Richard Baier, Director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, talks about entrepreneurship and job building in the state of Nebraska.

NEDA has over 200 members in fields ranging from railroads, government positions, chambers of commerce, construction jobs, advertising agencies and financial institutions. The variety of companies and businesses that are NEDA members allows for strong networking opportunities. The Association has a set of policies that help provide each business with guidance towards success.

Jason Smith, vice president for economic development, said NEDA provides contact information for entrepreneurs looking for the correct path to take when starting a new business.

“Each member of the NEDA will more than likely have some sort of entrepreneur program as part of their local program,” Smith said. “Some of the things that we try to do is provide information on establishing practices in their communities and see what’s successful.”

“We have good networking opportunities for professionals as well as all around the state. One of the things that we try to do is make it where it’s successful to everyone.”

NEDA upcoming Conference titled "NEDA-Taking The 'LEED' in Economic Development"

As part of NEDA’s economic development, they host two conferences each year.  This year’s conference will be held from September 22 to September 24 in Kearney.

Smith said the NEDA also connects the companies with their local economic development offices, which helps spur business in rural areas.

“Our advice would be to contact your local economic development office,” he said. “Most communities will have those tools in place at the local level. If you don’t have a local chamber, there are a number of statewide resources for those who are looking for help.”

NEDA not only focuses on large companies, but also on the entrepreneurs because almost all big companies started as small businesses.

“If you look even at the large companies, they began as entrepreneur effort,” Smith said. “A number of our major employers in the community began as an entrepreneur.”

Smith said the economic outlook for entrepreneurs in the state is positive, especially because of the increase in technology companies throughout Nebraska.

“Since I’ve been here, I’ve been exceptionally impressed with professionalism throughout the state,” he said. “I can’t recall an instance where we’ve had any sort of meeting that didn’t involve entrepreneurship, particularly when it comes to technology and innovation.

“I can tell you from our standpoint, NEDA will be at the forefront pushing the state and local governments to work at fostering those kinds of activities throughout the state.

“Our members are all practicing economic developers as opposed to a local economic developer.”

NEDA is hosting conferences on the following dates:

September 22, 2010 – September 24, 2010 in Kearney

June 1, 2011 – June 3, 2011 in Grand Island

September 28, 2011 – September 30, 2011 in Lincoln

Those interested in attending these conferences can contact Shawnna Silvius at eventuresmarketing@live.com.

For more information on NEDA and NEDA policies and membership click here.

More than 525 people registered to attend the fourth Nebraskan event on February 23 and 24, 2010 at the Ramada Inn Convention Center in Kearney.

The event is making a difference, said Kathie Starkweather, CFRA’s director of rural opportunities and stewardship program. Rural residents have started small businesses and created jobs in their communities as a result of the event, she said.

“It’s encouraging,” she said.

With MarketPlace, CFRA aims to encourage local community support of entrepreneurs. The event is designed to help community leaders embrace local small businesses, which are important to local economies, she said.

“Entrepreneurs do better if they don’t exist in a vacuum,” she said.

Rosemary Johnson, owner of Ben Franklin Crafts in North Platte, Nebraska, said she benefited from networking at the event. With other retailers, she discussed how to develop fresh ideas for her business, which she’s had for 10 years.

She said at first she heard suggestions she’d already tried. Then someone sitting next to her suggested she write down strategies she’s tried in the last 10 years and revisit them.

“I thought that was such an awesome idea,” Johnson said.

Organizers try to take a holistic approach when planning the sessions Starkweather said. MarketPlace offers different tracks for different interests.

Since the number of Hispanic-owned businesses in Nebraska has grown rapidly, the event offers sessions in Spanish on business ownership.

The last two years, MarketPlace has included a youth track. CFRA wants youth to know they can return to rural communities after school and start successful businesses, Starkweather said.

Save the Date: Nebraska MarketPlace 2011

MarketPlace also offers an agricultural track for farmers and ranchers, important entrepreneurs in the rural economy, she said. Other tracks included business development, technology, financial, marketing and women business owners.

“I just think Nebraskans are so resourceful,” said Beth Cole, owner of the WebServant in Merna, Nebraska. The WebServant provides Web site design and marketing for coaches, authors, speakers and consultants across the country.

Cole said the marketing workshops she attended were “packed” and speakers at the conference gave practical advice.

Carol Schooley of Grand Island, who started a golf t-shirt business called RUUD GOLF with a business partner, said she appreciated the focus on business plans.

“It set us off in a direction we needed,” she said. “We needed to organize it and get it off the ground and MarketPlace did the job,” she said in an email.

MarketPlace also provided helpful information about selling over the Internet, she said.

Vendor booths at MarketPlace make it easy for business owners and business suppliers to connect. Johnson of Ben Franklin Crafts said she found a booth on “secret shopping,” a management tool that provides feedback on customers’ retail experience. Johnson said meeting the vendor spurred her to act on this idea she had considered but not yet pursued.

Kori Miller, owner of The Tea Trove in Kearney, said her business provided tea and tisanes, or herbal infusions, to conference participants at one of the breaks.

“This exposure and direct connection with potential customers is invaluable,” she said in an email. In addition, she met representatives of other businesses who could help with finding qualified employees and Web site development.

“There was even a lawyer available offering free advice,” she said.

Next year’s MarketPlace will be February 22 and 23, 2011, in Kearney.

Grow Nebraska from Nebraska Entrepreneur on Vimeo.

Janell Anderson-Ehrke talks about GROW Nebraska and how they help entrepreneurs bring their products to market and the impact they have on economic development.