4 Lanes 4 Nebraska

December 18, 2014 Leave a comment


Norfolk, NE — A coalition of industry and business interests in northeast Nebraska today announced the organization of 4 Lanes 4 Nebraska, a trade and advocacy organization promoting the modernization of Nebraska’s transportation infrastructure.  The group will focus immediately on the expansion of Highway 275 from two to four lanes from east of Norfolk to west of Fremont.  It has hired Josh Moenning, former District Director for U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry and Policy and Communications Director for Pete Ricketts’ gubernatorial campaign, to lead the organization.

“We’ve come together to make a simple point: Northeast Nebraska deserves 21st century infrastructure,” Moenning said.  “With 1940s roadways, our steelmakers, manufacturers, cattle feeders, farmers, and small businesses remain isolated from major markets.  We have tremendous potential for new growth and increased quality of life, but outdated infrastructure is costing us countless opportunities to help grow Nebraska.  We hope to work constructively and creatively within our communities and with policymakers to make Hwy 275’s expansion a reality. ”

“Expanding Highway 275 is critically important to Nucor,” said Dirk Petersen, General Manager of Nucor Steel in Norfolk.  “We are poised for significant new growth. Having access to an interstate to realize that growth is crucial.” 

“We’ve been living on an island here for too long,” said Richard Robinson, President of Norfolk Iron & Metal.  “For the good of our families and communities, it’s time to finish the work of connecting our major communities with four-lane highways.” 

“The 275 corridor is cattle country, the largest cattle feeding area in America,” said JD Alexander, owner of Alexander Cattle and Farms of Pilger.  “More cattle are hauled up and down this road by more trucks every day.  We need a better and safer highway.”

“Manufacturers rely on safe, efficient roadways to get products to market,” said Jeff Scherer, Chief Financial Officer of Smeal Fire Apparatus Company of Snyder.  “This is a manufacturing corridor.  We need to get the right infrastructure in place.” 

“Our communities thrive when people and goods travel smoothly and safely,” said Nadine Hagedorn, Community President of Citizens State Bank in West Point.  “Highway 275 expansion would be a boon for area small businesses and community growth.”

“This is one of the most productive agricultural areas in the state,” said Dennis Baumert, owner of Scribner Grain in Scribner.  “Our farm products end up all over the country and all over the world, but getting them in and out of this area is more difficult than it should be.”

Petersen, Robinson, Alexander, Scherer, Hagedorn, and Baumert are founding members of the 4 Lanes 4 Nebraska board of directors.  Moenning will serve as the organization’s executive director, managing its education, research, and public relations efforts.  

Highway 275 was constructed as a two-lane highway in northeast Nebraska in 1939.   In 1988, the State of Nebraska enacted transportation policy to prioritize the connection of each major Nebraska community to an interstate system via a four-lane highway.  Highway 275’s 45 miles of two-lane road remain one of the few unfinished segments within the 600-mile statewide expressway system.

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Over 200 Attend Center for Rural Affairs’ Marketplace

February 12, 2014 Leave a comment


Lyons, NE – Today, over 200 people attended the Center for Rural Affairs’ MarketPlace entrepreneurship conference at the Nielsen Community Center in West Point, Nebraska. MarketPlace kicked off its eighth year of offering training, learning and networking to community leaders, farmers, ranchers, small business owners, entrepreneurs and students with an opening keynote address by U.S. Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE).

The Center is again hosting MarketPlace to provide rural and small town Nebraska with a premier entrepreneurship event that energizes and connects people with others like themselves and with service providers and other professionals who can help them make their businesses and communities thrive.

“West Point is pleased to welcome MarketPlace to our city and the Nielsen Community Center for a second year.  This type of seminar is a valuable tool for existing businesses and for entrepreneurs to find help to expand or start a new business.  Our communities depend on small start-up companies to create jobs and bring new residents to our communities as well as compliment the current business and industries that are here.” Marlene Johnson, Mayor of West Point, Nebraska.

“The Center for Rural Affairs has a passion for helping rural entrepreneurs succeed, and Marketplace is just one of many examples of their efforts that are directly targeted to providing the tools and tactics needed for rural small business success,” said David Buchholz, President and Creative Director ofDavid & Associates of Hastings. “Marketplace and the Center for Rural Affairs provide great resources for people looking to start or grow a small business.”

According to John Crabtree, Center for Rural Affairs Media Director, Buchholz and the other specialists at Marketplace provide a level of marketing expertise that most entrepreneurs could never hope to access individually. At previous conferences, Buchholz has presented to standing-room-only crowds and received rave reviews.

“The expertise on display at MarketPlace truly makes it a one-of-a-kind entrepreneurship event,” Crabtree added.

Prior to his opening keynote address, Rep. Fortenberry was also acknowledged as the recipient of the Center for Rural Affairs’ inaugural George Norris Policymaker Award by the Center’s Executive Director, Brian Depew.

“I am honored to accept the inaugural George Norris Policymaker Award.  It has been a privilege to work with fellow Nebraskans on policies important to the future of our state and rural America.  I’m particularly grateful for the Center for Rural Affairs’ focus on expanding economic opportunity in rural communities, renewable energy production, and help for beginning farmers and ranchers.  I greatly appreciate the Center’s commitment to the values of rural America which make our country strong.”

Representative Jeff Fortenberry.

“George Norris fought for common people,” said Depew. “His public career was made fighting corporate power and standing up for small town America. He believed in everyday people and their ability to shape their destiny.”

We decided to give our inaugural George Norris Policymaker Award to Representative Fortenberry for his tireless work to champion policies that echo the values of the Center for Rural Affairs, of George Norris, and of rural Nebraskans, Depew explained.

According to Depew, Representative Fortenberry’s commitment stands out most clearly in the recent farm bill debate. Over the course of the farm bill debate, he championed provisions to close the egregious loopholes that allow the largest farmers in the country to run away with unlimited subsidies. He also backed new and innovative programs to help beginning farmers and rural small businesses get started. And he helped to win a critical conservation provision that protects our most vulnerable agricultural landscapes.

“Representative Fortenberry stood out among his colleagues in DC on these issues. On some, he bucked the conventional stand of those in his own party. That takes courage. And it is just such political courage that this award was created to recognize,” Depew concluded.

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Fortenberry Receives Award

February 4, 2014 Leave a comment


Lyons, NE – The Center for Rural Affairs presented the inaugural George W. Norris Policymaker award to Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE). He was presented the award in Washington, D.C. by Center for Rural Affairs staff Traci Bruckner and Steph Larsen.  Fortenberry accepted the award on Wednesday, January 29th in the U.S. Capital just after voting on the Farm Bill.

“I am honored to accept the inaugural George Norris Policymaker Award.  It has been a privilege to work with fellow Nebraskans on policies important to the future of our state and rural America.  I’m particularly grateful for the Center for Rural Affairs’ focus on expanding economic opportunity in rural communities, renewable energy production, and help for beginning farmers and ranchers.  I greatly appreciate the Center’s commitment to the values of rural America which make our country strong.”

Representative Jeff Fortenberry.

“This is the first time we’ve presented this award,” said Traci Bruckner, Senior Policy Associate with the Center for Rural Affairs. “However, our choice was clear. Representative Fortenberry has been a tireless champion in this long, arduous farm bill debate. He has stood up and fought for policies that would create a better future for rural and small town America. And he has done so irrespective of political obstacles.”

According to Bruckner, Rep. Fortenberry’s efforts to champion farm program payment limitation reforms in the Farm Bill, along with other ongoing efforts on behalf of beginning farmers and ranchers, were the primary reasons that the Center for Rural Affairs chose Rep. Fortenberry. The award was created to recognize just such political courage in a policymaker and champion of rural America’s public policy priorities.

“Representative Fortenberry has been a true champion for rural America. He has carried forward significant policy initiatives that will make a difference for rural people and communities,” added Bruckner. “And at the end of the day, he has not let go of his principles. We applaud him for voting no on the farm bill, that despite including many of the issues he pushed forward, it failed to include farm program payment limitations reform that was included in both bills but stripped in back room deal-making.”

Bruckner noted that Rep. Fortenberry’s efforts to reform federal farm programs and place real and effective caps on farm payments speaks for itself. For the first time in a generation we were successful in getting the House of Representatives to pass a farm bill that would have set strong payment limits and close farm program loopholes, noted Bruckner.

“Representative Fortenberry was the one who made that happen,” added Bruckner. “He was tireless, he left no stone unturned in looking for bipartisan support for these reforms. And he didn’t stop there, he championed and moved forward beginning farmer and rancher, local and regional food, and conservation initiatives as well as federal support for value added agriculture.”

The namesake for the Center for Rural Affairs George Norris Policymaker award ... Norris was a son of rural Ohio (the son of farmers) and later of rural Nebraska. Much of what Norris accomplished as a policymaker still benefits rural places across the nation and touches our daily work at the Center (public power, rural electrification, the Unicameral legislature). His public career was made in fighting corporate power used against rural people and rural places and bringing attention to the needs of rural and small town America. He believed in common people and their ability to influence government. Norris worked in a bipartisan nature throughout his public career (which is a major criterion for the Center’s award).

For a picture of Representative Fortenberry accepting his award, visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cfra/12225409585/

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