Benchmarks 2009
Watch a video on what GROW Nebraska accomplished in 2009.
- GROW generated $418,768.37 in member product sales through market access service which is up 28.5% from 2008
- GROW served 323 Nebraska Small Businesses.
- GROW reached 2,836 Facebook Fans
- Launched Flavors Project
- Launched shop the cause pilot project
- Collaborated with the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Ball and organized and managed the general store and art show.
- Launched Social Media training throughout the state. Approximately 156 people attended. Workshops were held in Bassett, Chadron, Fremont, Kearney, Lincoln, McCook, Nebraska City, Norfolk, North Platte, Omaha, Scottsbluff, Sidney and Valentine.
Benchmarks 2008
- Launched GROW eBay store in cooperation with UNL Extension.
- Generated $326,014.81 in member product sales through retail operations. Membership increased by 19% to 300 members.
- Invested in a dynamic database to keep the GROW web site up to date, effective and expandable.
- Established a GROW Nebraska member’s only web site, a blog, and social networking through Facebook and Twitter.
- Developed podcasts to promote the story behind member products.
- Reached a total of 300 members.
Benchmarks 2007
- For every $1 invested, $2.62 are returned to the local economy
- Reached an all-time high of 252 members, including 82 new members. Twenty-eight were the result of an existing member's referral.
- Membership sustained an 80% renewal rate.
- The eCommerce site, ShopGrowNebraska.org, was launched.
- A year round store and training center opened at Kearney's Hilltop Mall.
- Micro businesses who hadn't previously belonged to REAP could join that program at no additional charge.
- Total sales generated by GROW Nebraska's special retail opportunities were $258,950
- The GROW Book replaced the Gift Guide, profiling 177 members. Print copies were distributed through retail members, the web site and retail opportunities.
- A new database was developed to increase efficiency in tracking data and in the administration of the program's vital and growing web site.
- Staff participated in the Association for Enterprise Opportunity's Regional Flavor Learning Cluster. GROW works with Karen Kollars of the Nebraska Division of Travel and Tourism to increase promotion of agri-, eco-, and cultural tourism in the state.
- Launched the GROW Nebraska Art project. Alison Osborne of Ali-O Jewelry was retained as Coordinator and in May led a delegation of eight artists to the American Craft Retailers Expo in Las Vegas. A web site at GrowNebraskaArt.org was established to focus on fine art.
- Continued the summer intern program with three interns.
- Promoted Nebraska entrepreneurs and their products, services and art at a variety of public appearances.
- A new level of membership was introduced for Economic Development partners.
- GROW strives to partner with all organizations in the field and frequently refers members and inquiring parties to REAP, EDGE and other programs throughout the state.
- REAP presented their Women & Company® Microenterprise Boost Program awardees at GROW Nebraska's Spring Membership Meeting.
Benchmarks 2006
- In 2006, GROW Nebraska™ provided technical assistance on 347 occasions. Our membership reached 200.
- Forty-seven new businesses joined the program, twenty-one of these were the result of an existing member’s referral.
- Membership sustained an 86% renewal rate.
- Twenty-three businesses participated in the product evaluation in April
- Members continue as project leaders for services such as mall Holiday Stores, the Archway store, and the grocery store initiative, receiving a stipend for managing stores and projects. It is a win-win situation; the client gains experience and financial reward, and GROW Nebraska™ expands services without incurring large financial cost. These programs still require staff oversight and commitment, but at a lesser level.
- Launched a summer intern program with two interns; one organized and managed the web site critique, one organized and helped manage the State Fair store.
- Sixteen members participated in the web site critique.
- Thirty-six businesses participated in the General Store at the State Fair, with a 6% increase in sales over 2005.
- Forty-five individuals attended the GROW Marketing workshops held in Blue Hill, Nebraska City and McCook. Development of this workshop was funded through a grant from Nebraska Department of Economic Development and USDA Rural Community Development Initiative.
- Three businesses took out loans through the Direct GROW Loan program administered by the Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP) for a total of $11,000 under loan.
- Seventy-two businesses participated in the Holiday stores in Kearney, Grand Island, Lincoln and Omaha, which generated $171,800 in sales in five weeks.
- Total sales generated by GROW Nebraska’s™ special retail opportunities were over $292,000, an increase of 107% over 2005. Total payout to members was $175,000.
- Featured in the Aspen Institute’s FIELD Funder Guide as a national leader in the drive for non-profit organizations to become more self-sustaining.
- Launched the Signature Series, a new service offering unique Nebraska products for the business and corporate gift buyer.
- Our discounted Web design program generated two basic sites which are hosted by the GROW Nebraska™ server; three custom-designed sites, all of which are shopping cart enabled.
- Seventeen GROW members participated in three cooperative ads in national publications.
- Seven GROW Nebraska™ members have been selected for the Affiliated Foods warehouse.
- A total of 1,121 gift baskets were sold off the GROW Nebraska™ web site, through Affiliated Foods, HyVee, Russ’s IGA and Supersaver grocery stores.
- GROW Nebraska was selected to participate in the Association for Enterprise Opportunity’s Regional Flavor Learning Cluster, which is devoted to establishing a best practice model for capitalizing on the unique character of Nebraska and its people.
