Pawnee City, Red Cloud, and Union step up to the NCIP Leadership Development Challenge

December 21, 2009 (Lincoln, NE) The communities of Pawnee City, Red Cloud and Union have been selected to participate in the Nebraska Community Improvement Program (NCIP) Leadership Development Challenge NCIP is a program offered through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. The NCIP Leadership Development Challenge offers curriculum to help communities build on their current leadershiip and volunteerism levels. Materials include a communty-based leadership module, a community analysis/planning module, case studies focused on economic development, housing, health, education and government; and a capstone project for each community that;s submitted to DED and evaluated for potential implementation funding. "The LDC brought all age groups together to share our lives for six months with an end result of coompletion of two worthwhile capstone projects." said Bernie Cunningham from Petersburg, the pilot community for the Leadership Development Challenge. "Mostly we benefitted fromour shared experience of seeing the value in all generations helping to develop our leadership skills for the future." Pawnee City's (pop.864) citizens participate inmore than 15 community and civic organizations with all ages working on projects. Many community leaders serve in several organizations at a time in one or more capacities, and few qualified leaders tend to run for city council or other ositions. Therefore the community wants to encourage more citizens to step into leadership positions. The community is active in hosting town hall meetings, conducting surveys and involving citizens and business owners in future planning. With some help, leaders can learn how to better establish riorities, involve more volunteers and use resources more wisely. For information, contact Alan Richard at 402-852-2887 or alanrichardpcdc@yahoo.com There are currently many outstanding volunteers and leaders in Red Cloud (pop. 960), however the goal is to recruit younger, equally energetic citizens to grow this current base and eventually take their places. There are many active organizations, and it is believed that LDC training could helpbetter coordinate projects and establish more specific goals, such as brick street repair, maintenance and growth of the Cather Foundation, pursuit of historic preservation projects and new business recruitment, among others. For information, contact Barbara Sprague at 402-746-3606 or bb33@gpcom.net Union's (pop.256) current level of citizen participation is low, but growing during the past few months. The village has an active park board that sponsors activities and fundraisers, two active churches, and a group of motivated citizens who are interested in effecting change. The Village Board includes one chairperson and four trustees- none who had any prior community or organizatgional leadership experience. Through mostly inexperienced, all are motivated and receptive to new ideas. The village also lacks any community planning process and would greatly benefit from implementing one. When it celebrated its centennial in 1987, the village united to host the successful event, so the capacity is there. For information, contact Mindy Chapman at 402-890-8287 or unionnebraska@gmail.com Leadersip Development Challenge is currently in an open application cycle for communities eligible for USDA Rural and Community Development initiative funds throught the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. This includes the following Communities: Ainsworth, Alexandria, Bassett, Bloomfield, Blue Hill, Brock, Coleridge, Cook, Creighton, Crofton, Deshler, Edgar, Falls City, Geneva, Guide Rock, Hartington, Hebron, Humbolt, Johnstown, Laurel, Long Pine, Lorton, Milligan, Niobrara, Ohiowa, Osmond, Pawnee City, Peru, Plainview, Red Cloud, Springview, Superior and Talmage. For information about NCIP and/or NCIP Leadership Development Challenge contact Christina Bartels at 800-426-6505 or Christina.bartels@nebraska.gov