Ainsworth Area Chamber of Commerce
Newsletter
Ainsworth Area Chamber Office statistical information for month of December :
• We sold $4,030 in Chamber Bucks (excluding the $2,000 giveaway). That's money that stayed right here in Ainsworth.
• We are averaging 2,200 hits per month on our website.
• We responded to 400+ emails, answered 42 phone calls and had 10 people stop in for information.
• We are starting the Chamber Coffees up again, they will be every Thurs morning from 8-8:30 am.

• The calendar of Chamber Coffees will be posted on our website. For businesses interested in hosting a Coffee, they can contact the office.

• numerous newsletters from all sorts of agencies if you would like to look through them for information.



THE STATE CHAMBER
Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry
NEWS UPDATE
January 21, 2010



The 2010 State Chamber visit to Washington, D.C. is set for May 4-5. As in previous years, participants will have lunch with Nebraska’s U.S. senators and congressmen, as well as their senior aides. Attendees will also have the opportunity to attend the traditional Nebraska Breakfast. To help State Chamber members stay abreast of the latest policy issues and developments, briefings will be held at the headquarters of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. With the current issues and legislation being considered in Washington, it is important for State Chamber members to maintain contact with their federal representatives. For more details about the State Chamber’s D.C. visit, or to reserve your spot, call (402) 474-4422 or e-mail jkarl@nechamber.com.



'Bill introductions continue at Nebraska Legislature'

(Unicameral Update) -- The Unicameral Update reports that Nebraska lawmakers continued new bill introduction on Wednesday, Jan. 20. Among the measures introduced were:

• LB994, introduced by Omaha Sen. Steve Lathrop, to change a provision relating to workers' compensation hearing locations;
• LB995, also by Sen. Lathrop, to change the Industrial Relations Act regarding employee representation;
• LB996, also by Sen. Lathrop, would change provisions relating to the use of federal immigration verification systems by public contractors;
• LB999, sponsored by Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell, which would provide a two-year moratorium on new hospital licenses;
• LB1001, sponsored by Fremont Sen. Charlie Janssen, which would change and eliminate residency provisions relating to postsecondary education for children of illegal immigrants;
• LB1002, sponsored by Ellsworth Sen. LeRoy Louden, which would authorize state sales tax revenue assistance derived from the sale of alcoholic liquor for certain political subdivisions;
• LB1017, by Bellevue Sen. Abbie Cornett, to require prescription drug coverage in certain circumstances;
• LB1016, sponsored by Imperial Sen. Mark Christensen, which would adopt the Nebraska Statewide Water Planning Commission Act;
• LB1020, by Sen. Lathrop, to change provisions relating to benefit eligibility under the Employment Security Law;
• LR297CA, by Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber, to amend the constitution to change the powers of municipalities relating to fund sources for economic or industrial development; and
• LB1018 by Sen. Cornett to adopt the Nebraska Advantage Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act.

New bills may be introduced for the first 10 legislative days of the session, or until tomorrow, Jan. 21.

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'Under bill, intervention teams could be sent to lagging Nebraska schools'

(AP/JournalStar.com) -- The AP reports, "Underperforming Nebraska schools may have to open their doors to special teams of educators that would help get the schools back on track." That would happen under LB1007, introduced yesterday by state Sen. Greg Adams of York. Under the bill, "intervention teams" would work with the schools to develop progress plans, as state lawmakers and the governor "would be kept in the loop about what schools were underperforming and needed the teams." The Nebraska Board of Education would establish performance standards, which "would include graduation rates and test scores." See the story at <http://www.journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_f4a956a2-060e-11df-bf9a-001cc4c03286.html>

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'Bill to ban texting while driving introduced, headed for hearing'

(Lincoln Journal Star) -- JournalStar.com reports that state Sen. John Harms of Scottsbluff plans to go forward with a bill to outlaw texting while driving (LB945). "People violating the ban would be ticketed and could be assessed three points off their driver's licenses and fined $200 to $500, depending on how many times they've been ticketed," the story notes. "The violation includes sending and reading texts," while "talking on a cell phone would continue to be legal." See the article at <http://www.journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_5dc0c6aa-055d-11df-a2a3-001cc4c002e0.html>

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'Nebraska bill to create more transparency in local government dies due to cost'

(Lincoln Journal Star) -- JournalStar.com reports that a new bill (LB782) requiring "all cars, trucks and trailers owned or leased by any local government agency" to have "a special license plate clearly labeling it as a government vehicle" is not going anywhere due to the fact it has a price tag. According to the bill's sponsor, state Sen. Deb Fischer of Valentine, "taxpayers would have been better able to monitor vehicles purchased using their tax dollars and see how they were used." But because the "state would lose about $86,000 in state Highway Trust Fund money," Sen. Fischer says she does not "anticipate pushing it forward this session." See more at <http://www.journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_69937100-0556-11df-82c5-001cc4c002e0.html>

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'State will cut about 250 positions'

(Omaha World-Herald) — Omaha.com reports, "Nebraska state government will shed about 250 positions during the next 18 months, reports released Tuesday show." The layoffs come as a result of the state's "budget cuts passed during a November special session of the Legislature." According to state Sen. Lavon Heidemann of Elk Creek, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, "the reports show that agencies will be hit harder next year." See the article at <http://www.omaha.com/article/20100120/NEWS01/701209918>

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'Still time to be part of grant workshops in Lincoln, North Platte and Gering'

(DED release) -- Local government officials and staff can still participate in a series of upcoming workshops detailing the free 2010 Community Development Block Grant application funding process for all eligible planning and community development activities. The workshops will be at the following locations:

• January 21, 1-5 p.m. (CT), Lincoln, Southeast Community College, Continuing Education Center, 301 S. 68th St., Rm. 304
• January 26, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (CT), North Platte, Holiday Inn Express, 300 Holiday Frontage Rd.
• January 27, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (MT), Gering, Civic Center, 1050 M St.

A lack of registrants may result in cancellation of a workshop at any given location, so register today. The registration form can be accessed online at <http://www.neded.org/content/view/117/243> and emailed to ded.cdbg1@nebraska.gov.

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'Midlands building firms don’t expect fast recovery'

(Omaha World-Herald) -- Omaha.com reports that "Nebraska and Iowa’s building companies don’t expect the construction market to grow this year, new survey results show, and instead see a comeback in 2011 — or later." The new survey by the Associated General Contractors of America "indicated that none of the respondents from Nebraska and just 6% in Iowa forecast a rebound in 2010." The group’s chief executive officer said the "'depression-like' conditions in the construction industry will continue to be a drag on overall employment figures and the nation’s economic recovery."
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'States Hiking Unemployment Taxes To Pay For Benefits'

(USA Today) -- USA Today reports states are raising unemployment insurance taxes on employers as they "struggle to pay the 5.5 million Americans currently collecting state jobless benefits. So far, high unemployment and, in many cases, poor planning have prompted 25 states to borrow more than $25 billion from the federal government to keep benefit checks in the mail." Business owners "in 36 states face tax increases ranging from a few dollars to nearly $1,000 per worker. Six states are scaling back or freezing benefits for the unemployed
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'More than $4.8 million in stimulus funds coming to Nebraska for green job training'

(McCook Daily Gazette) -- McCookGazette.com reports that U.S. Senator Ben Nelson "welcomed an announcement by the U.S. Department of Labor that Nebraska will receive a total of more than $4.8 million to fund job training i