Just what is EIII, Inc.?

On October 9, 1984, EIII was duly incorporated under the laws of Nebraska. 

EIII, Inc. is a non-profit private foundation devoted to strengthening rural America by starting in our own region first -- Southwest Nebraska and Northeastern Colorado.  EIII is set up to help others do what needs to be done.  EIII is the facilitator.  We coordinate projects and people.  We are the enzyme and the catalyst.  Our primary asset is the ability to network people, ideas, and those with resources – making worthwhile projects happen.  

Our Focus:  Education, Environment, Economic Development.

Our Mission:   EIII’s main mission is to focus on rural communities and to increase their capacity to grow and improve on their own.  We encourage and teach rural people to utilize their skills and to acquire knowledge that will assist them in that process.  EIII connects individuals and groups in order to excite them into sharing information and working together in new ways toward common goals.  If we, as rural people, learn to recognize our talents and abilities as well as to welcome in diversity and new ideas, then there is no limit to what can be done – no matter where we are and what we may think our limits to be.  Together, we are strong.

Our Activities:

• MIRA (W.K. Kellogg Foundation) funded project called, “Lost Treasures”:  EIII wrote the grant that funded this project and was also the lead coordinating organization.  It was a $200,000 capacity building project for Southwest Nebraska and Northeast Colorado.
• “Wildfire Exchange” project, funded through W.K. Kellogg Foundation via Nebraska Community Foundation.  Objective was to strengthen EIII, Inc., located within the six Clusters of Community Teams, “Lost Treasures,” through the use of electronic communications and information systems.  Also, through this project, EIII worked on the out-migration problem of our rural area by surveying graduates that have moved away from our area.  We wanted to learn what skills they possess and what would persuade them to return.  See results of the study.
• “Treasure Hunters”: EIII assisted the Treasure Hunters (regional group made up of RC&D members) in obtaining a $50,000 grant and assisted in coordinating the project.  Goal of project:  Train the RC&D staff, board members, and project manager on community and business development opportunities through the use of technology. Once the RC&D members received their training, they provided seminars to area businesses on how to use the Internet and to better promote themselves.
• Completed a survey on the economic health and attitudes of those living in our region.  See results here.
• By allowing the freedom of self-guided, hands-on access to a computer network, EIII regularly encourages youth toward proficiency with technology.  We also strive to enhance their business management skills through an informal entrepreneurship mentoring program.
• Consultation and assistance with grant-writing and research for local tourism, telecommunications, environmental education, library projects, and various economic development projects.
• “Prairie Visions” project:  EIII wrote and coordinated a grant for $25,000 for a group of five Senior Centers in Perkins County, Imperial, Wauneta, Dundy County, and Hitchcock County in southwest Nebraska.  
  Goal:  Provide computers for each Center and fund computer training for senior citizens.
• “R.A.R.E. Access” project:  EIII partnered with Chase 3000 to bring in a wireless broadband network that provided high-speed access and an online education to 400 homes across the Southwest Nebraska & Northeast Colorado region.  This was a $750,000 project and was granted in 1999.  Through this connection, many users have been able to participate in higher learning projects and online jobs as well as to create a web presence for their home-based businesses.
  
  

Future Goals:

• Creation of an Internet-based classroom curriculum with a network between farmers/ranchers and students.
• Write an economic development handbook for small villages that cannot afford a paid economic developer and for those communities that have created economic development groups and do not know where to start.
  
  

EIII, Inc., PO Box 760, Imperial, NE 69033,


eiii@eiii.net             

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