The USLBA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2008 USLBA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USLBA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA)
U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USLBA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USLBA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Local Business Association

Located in Henderson, near Las Vegas, Sommerset Community will debut in March and feature innovative, high-performance solar-powered homes that meet standards inspired by GE's ecomagination Homebuilder Program.

The ecomagination Homebuilder Program is a blueprint for environmentally friendly homes that helps residential developers and builders deliver homes that are more efficient in their energy and indoor water consumption than conventional homes. The program is a collaboration between GE and Masco Contractor Services Group, which is a world leader in the manufacture of home improvement and building products.

Every home at Sommerset will include a roof-integrated GE Energy Brilliance^TM solar electric system. These systems are designed to supply years of maintenance-free operation and seamlessly blend into the profile of the concrete roof tile. Each system will generate approximately 4,400 kilowatt-hours per year.

In addition to the solar panels, each home at Sommerset will feature a GE SmartCommandTM EnviroDashboardTM- an interactive display that provides homeowners with current and historic feedback on electricity and indoor water consumption. Energy-efficient GE and GE ProfileTM ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances and GE's advanced lighting package are also incorporated as standard features in the package.

"It is a pleasure to be part of such a dynamic, energy-conscious approach to home building. Along with providing Henderson an environmentally friendly community, we're excited to provide buyers with affordable homes that will save them money through lower energy bills," said Gidget Graham, president of Concordia.

"With the use of the GE Energy Brilliance solar electric system and the Masco Environments for Living Certified Green construction, using the California Home Energy Rating System index, a 2,700-square foot home may see its average electric bill be reduced by 60 percent," noted Graham. "Thanks to these innovative systems and Nevada Power's net metering, consumers may experience a month where they generate more power than they consume and obtain a credit."

"GE is delighted to work with forward thinking home developers like Concordia to bring the benefits of solar energy to homeowners who are concerned about energy costs and a cleaner environment," said Victor Abate, vice president of renewables for GE Energy. "We are convinced that solar energy will play an important role in the future of the global energy market and it is an integral part of our company's renewable energy portfolio."

Solar power is among the renewable energy technologies that play a key role in ecomagination, GE's corporate-wide initiative to address challenges such as the need for cleaner, more efficient sources of energy, reduced emissions and abundant sources of clean water. Under ecomagination, which was launched in May of 2005, GE will invest $1.5 billion annually in research in cleaner technologies by 2010, up from $700 million in 2004.

About Concordia Homes
Concordia Homes was established in 1977 and developed its first Nevada community in 1994. To date, the builder has created nearly 30 neighborhoods, each designed to enhance comfort and utilize the best of contemporary construction approaches. The Sommerset community, nestled in the foothills at Lake Meade and Racetrack Avenue, opens in March. Contact Rhonda Oseicki at (702) 501-5568, or visit Concordia's website at Concordiahomes.com.

About GE Energy
GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2007 revenue of $22 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels. Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE's corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.