Nebraska Economic Developers Association held its spring conference in Nebraska City with a focus on “Growing Our Own Green.”

Conference speakers included state energy experts and representatives of the ethanol, biodiesel and alternative energy industries. Conference attendees also held an agriculture and eco-tourism workshop at the Kimmel Education and Research Center.

Pat Haverty, executive director of River County Economic Development Corporation, said the association’s education committee decided on the green theme based on feedback from economic developers at previous conferences.

“The alternative energy arena is a main focus of many economic development organizations across the state. There has been longstanding interest in ethanol and biodiesel and now there is increasing interest in wind and solar power as economic development projects,” he said.

“We took a little different slant on the growing green theme. Part of it was energy and environment, but we also addressed growing funding sources,” he said.

Shawnna Silvius, marketing coordinator for RCEDC, is also the association’s conference planner.

She said the 140 economic developers attending the conference had opportunity to learn about Nebraska City’s “growing green” successes and challenges, while sharing some of their own.