Editor's note: With this issue, the Energy Services Bulletin begins a year-long series of articles on ways our customers turn energy services into community services. In each issue, we'll focus on one utility that has made a significant difference in its community. We'll feature one customer from each of Western's regions and from the CRSP Management Center. If your utility has a program that deserves attention, please call Judy Farrell at (720) 962-7060 or e-mail her at farrell@wapa.gov.

"Can we talk?" A group of small communities can answer that question in the affirmative thanks to a program initiated by Cornhusker Public Power District.

Cornhusker Public Power District serves customers in six counties, which include many individual communities. As a result, it was in a unique position to see that many of these communities have the same strengths and face many of the same challenges.

Bringing together communities
That led the utility to bring the communities together in an organization called Community Builders. The new organization includes community leaders,business owners, and farmers from the communities of Albion, Cedar Rapids, Clarkson, Creston, Fullerton, Genoa, Howells, Humphrey, Leigh, Newman Grove, Petersburg, St. Edward and Schuyler.

"The communities that we serve have many individual strengths," said Ronald Hostetter, general manager of Cornhusker Power. "But it is only as a region united by cooperation that we flourish in the new millennium. Community Builders' strength lies in regional cooperation, networking, and sharing resources. We must build upon these successes."

From its inception, Community Builders has aimed to develop and promote the region as an attractive place to build a business or raise a family. Cooperation is the key. By working together, each community discovers and can use the strengths of its neighbors. Communities then offer services that complement, rather than compete with, each other.

"The communities meet four to six times a year," said Tim Rowan of Cornhusker. "The most important thing they do is communicate with each other. They explore common problems, such as declining populations and loss of tax base.
"All the communities are small, with 200 to 600 residents. The bottom line is that if two small entities work together, they both become larger. These communities have similar profiles and can benefit from pooling resources."

Sharing knowledge
To promote knowledge of neighboring communities, each participating town has sponsored a Community Builders meeting. The host community plans dinner and a tour of the community.

Community Builders has garnered broad-based support. It brings together industry, small business, government, and family farms to share their knowledge and expertise.

"It's open to anyone with an interest in preserving the communities and the economic base. Members may be pastors or mayors, farmers or child care providers," Rowan said.

The organization has been the cornerstone of regional economic development, bringing together member communities on issues such as taxation, housing, volunteerism, business growth, and tourism. This broad economic development effort earned the Nova Award from the Community Service Network of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in March 1999.

Cornhusker a facilitator
"Cornhusker's role has been as a facilitator," Rowan said. "We make sure everyone is notified of meetings. We help with the program and speaker, if asked."

Once set in motion, the organization became self-sustaining. It's an informal organization. There are no dues. But members are committed to the group's goals. "The brainstorming can get intense," Rowan said.

The group has led to other actions, as well. Members agreed that their region's economic survival depends on greater access to and use of the Internet. As a result, the communities formed a regional Technology Task Force to focus on regionwide problems of computer literacy and lack of Internet access.

Three task force groups identified computer literacy as a major goal. The task forces set up computer workshops publicizing the benefits of online communication and bringing Internet access to hundreds of previously unconnected homes and businesses. Many communities and businesses have also developed their own Websites.

Utility benefits
Cornhusker also benefits from Community Builders. The organization strives to strengthen the communities that form the public power district's customer base. That, in turn, will strengthen the district.

Cornhusker's involvement in this effort also has helped the utility realize its mission to "improve the quality of life to our customers by striving to bring economic development and other services to the service area through participation in area development."

Multidimensional involvement
Cornhusker's community service efforts don't end with Community Builders.

The Cornhusker Power Goodwill Fund helps worthwhile projects and causes. Cornhusker customers round up their electric bills to the next highest dollar to fund community projects

According to General Manager Ron Hostetter, "In the past Cornhusker Power was not able to give donations to charitable organizations. Now 75 percent of Cornhusker Power customers are contributing to the Goodwill Fund for worthy projects by rounding up their electric bills."