Nebraska Ag News Headlines Nebraska Department of Roads Administrator Wins State Forester's Award Nebraska Ag Connection - 05/01/2009 Jim Pearson, transportation enhancement administrator for the Nebraska Department of Roads, was honored with the Nebraska Forest Service's State Forester's Award. Pearson is a long-time partner and supporter of urban forestry and communities across the state, said Scott Josiah, state forester and director for the Nebraska Forest Service. For more than 30 years Pearson's work at the Nebraska Department of Roads has included coordinating and managing the Transportation Enhancement Program, the Intelligent Transportation Systems Program and the Scenic Byways Program. Since 1994 Pearson has actively supported and provided funding for the Community Enhancement Program through the Federal Transportation Enhancement Program. "Under Jim's leadership, this collaborative program of the DOR, NFS and Nebraska Statewide Arboretum has provided in excess of $5 million to more than 600 projects in nearly 250 Nebraska communities," said Eric Berg, Nebraska Forest Service Community Forestry Program leader. This program has provided targeted grant funding for entryway projects and community beautification, thousands of trees have been planted and sustainable landscape practices have been implemented across the state, Berg said. Pearson received the award on April 14. "Pearson's vision and leadership provided the CEP a reproducible blueprint, one that has served as a successful model for many states," he said. "The hallmark of a successful program is consistent duplication, collaborative success and fiscal integrity -- all of which apply to the CEP under Jim's guidance. From border to border, the impact of these efforts will truly be generational. More from this state at: Nebraska Ag Connection Copyright © 2010 - USAgNet.com. All Rights Reserved.