CFRA 030909 Clips

/ HOLT CO. 1NDEPENDI:NT THURSDAY WEEKI,Y O'NEILL, NE Circulation = 3453 -

:JBS Loses Fight over. National Beef-Merger

JBS S.A., the Brazilian and rural communities won ... JBS meatpacker that has quickly become a dominate player in the U.S. beef sector, announced that the company will cease efforts to acquire National Beef Packing of Kansas City.

"This is a huge victory for American ranchers and farmers with livestock. Thousands of family farmers, ranchers and other concerned citizens, rural and urban, signed the Center for Rural Affairs' petition against the JBS mergers and reached out to the Justice Department to urge .them to challenge the JBS mergers," said John Crabtree of the Center for Rural Affairs. "Justice responded by challenging the JBS - National Beef merger in court, and this announcement is the end result." JBS originally announced its intention to acquire National Beef on March 4,2008. The Department of Justice filed a suit to block the deal on Oct. 20, 2008, on grounds that the merger reduced competition in cattle markets.

"Family farmers, ranchers and their allies can and should be proud of winning this battle. I know the Cente- Rural Affairs is proud of our cfforts and of all our friends that stood with us on this. Somany people have told us so many times that nothing can be done about these mergers. Well, they were wrong. We won. .. family farmers, ranchers

lost," concluded Crabtree. In a statement, the Brazilian beef

giant said all related litigation with the Department of Justice also will be terminated.

"JBS will try to spin it, but this time, on this deal, the little guys won the day," added Crabtree.

JBS became one of the top three U.S. beef packers in October 2008 when ~ustice approved their purchase of the Smithfield Beef Grou~. which included four beef packin'g' plants and the Five Rivers Ranch cattle- feeding operation with the capacity to feed over 800,000 head of cattle. However, JBS negotiations with the Justice department were insufficient to convince Justice to compromise. JBS S.A. is currently the world's largest beef producer and packer, -

with a daily slaughter capacity of 65,000 head of cattle. They are the largest global exporter of processed beef. Their operations include 22 plants located in nine Brazilian states, six plants located in Argentina, nine plants in Australia, 10 plants in Italy .. and in the U.S. a daily beef slaughter capacity of 28,100cattle,FiveRivers Cattle Feeding and a lamb slaughter plant along with three pork packing plants with adaily slaughter capacity of 47,900 hogs.

For more information visit: httD:/ /~~~.cfra.ore/comvetition ,J'

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i ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ s ~ L r - I lnforrnatlon Serv~ces Inc

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i - COMMUNITY

COUNTY CHRONICLE TUESDAY WEEKLY FRANKLIN, NE Circulation = 1354

I 4

Franklin County Chronicle -'

Franklin school installs L When traveling west

past Franklin Public School individuals will notice the recent installation of an LED sign announcing activities at the school.

According to Franklin Public School Superintendent Mike Lucas the sign was purchased from Tri-City Signs out of Hastings and Grand Island.

The sign installation began Tuesday, Feb. 10 and was completed Thursday, Feb. 12.

A $3,500.00 REAP grant helped to purchase the $18,900.00 sign.

Dr. Lucas said that the money to purchase the sign was taken out of the Building Fund, which does not take anything away from what is spent on text books, computers or

salaries. Weiss attended training for new sign makes it easier School secretaries posting the messages on and faster to update activi- .

Diana Hammer and Jan the sign. Both agreed the ties.

LED SIGN -- Tri City Signs out of Hastings and Grand Island installed the new LED sign at Franklin Public School Tuesday, Feb. 10 and completed installation

.., Thursday, Feb. 12.

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BULLETIN WEDNESDAY WEEKLY

NORTH PLATTE, NE Circulation = 3905

02/25/2009

young businesses succeed without big city I -

- - The Bulletin Staff

A 24-year-old CEO and the founder of JM Web Designs delivered the opening address Feb. 25 at a small business conference - MarketPlacc -- in North Platte.

The one-day conference was held Wednesday at the Quality Inn and SuitesISandhills Convention Center.

Jonathan Patton started business at age 14, working out of his bedroom. His web design business now has more than 15 employees and an international clientele.

The conference offered sessions on finance, marketing, development, policy, agriculture and technology for all sizes of businesses.

And this year's Marketplace had many sessions designed especially for high school students and young adults. More than 600 people registered for the confernce, including some 100 students plus many teachers.

Another session was led by students from a business class at Arthur County High School, who demonstrated how to find new uses for old products.

Neal Ely, owner of Ely Farms of Grafton, talked about the pros and cons of business success and what is impor- tant to the survival of rural Nebraska.

1- Ely started Ely Farms Pickled Asparagus as an FFA -

Neal Ely of Ely Farms

project. His product is now sold locally in gourmet and specialty grocery stores, as well as over the Internet.

The goal of the conference was to show viable options for youth to live in small communities and develop small business, including farming and ranching, said Kathie 'Starkweather, Center for Rural Affairs.

A session taught concepts of entrepreneurship through hands-on investigation. Participants used a variety of tools to help develop entre- preneurial skills without having to move to a big city.

Lunch featured Nebraska-raised meat (or fish by request), tomatoes and cucumbers, plus refreshments. Participants will receive a binder of proceedings, and have the opportunity to visit a tremendous number of resources and expertise in one location.

To learn more about JM Web Designs, see http://www.jmwebdesigns.com/

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I CITIZEN EVENING DAILY HOLDREGE, NE Circulation = 2993

I & E Club's next meeting is set March 16 in Minden

--"%ill My Idea Work-For Me? " is the topic for the Innovator's & Entre- preneur's (1 & E) Club mccting slated for 6 p.m.. March 16 at the Mintlcn F ix Hall just off the southwest comer of thc downtown square in Minden.

Speakers Dena Beck and Sharon Hucftle will prcscnt infonnation on blending personal and busincss goals.

Beck, a Kural Enterprise Assis- tance Project ( R E ~ ~ B u s i n e s s Spu- cialist, helps small businesses and busincss start-ups with planning, fi~nding, and training. Hueftle is director of South Central Economic Development District, an organization promoting economic dcvelop- inent in all forms.

According to Hucftle, "The I & E Club is a supportive group of Inven- tors, Innovators and Entrcprcncurs crcating a contagious entreprcacurial environment in which participants can investigate the potential of their busincss ideas." Each monthly mccting includes socializing, education,

and networking. Meeting sites alter- nate between Minden and Holdrege.

For more information, contact Club Chairs: Lisa Karnatz Stadler, Kear- ,

ney County Economic Development -: Agcncy, [email protected] , 308-830-3206; Monica Boyken, Phelps County Dcvclopn~cnt Corp., [email protected], 308-9954 148.

The PK Partnership of Phelps and Keamey Clounty is a public-private consortium of area profcssionals with I

a deep intercst in helping businesses -

succeed in South Ccntral Nebraska.

DAILY NEWS EVENING DAILY NORFOLK, NE Circulation = 17282

03/03/2009

- . ~ ' , , -,. - - - Let the sun shine

LYONS ---In the FSush ad~njnist~,nl kin's final days, the USIIA rushed forwaid a Natu:al!y-Raised Label (Ilaj~r. Sbndal-d. The Center for

..-. : Rural Afhil:s has pushed the USDA to create ~!anilards for meat mar- kt)tcd undcr a \;; riety of label s such a:; grass- fed, horlnonc--free, antibi' )tic-free, and pasture-based in ordcr- to enhance n!nrketing opportunities for. f;~mily libestock producc~~s who can meet those claims.

The 1wt-minute Natura!ly-liaised stind:3rd urould undertnin~ pro- -.-:

< j ~ ~ i . X i ~ : , . \\c;rl<, ! :.? i~~,~.~:l~li:;!~ thesc rim! l ~ t ~ , by : l i i l ~ i ~ ~ i ? , t ~ i r l f ; &L:( )vc,:Irl*er ~011- L'. ) ~dc:r~:a.. C onsvrtrcl-- expect that :1'.111111.11-;11!:,: riiis(:~f)' ! ; t i )~ \1 ~vtru)c\ cover ; I ~ i : t arrirnals a1-e fed and the en\.imnment in which they ;.\yere r:liscd.

iCu .,udl standards are inc1udt:d in the Bush administration's label. Fwf:in;~tt:l!;: the problcms wit11 t l~is 1TSI)A 4rbcl claim standard can

still be add?<. -.~:i.d. 'l'hc Obamn White House issued a rntmo allowi~lg Tor recent regulatcii-y actic.:ns hy the previous administration that- have not taken effect tu be extended and revit.btled.

Seireta t.y of Agriculture Tom Vilsack sl~ould exte~.th the rule's effective date, open anolher public, comment period, a!~d withdl-;r~.v this labeling standard. In its place, he should direct the Ag Marketing Ser- vice (AMS) to develop revised standards for meat f r t n 1ivt:stock raised without antibiotics, without added honnones, and for pasture-based livestock. USllA lal~el cioin~s should provide "'i~inshir~e" for ccinsurners and prvduccrs, nr)t deceptive darkncss a!ld cunfusion.

JOHN CR.AHTKEE Center for lCul-ir! Affairs

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(402) 342-31 78

RECORD WEDNESDAY WEEKLY ttl

b Circulation = 2673 I CHADRON.

1 1

! JBLY loses fight over beef merger - By Center for Rural Affairs

.. liS S..1\.. tCiz iIra7ilinn meat- ,a epac!.:~ tll,~! ii;i.: q~iickly become

a do!:iitl:ltc p1;1yc1- in the U.S. bccf .i<:(.ioi. a11:loiinccd Friday, Fcb. 20 ?:;a1 rlic company would ct.:ise ef'fi\r~s to acquirc National Hc+:S P;i~.ki~lg of Ka!~sas cit4; etTecti\.e Fehr~ial-y 23.

" l h i s is a Iirl;:' victory for A~i?ericarr r:inc!~k:~-r and fartt~el.s wit!) I I \ ~ c s ~ o ~ ~ . I - '~OLIS;~I><~S f;~r~?ily f.;r~-~i~ei-s. ranc.hcl-s anti otlicr co~tccrnc:? cili/cns. r111;iI

and ur.b;tlr. sigrii.6: rlie rentcs for R~~r;rl 12t1:1i1-.;' p.litioll against thc JUS rncrgc.l.s and reached out to t l i i ' Jus~ic .~ I tly)ilrtmcnt to urgt: tltznt tu ~I; ; i /! i~~l;c the JBS mc~g,:rs." s:~icl ~ { . I ~ I I I ! rahtrce of the CIcn!(*i liw ~ci;s:rl Affairs. "Ju~tice ~.cspontic,cl by challenging the JHS - National Beef merger in court, ant1 this announcement is tliz end result."

JBS origin;illy announced its intention to acquire National Beef on March 4. 2008. The Depat.tnlent of Justice filed a suit to bloch illc 1.1c;il on Oct. 20.

2008, on grounds that the merger reduced competition in cattle markets.

"Family farmers, ranchers and their allies can and should be proud of winning this battle. I know the Center for Rural Affairs is proud of our efforts and of all our friends that stood with us on this. So many people have told us so many tirnes that nothing can be done about these mergers. Well, they were wrong. We won ... family farmers, ranchers and rural communities won ... JBS lost,'' concluded Crabtree.

In a statement, the Brazilian beef giant said all related litigation with the Department of Justice also will be terminated.


JBS became one of the top three U.S. beef packers in October 2008 when Justice approved their purchase of the Smithfield Beef Group, which

included four beef packing plants and the Five Rivers Ranch cattle-feeding operation with the capacity to feed over 800,000 head of cattle. However, JBS negotiations with the Justice department were insufficient to convince Justice to compromise.

JBS S.A. is currently the world's largest beef producer and packer, with a daily slaughter capacity of 65,000 head of cattle. They are the largest global exporter of processed beef. Their operations include 22 plants located in nine Brazilian states, six plants located in Argentina, nine plants in Australia, 10 plants in Italy and in the U.S. a daily beef slaughter capacity of 28,100 cattle. Five Rivers Cattle Feeding and a lamb slaughter plant along with three pork packing plants with a daily slaughter capacity of 47,900 hogs.

For more information visit: http:l/www.cfra.org/competition

NEMAHA CO. HERALD FRIDAY WEEKLY AUBURN, NE Circulation = 2628

02/26/2009

' ' Brazilian Meatpacker Loses :, Fight Over Natl. Beef Merger +

JBS S.A., the Brazilian meatpacker that has quickly become a dominate player in the U.S. beef sector, has announced that the company will cease efforts to acquire National Beef Packing of Kansas City, effective Febru- ary 23rd.

"This is a huge victory for American ranchers and farmers with livestock. Thousands of family farmers,ranchers and other concerned citizens, rural and urban, signed the Center for Rural Affairs' petition against the JBS mergers and reached out to the Justice Department to urge them to challenge the JBS mergers," said John Crabtree of the Center for Rural Affairs. "Justice responded by challenging the JBS - National Beef merger in court, and this announcement is the end result."

JBS originally announced its intention to acquire Na- tional Beef on March 4,2008. The Department of Justice filed a suit to block the deal on Oct. 20,2008, on grounds that the merger reduced competition in cattle markets.

"Family farmers, ranchers and their allies can and should be proud of winning this battle. I know the Cen- ter for Rural Affairs is proud of our efforts and of all our friends that stood with us on this. So many people have told us so many times that nothing can be done about these mergers. Well, they were wrong. We won... family farmers, ranchers and rural communities won ... JBS lost,"

\

concluded Crabtree. In a statement, the Brazilian beef giant said all related

litigation with the Department of Justice also will be terminated.


JBS became one of the top three U.S. beef packers in October 2008 when Justice approved their purchase of the Smithfield Beef Group, which included four beef packing plants and the Five Rivers Ranch cattle-feeding operation with the capacity to feed over 800,000 head of cattle. However, JBS negotiations with the Justice department were insufficient to convince Justice to compromise.

JBS S.A. is currently the world's largest beef producer and packer, with a daily slaughter capacity of 65,000 head of cattle. They are the largest global exporter of processed beef. Their operations include 22 plants located in nine Brazilian states. six plants located in Argentina, nine plants in Australia, 10 plants in Italy and in the U.S. a daily beef slaughter capacity of 28,100 cattle, Five Riv- ers Cattle Feeding and a lamb slaughter plant along with three pork packing plants with a daily slaughter capacity of 47,900 hogs.

For more information visit: http:ilwww.cfra.orglcom- petition

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PHONOGRAPH-HERALD WEDNESDAY WEEKLI' ST PAUL, NE Circulation = 2448

02/25/2009

Business Workshop a Success; - =

M o r e Op~ortwnities Available . .

HEAP ~ d d i n ~ Office Hours in St . Paul Qver 20 area business owners tinning, i,e. selling the bubiness.

articipated in u workshop at the Providing training lor area t. Paul Library with Dave businesses or potential busincsses,

Buchbolz, President of David cBr "The St. Paul Development Assncit~tes in 1-lastings* Corporation is pleased to ~;,rtnc!

The program, "How to Get Wig with the Center for Rural ffalrs Results from a Small Advertising REAP program in bringins this Butlgct", discussed the impor= much-needed information to our tance of knowing your market(s) area," said Mike Fecken, Director and figuring out what speaks to of the St. Paul Development customers. Also discussed, was Corporation. If there are other tnp- selling vs, marketing ond many ics 01' interebt to existing or poten- tools to market with little or no tial businesses in the area, contact monetary investment. Buchholz either Mike Feeken at (308) 754- stressed, especially in these eco- 4561, [email protected] or nomic times, that customer serv- Rena Beck at (308) 528-0060, ice is king along with the value or [email protected]. taking care of your existing cus- All appointments are confiden- tomers. He encouraged business tial and can be made for March owners to evaluate their business 12, by calling the SPDC at (308) from the customers' perspective. 754-4661.

St. Paul business owners have "Business Planning is crucial . even more opportunities to gain during tough economic times and , business assistance as the Center by Innking an appointment for a

- ~ '

for Rural Affairs' Rural Enterprise meeting they could have access to +ssiitance Project (REAP), will one-on-one assistance," com-

hold monthly office hours in St. mented Beck. "This is an apportu- c Paul. On Thursday, March 12, nity to learn more about the serv- Dena Beck, REAP Business ices REAP offers. Entrepreneurs Specialist, will be present at the can also learn more about training St. Paul Development Corpora- opportunities available and he tion (SPDC) office at 51 1 Howard able to provide input on trainings Avenue to work with area busi- the would like to see available." nesses. ho rc information about REAP,

REAP Assistance orrered along with an online loan apylica- includes: tion, C ~ I I I be fount1 at www.

Start-up assistance including cfra.org/reap. The Center for a business plan, market analysis, Rural Affairs receives funding for ctc. REAP from the Nebraska Micro-

* Help for existing businesses enterprise Development Act, that want to expand. Community Development Block

REAP also has a microloan Grants through the Nebraska fund up to $35,000 and can assist Depart~ncnt of Economic Devel- the entrepreneur with other opment, Small Business Admin- financin sources. t istration, Unitcd States Depart-

* Wor ,ing with existing busi- ment o l Agriculrure and other / ^qesses that are considering transi- sources.

?, - L "%- -- -_l_i. /_~.,".w._... I& ,I-_ ----I-.. - - . - ~ ~ ~ - ~ ~ - -

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STANDARD

OXFORD, Nebraska

Date. Thursday, February 19, 2009 Frequency: WEEKLY Circulation: 81 9 Clip Size: 24.49 sq. inches Ad Rate: $3.73 Pagelsection: 8

c C * & 4 t 2 m \ A l l ~ ~

Grants available to non-profits for improving rural health; Holdrege earned one in 2008!

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska announced Wednesday, Feb. l I. the 2009 Blue Health Advantage Wellness Grants.

The program was launched in 2008 to support"hea1th and wellness programs across the state, especially in Greater Nebraska. In 2009, the BHA Wellness Grants will provide a total of $100,000 to be shared by as many as ten different non-profit organizations. The grants, of up to

' 920,000 each, wtll be awarded this summer to those projects which show the greatest promise for bettering the health and well-being of community residents outside of the Omaha/Lincoln metropolitan areas.

A new and stunning report from the Center for R d A f h b in Lyons, NE.. demonstrates the challenges facing rural Nebraska. Before 1980, N- ral Americans were generally more fit than their urban counterparts. Now, that has changed, with the rural residents with higher obesity rates.

The Center recommends the creation of community-based nutrition and exercise programs to address the issue. Says Joe Bailey of the Center far Rural Affairs: "We applaud Blue Cross for making this commitment to wellness in Greater Nebraska. We know it can make a difference."

In the first year of the program, Blue Cross received more than sixty excellent proposals. Of those, nine stood out for their innovation, community focus, and potential impact. Among the winners: the "Fit Farmers" program in Holdrege, walking trails designed for all ages in Chadron, and two school-based programs focused on preventing childhood obesity. Over the summer, a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska team traveled to each community to award the checks, as well as to draw attention to the excellent work being done to improve the health of Nebraskans. A similar media tour is planned for the 2009 winners.

Proposals for the 2009 grants are currently being accepted. Those applications must be received at Blue Cross and Blue Shield no later than April 1, 2009. The complete Request for Proposal (RFP) and full application derails can be found under "Features" or "Who We Are-Community Relations" at www.bcbsne.com.

Universal Information Services , Inc. http://news.universaI-info.com Profile: 1 11 - Center for Rural AfFairs Recipient: John Crabtree

Page: 1 /I

STANDARD

OXFORD, Nebraska

Date: Thursday, Februaly 19,2009 Frequency: WEEKLY Circulation: 81 9 Clip Size: 14.64 sq. inches Ad Rate: $3.73 Pagelsection: 6

c copy^@ 2009 \ AlliQhte R e a m d

Marketplace encourages growth of small business b the economy impacting your

business? Consider attending the 3rd annual Marketplace Conference, which encourages the growth of small business and micro-business to be held on Wednesday, Februaryr25, in North Platte, NE at the Sandhills Convention Center.

Registration begins at 7 a.m. with Marketplace concluding at 5 p.m. Fifty booths including GROW Nebraska all Nebraska product store will be open beginning at 7:30 a.m. Thirty plus breakout sessions encompassing topics of agricultural, business development, community development, financial, Hispanic, marketing, technology, and youth will be available throughout the day.

Network and learn, enjoy lunch and refreshments featuring local foods.

For more information or to register for MarketPlacc visit: www.cfra.orrtlmarketplace/home or phone Joy Marshall at (402) 614- 5558.

The Marketplace is funded in part by USDA Rural Development via the Rural Business Enterprise Grant program. The RBEG program provides funds to facilitate the development of small and emerging rural businesses. USDA Rural Development's mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural resident..

Universal Information Services, Inc. http://news.universal-info.com Page: 1 /I Profile: 11 I - Center for Rural Ahirs Recipient: John Crabtree

Date: Thursdav. March 5,2009 , . INDEPENDENT

OAKLAND, Nebraska

< .

Frequency: WEEKLY Circulation: 131 5 Clip Size: 43.22 sq. inches Ad Rate: $5 Pagelsection: LEADER 2

Bringing jobs to Burt County

By Patty Plugge, Dlrector Burt County Econornlc bvelopm&t Catporetion We are, now three months

into 2009, which certainly doesn't seem possible. This organization ofEcially began in September of 2005. With only an office space, we Literally started from the ground up. But with the di- rection of a great board of directors and the help of our economic development partners (NPPD, Black Hills Energy, DED), we are making great strides. Unfor- tunately, nothing happens quite as fast as we would like. Sometimes we need to take a quick look back to remember just how far we have come and what we have accomplished.

We hit the ground run- ning in 2005 with four etha- nolprospects within the first two months. Our organization spent a large amount of time gathering information, both on our ethanol site and on the prospects. While the ethanol plant didn't mate- rialize, we learned a great deal from the process. We

are still marketing the in- dustrial site between Oak- land and Lyons, as well as a seven acre site in Tekarnah. With options signed on both sites, we can market these sites as premium industrid sites with the State Depart- ment of Economic Develop- ment.

We assisted Feeney Man- ufacturing in locating their operations into Nebraska. Their expansion included purchasing and renovat- ing a building in Tekamah. REISA Construction also ex- panded into Tekarnah when they purchased a building on the grounds of the Tekamah Airport. These two projects contribute eighteen new jobs to Burt County, with plans for more. We have also answered seven formal requests for information from businesses looking to expand, as well as counseled a large number of small or start-up businesses.

We must continually work to keep information and statistics updated that businesses who are looking for new sites or buildings need. We now have a Burt County Facts Book, both in hard copy and online. Along with this, we launched a new county website in 2008, www.burtcoedc.com. This website includes not only business information, but tourism and relocation information.

Tourism is an area fiat we are promoting for the coun-

ty A new County Visitor's Guide will be published in April of this year. It will be distributed throughout the county at locations that visitors frequent. Also it -will-be available -at Visitors Centers along the Interstate and at the new Corps of Dis- covery Welcome Center in South Yankton. Each visitor we can attract brings their dollars to spend in Burt County.

We started a County Busi- ness Visitation Program, which involves the board and various partners calling on our existing primary industries. We have visited fifteen businesses two sepa- rate times, and will continue bi-yearly visits. This program helps us understand the needs, challenges and trends facing the various county industries.

We have sponsored an entrepreneur class called REAP, along with the Ox- & for Rural Affairs. We partnered with them again recently on a Business Exit Seminar held on March 3rd. Plans are for a Leadership Program to begin this year. Part of our mission is to provide educational services to county businesses.

Whew, I guess we are get- ting things done. Economic development is a test of pa- tience. We must continue our efforts to improve the economic health of our county through inevitable changes faced each year.

Universal Information Services , Inc. http://news.universaI-info.com Profile: 11 1 - Center for Rural Affairs Recipient: John Crabtree

Page: 111

MIDLAND NEWS

VALENTINE, Nebraska

- . .. - - . Date: Wednesday, February 18,2009 Frequency: WEEKLY p3

gza &

Circulation: 2056 3is-&m =..pg%f

Clip Size: 25.35 sq. inches Lp=zem a.

Health insurer expands grant program for greater Nebraska communities

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kebraska is pleased to announce the 2009 Blue Health Advantage Wellness Grants. The program was launched in 2008 to support health and wellness programs across the state, especially in Greater Nebraska. In 2009, the BHA Wellness Grants will provide a total of $100,000 to be shared by as many as ten different non-profit organizations. The grants, of up to $20,000 each, will be awarded this summer to those projects which show the greatest promise for bettering the health and well-being of community residents outside of the Omaha/Lincoln metropolitan areas.

A new and stunning report &om the Center for Rural Mairs in Lyons, NE, demonstrates the challenges facing rural Nebraska. Before 1980, rural Americans were generally more fit than their urban counterparts. Now, that has changed, with the rural residents with higher obesity rates. The Center recommends the creation of community-based nutrition and exercise programs to address the issue. Says Joe Bailey of the

for Rural Affairs: "We applaud Blue Cross for making this commitmentto wellnessin Greater Nebraska. We know it can make a

difference." . In the first year of the program,

Blue Cross received more than sixtyexcellentproposals. Of those, nine stood out for their innovation, community focus, and potential impact. Among the winners: the "Fit Farmers" program in Holdrege, walking trails designed for all ages in Chadron, and two school-based programs focused on preventing childhood obesity. Over the summer, a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska team traveled to each community to award the checks, as well as to draw attention to the excellent work being done to improve the health of Nebraskans.

. A similar media tour is planned for the 2009 winners.

Proposalsfor the2009 grants are cw'rently being accepted. Those applications must be received at Blue Cross and Blue Shield no later than April 1.2009. The complete Request for Proposal (RFP) and full application details can be found under "Features" or "Who We Are-Community Relations" at HYPERLINK "http://www.bcbsne.comW www.bcbsne.com. For a hard-copy of the RFP, please contact Carol Vidlak at HYPERLINK "mailto:carol.vidlak@bcbsne. com" [email protected] or (402) 398-3734.

--

Universal Information Services , Inc. http://news.universal-info.com - -- Page: 111 Profile: 111 - Center for Rural Affairs Recipient: John Crabtree

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CFRA 030909 Clips