Star-Herald reports on Kleeb's 'New Leadership'

From the ScottsbluffGering Star-Herald:

Kleeb touts 'new leadership'

By MAUNETTE LOEKS , Staff Reporter

Western Nebraskans share a desire for new leadership, U.S. Senate candidate Scott Kleeb said Friday.

Kleeb talked to area business and community leaders in Gering about economic development during one of several stops in western Nebraska over a two-day "Nebraska's Brand of Change" Rural America Tour. Kleeb's tour also included stops in the Panhandle communities of Chadron, Gering, Harrison, Scottsbluff and Sidney.
Eight people were on hand for the discussion that touched on different aspects of economic development, which was hosted at Vistabeam in Gering. Kleeb said he wanted to hear firsthand their thoughts on economic development.
"The economy is on everybody's minds and probably will be for a very long time," Kleeb said, telling everyone that he wanted to hear about the needs and possibilities that would affect their communities.

Matt Larsen, owner of Vistabeam, praised the programs that have helped businesses like his wireless Internet business in Gering get off the ground. Vistabeam has benefited from community development block grant funding, LB 840 incentives and assistance through the Panhandle Area Development District.
"We've been able to build our business, thanks to that," he said, in spite of unique challenges that face the wireless Internet businesses that service more than 40,000 square miles in western Nebraska.
Zach Karpf of Platte Valley National Bank said he has also seen similar success through loans from the Small Business Administration. Guaranteed loans from the SBA allows the bank to help companies that may seem too risky in rural communities, despite confidence in the people and their proposals, he said.
However, some federal programs need reworked to benefit western Nebraska. Programs through the USDA have long application processes, for example, said Jerry Terwilliger, Rural Enterprise Assistance Project business specialist.
Chuck Karpf, loan fund manager and entrepreneurship coordinator at the Panhandle Area Development District, said many federal programs also don't allow enough room for businesses or communities. Many programs are designed and then everyone has to fit under the same guidelines or categories, instead of tailoring it for rural communities or different businesses, he said.
Another complaint is that many programs have thresholds that are not workable for communities. Some thresholds for qualifying are too low, excluding larger communities if they're aimed at rural communities with populations below 10,000 for instance, or too high, meaning they are only applicable to big cities.
"The pendulum is swinging this way or that way," Chuck Karpf said. "It's needs to get down here to the middle more."
Karen Anderson, director of the Scottsbluff-Gering United Chamber of Commerce, pointed to health care as one of the concerns among businesses. She said the Chamber of Commerce recently received news that its health care premiums would increase by more than 76 percent. It's hitting hard on people already struggling with fuel costs and other rising expenses.
"Many businesses are having to make hard decisions," she said. "Do you pay benefits or don't you? And where do you take away?"
Among the 500 businesses represented by the Chamber of Commerce, Anderson said she is also hearing a common concern that skilled laborers are aging and that there is a need for replacements. She said workforce development programs are antiquated and leaders need to have everyone at the table for discussions about making improvements, including educational and business leaders.
Addressing a common concern that youngsters are leaving rural communities after attending college, Jerrod Haberman, executive director of the Panhandle Area Development District, said that a problem for college graduates has been student loan debt. When students are facing debt of $30,000 to $40,000 after attending college, Haberman said graduates are more likely to head to municipalities where they can make higher wages, despite claims about lower costs of living that rural communities use to plug themselves.
Kathy Shirley, vice president of outreach development at Western Nebraska Community College, and Gering Mayor Susan Wiedeman echoed similar concerns about the need for more Internet options, notably broadband Internet.
"We have been left behind," Wiedeman said.
Wiedeman also pointed at roads as one of her major issues, which Haberman elaborated on.
The nation has veered away from the collaboration that established the Interstate highway system, Haberman said. Today, the federal highway funding system has changed into a system where states battle each other to get monies for their local projects or longtime senators have priority for establishing earmarks.
"There needs to be a national vision," Haberman said. " Projects that are building the United States or benefitting the nation need to have priority."
Kleeb said the focus of his tour had been to hear from leaders and residents. Among western Nebraskans, Kleeb said a need for new leadership has been the resounding message in the three topics he explored - health care, agriculture and economic development.
"People are saying we need new leadership," he said. "It's about not sending the same people back. And new leadership is among the oldest of Nebraska traditions," he said.
But, Kleeb said he doesn't believe that change will be accomplished by electing Republican Mike Johanns.
"If you are all right with the way things are now, he (Johanns) is your guy," Kleeb said. "But if you think we need new energy and a fresh look at things, you should vote for me."