GROW Nebraska Accomplishments and Awards
GROW Mentor Award
When Sheryll Hickman was diagnosed with cancer, she decided that she had a lot of ideas for paintings she would like to do and needed to "kick it in high gear." The result of this decision was the creation of her own business, Sheryll Hickman, Artist. This positive outlook and commitment to overcome any obstacle is one of the reasons Hickman was chosen as the GROW Nebraska 2012 Member Mentor of the Year. Hickman has been a member of GROW Nebraska for eight years during which she has spearheaded several projects including helping manage the Kearney GROW Nebraska Store. "I always encourage new members and members that come in to the store so they will be positive and know how great it is to have an organization such as GROW," Hickman said.
Janell Anderson Ehrke, CEO and founder of GROW Nebraska, says Hickman has given much to the program. "Sheryll is a perfect example of what GROW Nebraska is all about. We believe you can live anywhere in Nebraska and make a successful living by promoting your product or service to a global market."
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View the 2011 Mentor Award >>
View the 2010 Mentor Award >>
Awards
Kearney Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Month
GROW Nebraska was selected by Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council Spotlighted Small Business of the Month for April 2010.
2009 Third District Excellence in Economic Development Award
Congressman Adrian Smith's award honors ten individuals, businesses, and organizations which, through innovation, hard work, and entrepreneurship, have helped strengthen Nebraska communities. Nebraska and other rural states have seen a ‘brain drain' in recent years. As this depletion occurs, we lose our most vital economic asset to more populated areas. The ten honorees received gratitude for their efforts to strengthen their communities and Nebraska.
The Connecting Rural Nebraska Award
The organizers of the 2007 Annual Nebraska Rural Institute Conference gathered votes from economic development professionals in the state for a "Connectivity" award in recognition of original work done on behalf of rural Nebraska. GROW Nebraska™ was selected from central Nebraska. The award was presented to Janell Anderson Ehrke by Governor Heineman, Richard Baier, Director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, and Don Reynolds of the Partnership for Rural Nebraska (and a member of the GROW Nebraska™ Advisory Board).
Funder Guide
The fifth guide in FIELD's series examining ways donors can support the microenterprise industry is now available. Microenterprise Development Programs: The Entrepreneur Within, explores how microenterprise programs can become more entrepreneurial, how they can build a stronger case for support by demonstrating value, and the roles donors can play in such efforts.
In addition, this four-page guide showcases two programs - GROW Nebraska and the Mountain Microenterprise Fund - that recognized the need to become as entrepreneurial as their clients in order to become more sustainable. Each program used a different approach, which is detailed in the guide.
The Funder Guide Series is an outgrowth of FIELD's 2005 report examining the state of microenterprise, Opening Opportunities, Building Ownership: Fulfilling the Promise of Microenterprise in the United States. All five guides, as well as the full report and executive summary are available for free download.
The guides, which have been widely distributed to funders, may also be useful to practitioners as they seek models of innovative programs within the industry and as they reach out to existing and potential funders.
GROW Nebraska™ receives the 2002 Economic Development Award
CONEKA, the Tri State Region economic development organization of Southwest Nebraska, Northwest Kansas, and Northeast Colorado awarded GROW Nebraska™ the 2002 Economic Development Award for demonstrating ingenuity, enterprise and resourcefulness in making a significant contribution to the economy of the Tri-State Region.
GROW Nebraska™ is an Entrepreneurial Support Organization
GROW Nebraska™ is considered by the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Center for Rural Entrepreneurial to be a Entrepreneurial Support Organization (ESO). An ESO is like private entrepreneurs are driven to create–but their creation has a public mission. The Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership bases this assessment on a case sturdy research on private entrepreneurs. GROW Nebraska™ has been a grantee of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to create and deliver services to rural Nebraska entrepreneurs.
GROW Receives "Top 10" Rural Award
GROW Nebraska™ has been recognized by the Nebraska Rural Development Commission (RCD) as one of the Commission's Top 10 Rural Development Initiatives for 2000. The RCD's Top 10 and Outstanding 100 Rural Development Initiatives honors those development projects, initiatives, businesses and communities that contribute positively to community and economic development in rural Nebraska.
Tri-State Initiative for Economic Development 2002 Honorary Business Award
Presented for demonstrating ingenuity, enterprise and resourcefulness in making a significant contribution to the economy of the Tri-State region of Southwest Nebraska, Northwest Kansas and Northeast Colorado.
2001—Nebraska Rural Development Commission "Outstanding 100 Rural Development Initiatives"
2000—Nebraska Rural Development Commission "Top 10 rural Development Initiatives for 2000"
1999—Nebraska Rural Development Commission "Outstanding 100 Rural Development Initiatives"
Accomplishments
GROW Nebraska strives to increase their impact on the local economy, to improve their global presence through the web and to create an entrepreneurial network for Nebraska businesses. View the links below to see how GROW Nebraska is accomplishing these goals.
- 2010 Benchmarks
- 2010 Technology Benchmarks
- 2009 Benchmarks
- 2009 Technology Benchmarks
- 2008 Benchmarks
- 2008 Technology Benchmarks
- 2007 Benchmarks
- 2007 Technology Benchmarks
- 2006 Benchmarks
Annual Reports
GROW Nebraska produces Annual Reports yearly highlighting our accomplishments.
