GROW News
September 16, 2009
Lincoln Holiday Store
The GROW Nebraska Lincoln Holiday Store will be open this year from mid-October through mid-January and will be in the same location as last year in Westfield Gateway Mall.
Due to an increase in membership, we can only accept displays and tables that are 4' or smaller in length and width to ensure there is room for everyone who would like to be involved.
SIGN UP NOW >>
Remember, this is a separate opportunity from the Kearney and Grand Island stores. You MUST sign up to be included. Deadline for signup is September 30th! That is ONLY 2 weeks from today!!!!
Marketing Workshops
GROW Nebraska is offering Marketing Workshops throughout the state this fall. The workshops, titled
Enhance Your Online Marketing Strategy, are a great opportunity to learn more about marketing your business online.
Reaching your target market and customer base today has become more challenging! There are so many ways to reach your target market with all the online applications and tools available today - Facebook, Delicious, YouTube, Flickr, Twitter, Friendfeed to just name a few!
As part of your online presence learn how to enhance your chances of effective customer communication with search engine optimization and incorporate these online tools into your marketing strategy. It’s all about making sure your web site is search engine and customer friendly.
Below are the locations and times of our workshops. They $10 each and are open to both members and non-members of GROW Nebraska. If you are interested in attending one of these workshops, please sign up
HERE.
- September 22 - Chadron - 3-6 at Chadron State College Student Center
- September 23 - Scottsbluff - 8:30-11:30 at UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center
- September 24 - Sidney- 9-12 at Western Nebraska Community College - Room 112
- October 28 - Fremont - 9-12 at First State Bank and Trust
- October 28 - Omaha - 3-6 at New Development Corporation
- October 29 - Nebraska City 9-12 at Kimmel Research and
Education Center
- November 17 - Valentine - 9-12 at Niobrara Lodge
- November 17 - Bassett - 3-6 at North Central Nebraska RC&D
- November 18 - Norfolk - 9-12 at Northeast Community College
Value Added Producer Grants Available to Farmers and Producers
LINCOLN, NEB., Sept.14, 2009 - Farmers and producers are urged to apply for $18 million in grants to help them add value to the commodities they produce. The funding is made available through USDA Rural Development’s Value Added Producer Grant program.
The national application period for the program closes on November 30, 2009. For more information on how to apply, producers should visit
www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm or see page 45165 of the Sept.1 Federal Register.
USDA plans to award planning grants of up to $100,000 and working capital grants of up to $300,000 to successful applicants. Applicants are encouraged to propose projects that use existing agricultural products in non-traditional ways or merge agricultural products with technology in creative ways. Businesses of all sizes may apply, but priority will be given to operators of small to medium-sized farms operating as a family farm - those with average annual gross sales of less than $700,000.
Applicants must provide matching funds equal to the amount of the grant requested. Ten percent of the funding being made available is reserved for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers. An additional 10 percent is reserved for projects involving local and regional supply networks that link independent producers with businesses, and cooperatives that market value-added products.
If a project is located in Nebraska, a paper application must be submitted to the Rural Development State Office, Attn. Joan Scheel, Rm. 152 Federal Building, 100 Centennial Mall North Lincoln, Neb. 68508. Electronic applications must be submitted through
www.Grants.gov .
Contact Joan Scheel at (402) 437-5594 or
joan.scheel@ne.usda.gov for further information. Visit
www.rurdev.usda.gov/ne.
Opportunity for Entrepreneurs
If you are considering starting a new business this is an opportunity you want to take advantage of.
The Brasch Fast Start workshop is a 12-month, once-a-month program to cover essential practical issues and options facing entrepreneurs in start-up enterprises.
Meetings will begin September 29th from 5:30-8:30 pm.
The purpose of the program is to help develop Nebraska entrepreneurs and there is no cost for participants. Must apply prior to program.
More information is available at
www.braschfaststart.com.
Hands-on Business Plan Writing
Workshop
Topics in this workshop:
* Why it is important to have a business plan
* Elements of a complete business plan
* How to start writing a business plan
* Resources and tools to develop a business plan
* Presenting your business
WHERE: University of Nebraska - Lincoln Nebraska Union (14th and 'R' Street) Room Number posted in Lobby
WHEN: September 25th, 2009
TIME: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
REGISTRATION: Starts at 7:45 am
COST: $10.00 fee (Cash or check at the door)
To register click here
New Look in the Grand Island Store
We recently re-set the Grand Island store, so be sure to stop in and see the new layout!
Buy Local Celebrations
October 1-4, GROW Nebraska will be celebrating in the Kearney and Grand Island stores with Buy Local Celebrations! We plan to do sampling and door prizes.
If you would like to be a part of this please sign up
here. We would like to offer our members the opportunity to sample at one or both stores and to donate a door prize. This is an exciting chance to create a buzz about your business right before the holiday shopping season begins! If you have any questions about it contact us at
info@grownebraska.org.
Get Your Products on the GROW eCommerce Site
GROW Nebraska is calling all members to submit their products to be on the eCommerce site! To qualify, all you need is for your product to be in the Kearney retail store.
Sales on
ShopGrowNebraska.org are up 133% from last year, and we anticipate this trend to continue through the holiday season. Additionally, GROW Nebraska is currently re-designing their eCommerce site to offer better functionality! These changes are anticipated to be done prior to the busy Christmas season.
Did you know that 60% of GROW Nebraska eCommerce orders are from outside of Nebraska to people who have no prior connection to our state? What a great way to expand the market of your product!
To find out which of your products are currently for sale, please visit
growneb.com/store/manufacturers.php and find your business name, then click on the link.
To have your products added to the eCommerce site, please fill out the online form
HERE. Once you have submitted the form, be sure to send pictures of your products to
erin@grownebraska.org. Without pictures we cannot post your product for sale! Pictures must be on a solid white background. If you need pictures taken of your products, please contact Erin at
erin@grownebraska.org.
Member News
Kudos to Haley Ehrke (left) and family on being the Grand Champion Steer at the 2009 State Fair.
Congrats to RayMark. They were on the cover of Rural Electric Nebraska and had a nice article about them.
Sally Buss has been on KHAS TV and NTV and is teaching a class for CCC at the Holdrege site.
Emily Hoops (right), was crowned Milo Queen 2009 on Saturday, Sept 12, 2009. She is the daughter of member Kevin & Paula Hoops (You've Been Framed), of Byron, NE. Emily is
17 years old and a senior at Deshler High School. With the title she received a $250 savings bond.
GROW Job Openings
GROW Nebraska is currently interested in hiring GROW members to work at the Kearney and Grand Island retail locations and the Lincoln Holiday store.
If you or someone you know may be interested, please send resumes to
info@grownebraska.org. Please specify which store you are interested in working in.
