GROW Vine Newsletter
July 2010
GROW Nebraska Mentor Member – Ray Lush, Sweet Corn Products
“There are not a lot of things you can manufacture in Bloomfield, Nebraska, but there is no limit to what you can market here.”
This wisdom from Ray Lush, owner of Sweet Corn Products, reveals why he was chosen as the GROW Nebraska 2010 Mentor of the Year. A charter member of GROW Nebraska, Lush has consistently exhibited the characteristics of GROW’s mission—to support entrepreneurs and small businesses through promotion, market access and education.
For more information on Lush and to see the rest of the news release, go
here.
ABC Features GROW
ABC’s News Article “Rural Enterprise on the Rise” highlights GROW Nebraska and how beneficial membership can be for small businesses within the state. The article also showcases Katrina Frey of Heavenly Creations and John Marquis of Ogallala Bay Rum as each explains how GROW has helped take their business to the next level.
Check out the
ABC News article to see where GROW started, what it is now and what our future goals are.
Russ's B & R
GROW Nebraska is excited to have teamed up with Russ’s B & R grocery chain. Over 20 GROW Nebraska members will have the opportunity to showcase their food items to get their products in Russ’s B & R grocery stores.
“This takes many of our member’s businesses to a whole new level of marketing,” Janell Anderson Ehrke states. “They have the opportunity to be on the shelf in a store that sells products from all across the US, and this isn’t the only store we hope to get into. This is just the beginning.”
Funded in part by a grant from the Nebraska Microenterprise Partnership Fund and the Nebraska Value Added Agricultural Grant.
Buy It Local Nebraska State Fair Store
With a new town, new building and new passion for the GROW Nebraska State Fair Store, we decided our store needed a new name, too. We’ve turned the GROW Nebraska Country General Store into the Buy It Local Nebraska Store.
GROW and members are excited and anxious for this year’s Nebraska State Fair. Members are already signing up not only to have product in the store, but also to work at the store and experience part of the amazing camaraderie with shoppers, other members and GROW staff.
Stop by and see us at the Buy It Local Nebraska GROW Store at the Nebraska State Fair August 27-September 6.
Win is In
Winsome Backer of North Platte, Nebraska has recently joined the GROW Nebraska team as GROW's Western Nebraska Coordinator. Backer will be a great asset to the GROW Nebraska team and will be working projects such as Flavors of Nebraska, GROW’s social media, and with the Nebraska Enterprise Fund database. We are excited for Winsome to join our mix and know she will be a great asset to our team. Learn more about Winsome
here.
Calling Dr. Ashley ...
As we welcome a new member to our team, we must also say goodbye to staff member, Ashley Blickenstaff. Blickenstaff has worked for GROW Nebraska since December 2006. The first two years while working for GROW Nebraska, she also attended graduate school at Colorado State University. She will be returning to Fort Collins, CO and CSU to pursue her PhD in public communications and new technology.
“I’m so thankful for the opportunity I’ve had to work with GROW the last three years,” Blickenstaff said. “I’ve gotten a chance to know so many great entrepreneurs across the state and will miss working with them and with the GROW staff. I’ve also been able to work on a wide variety of projects with GROW which has given me the experience needed to expand my portfolio.”
Blickenstaff is currently collecting 250 survey responses for the final aspects of her thesis. You can help her out and get 10% off your next GROW purchase by clicking on this link and taking her survey.
CSU Research Project
Flavors of Nebraska
Check out our green sustainable tourism project,
The Flavors of Nebraska. Follow us on Facebook to become part of our
Savor the Flavor photo contest and show your Flavor Craver spirit.
This project was funded in part by grants from the Nebraska Department of Travel and Tourism and USDA Rural Development.
