Chadron, Dawes County and surrounding counties.

Candidates should have experience in the economic development field and/or a strong knowledge of business practices. Position is full time and salary package is DOQ. For a job description and application, please contact James Dickey, PO Box 1323, Chadron, NE or by email: nweyecenter@qwestoffice.net. Position is open until filled.

PADD Assists Communities with Fire Station Grants

2009-07-10T09:52:00.000-07:00

PADD has assisted Bridgeport, Harrison, and McGrew apply for grant funding to develop new fire stations in their communities.

These towns are requesting funds through the ARRA (stimulus bill) Assistance to Firefighters Fire Station Construction Grants (SCG). The program is designed to provides funds to build new or modify exisiting fire stations for fire departments to enhance their response capabilities to better protect the communties they serve from fire and fire related hazards.

It is anticipated that up to 10,000 applications will be received with total requests topping $30 Billion dollars. However, only 100 grants will be awarded nationwide to utilize the $210 million dollars in available funding.

Chuck Karpf re-appointed to Rural Development Commission

2009-07-08T14:39:00.000-07:00

Chuck Karpf has been re-appointed by the governor to serve a second three year term on the Nebraska Rural Development Commission. In addition, he has been elected to the Executive Committee of the NRDC by his fellow commissioners.

Chuck has also been elected Treasurer of the Center for Rural Affairs, Lyons, Nebraska. He is in his second term as a director of the center, a non-profit organization that advocates for rural America, including sustainable agriculture and rural economic and community development.

Kimball Recieves $850,000 Grant for Rail Spur

2009-07-02T15:43:00.000-07:00

The City of Kimball is one of four Nebraska communities to receive CDBG funds through the ARRA (stimulus funds) program. Kimball will receive $850,000 for the development of a rail spur. PADD will provide the general administration for this project.

Kimball, with the assistance of PADD, previously received a $974,000 EDA public works grant for this project which is set to begin later this year.

Panhandle Population Loss Concentrated in Small Towns

2009-07-02T13:56:00.000-07:00

The Census Bureau's recent population estimates for July 1, 2008 show an increase in population during the decade for Sidney, Scottsbluff, Terrytown, Potter, and Lodgepole.

Despite the slight demographic gain in these communities, the 11-county Panhandle region has seen its population decline to an estimated 85,813 persons in 2008, a 5% decline since the 2000 Census.

The region's population declines are concentrated in the smallest towns. Excluding Terrytown which annexed hundreds of homes after the 2000 Census, the aggregate population of Panhandle towns under 2,500 has declined by 10% since 2000.

This event of small town decline is not limited to the Panhandle, though. An AP article titled "Big Towns Bigger, Small Smaller in Nebraska" shows the trend of small town decline is evident throughout the state.

The article states "the populations of Nebraska's incorporated cities and villages with up to 10,000 people dipped faster than in same-sized towns in Iowa and Kansas.....Conversely, cities with at least 50,000 residents grew at a faster clip in Nebraska than their big-town brethren in the other two states."

The entire article is available at: http://www.cattlenetwork.com/content.asp?contentid=327100

Population estimates for all Nebraska towns and counties can be found at www.census.gov

How the national economic recession has impacted the region's population over the past twelve months will not be revealed until county estimates are released next spring.

Heartland not Included in State TIGER Request

2009-06-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

The Heartland Expressway has not been included in the State of Nebraska's TIGER Discretionary Grants Program request. PADD staff worked with other organizations to make a request to the NDOR to consider the Heartland Expressway for funding through TIGER.

According to the Omaha World Herald, state officals are requesting TIGER funding for five Nebraska projects. The Heartland Expressway was not included "..... because planning for it is behind the other projects."

The full article can be viewed at: http://www.omaha.com/article/20090624/NEWS01/706259857/1009

The TIGER Discretionary Progam is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (stimulus funds). The program provides $1.5 billion of discretionary grant funds for projects of metropolitan, regional, or national significance.

For details on the TIGER program visit: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-14262.pdf

PADD Presents Incubator Vision to Development Network

2009-06-25T07:20:00.001-07:00

PADD Entrepreneurship Coordinator Chuck Karpf gave a presentation about the planned PADD/City of Gering business incubator to the Western Nebraska Development Network meeting at WNCC’s Sidney Campus yesterday. Mr. Karpf stated the incubator will provide space for businesses to take advantage of mentoring programs, meeting spaces, classrooms, and technology provided by the incubator.

Mr. Karpf also stated the inucubator will encompass a wide variety of programs including a youth incubator area as well as kitchen incubator space. He also discussed the ongoing entrepreneurship endeavors at PADD including working with High Schools to encourage entrepreneurship development.

PADD is also in discussions with Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska to determine how these agencies can work together to benefit the low and moderate income clients of CAPWN who want to start their own businesses.

House T&I Transportation Vision Presented

2009-06-24T09:00:00.001-07:00

The US House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN) released his blueprint for the federal surface transportation reauthorization bill last Thursday. (links to these documents are at the end of this post)

The future progress of important Panhandle projects such as highway maintenance, railroad overpasses, and the Heartland Expressway will be largely influenced by this bill.

The House T&I highway and transit subcommittee is tentatively scheduled to markup the SAFETEA-LU reauthorization blueprint today. The committee print will only include programmatic and policy changes, without funding formulas, specific funding details and project earmarks. A full committee markup is expected before the end of July.

Where this will lead is higly uncertain as US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood last week announced the administration’s recommendation for an 18-month program extension. This is being supported by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Given the funding challenges, an extension of some sort is highly likely. The Economist magazine published an article titled "Delays Ahead." It can be viewed at http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13871995

Some interesting points made by the referenced Economist article:

- "The trouble with a bold $500 billion plan is that it requires $500 billion. The Highway Trust Fund provides federal money for transport. It will be broke by late August."

- "Washington's main transportation strategy has been not to have one....an integrated system for planning, one that includes passenger rail, freight, highways and mass transport, does not exist"

- "...The transport secretary (Sec Lahood) says he would send more money to metropolitan areas and use cost-benefit analyses to guide investment."

- "There may be a new vision for transport, but it will never progress until someone is willing to pay for it."

To view the 3 main documents released by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, visit, courtesy of NADO, the following links:

Executive Summary:
http://www.nado.org/legaffair/executive.pdf

Complete Program Consolidation and Reoganization Plan:
http://www.nado.org/legaffair/compiled.pdf

Working Outline:
www.nado.org/legaffair/blueprint.pdf

PADD Receives EDA Grant

2009-06-24T07:41:00.000-07:00

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded PADD with a $64,840 planning grant. The funds will be used toward implementing the regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, assisting with grant writing, performing environmental reviews, and other general economic development activities.

PADD will match this grant with $43,227 it receives in local dues.

The regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy can be viewed at http://www.nepadd.com/.

Gering and Scottsbluff Receive Demolition Funds

2009-06-23T14:50:00.000-07:00

Scottsbluff and Gering have received funding under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) to undertake two separate demolition projects in each city.

In Gering, a major portion of the funding will be used to demolish the former Health and Human Services building, located at the corner of 11th and N Street. The bulk of the funding awarded to Scottsbluff will be used to demolish the Hergert Milling facility.

PADD will handle the general administration for the Gering project.

PADD Receives Housing Rehab Funds

2009-06-23T13:02:00.000-07:00

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development has awarded PADD with $100,000 in Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund (NAHTF) money to establish a regional owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program serving Scotts Bluff, Box Butte and Morrill counties. (In order to not duplicate other programs, the City of Scottsbluff, which has their own housing rehab program, is not included in this funding.)

For persons interested in applying for housing rehab assistance, please contact Jeff Kelley at 308-436-6584, or email him at jeffk1@charterinternet.com

PADD News

2009-06-23T09:49:00.000-07:00

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