October 2006, Volume IV, Number 10 – Special Mini Edition

Dear Readers: We couldn’t put a full Rural Round-Up together this week but did want you to know about some important news, meetings and funding opportunities coming up that you might want to explore.
--Jane & Deb

ON RURAL BROADBAND – ARE YOU UP TO SPEED? Don’t Miss October 18 & 19 EVENT

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has introduced legislation designed to expand broadband access in rural communities. http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2006/10/02/daily35.html?from_rss

The Rural Broadband Initiative Act of 2006 creates a policy and action framework for the federal government to introduce an effective and comprehensive strategy to deploy broadband service and access in rural areas of the United States.

Let’s talk about this! Where? At the upcoming Blandin Broadband Conference, October 18 & 19, in Alexandria at the Arrowwood Conference Center & Resort. There’s still time to sign up so you can get “up to speed” on the policies, practices, and people for the Next Generation – which is already here today. At this conference, young people will lead the way – demonstrating emerging technologies and how they are using them to spur 21st century community and economic development in rural America. We’ll also have candidates for Governor in Minnesota weighing in on their views and ideas. More info and registration at http://www.blandinfoundation.org/bbsummit/index.htm

And if you can’t come to Alexandria, at least get your feet wet with the E-debate with gubernatorial candidates, running October 9 - 19 at http://www.e-democracy.org/wiki/Minnesota_Gubernatorial_E-Debate_2006.

PARTNERS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM GRANTS

The Partners Internship Program (PIP) provides internship grants to nonprofit organizations in Minnesota, North Dakota and northwestern Wisconsin. HECUA (Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs) administers the program, which was created and is funded by the Otto Bremer Foundation. Each recipient organization hires an undergraduate student who manages a project designed by the agency. With this grant, interns are paid to work full time for 400 hours or 10 weeks during the summer. Twenty nonprofit organizations will be awarded PIP grants for Summer 2007. HECUA (Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs) provides training and internship support for both the organization and the interns before, during, and after the internship. Deadline to apply: November 27, 2006

Upcoming information sessions: Go to www.hecua.org/pip for details on each.

Grand Rapids- Wednesday, October 11
International Falls- Monday, October 16
Minneapolis- Wednesday October 18
Mankato-Thursday, October 19
Saint Paul- Tuesday October 24
Fargo- Monday, November 6
Grand Forks- Tuesday November 7
Montevideo- Wednesday, November 15
Marshall- Thursday, November 16
Willmar- Thursday, November 16

Please check HECUA’s Website for other upcoming info sessions TBA: Duluth, Eau Claire, Minot, Bismarck, Dickinson

For more information, please visit www.hecua.org/pip or email pip@hecua.org.

HORIZONS PROGRAM SHOWCASE MEETINGS

The Horizons program strengthens leadership and civic engagement systems in rural communities of between 500 and 5,000 that have experienced decline in population, income and resources. The University of Minnesota Extension Service is the delivery organization for Horizons in Minnesota. You must attend a Showcase meeting to enter the Horizons pipeline. Here is more information and a list of upcoming Showcase meetings. Note. Horizons Showcase participants at the October 18 meeting in Alexandria are also cordially invited to attend the opening reception of the Blandin Broadband conference, held also at the Arrowwood Resort, beginning at 6 p.m. See above for more info on that conference.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/community/horizons/horizons.html

Showcase informational meetings:

October 18 - Alexandria
October 19 - Onamia
October 20 - Hibbing
October 24 - Owatonna
October 25 - Lamberton
Sitting Bull coordinated events:
October 18 - Mahnomen
October 26 - Correction on Cass Lake location - now being held in Walker

FINANCIAL GROWTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT on November 1-2

Minnesota Regional Conference, Federal Home Loan Bank, November 1-2, Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, Minneapolis South. Free conference with incredible speakers including Ben Stein, Jack Schultz, Bill Kurtis. Open to community bankers and community leaders. Sign up at www.fhlbdm.com or call Erin Freeberg at 800-544-3452, ext 1159

COMMUNITY-BASED ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES on November 3 in Staples.

Sponsored by the Todd County Development Corporation – open to all. Those of you readers who may have attended the recent statewide development conference on entrepreneurship and innovation could consider this event a great LOCAL strategies follow-up. The day begins with an in-depth seminar on Energizing Entrepreneurs and Hometown Competitiveness with Don Macke, co-director of the center for Rural Entrepreneurship (www.ruraleship.org) and is followed by local expertise and ideas from entrepreneurs and service providers in financing, entrepreneurship support, and technology infrastructure necessary for 21st century entrepreneurship. $20;lunch included. More info and registration at  http://www.regonline.com/110456

EDITORS' NOTES: If you have news, announcements, job listings, etc., please send them to jleonard@minnesotaruralpartners.org. We also accept paid advertisements and sponsorships to support the creation of the newsletter. Minnesota Rural Partners is a non-profit organization – we ask you to consider the work we do and if you find value in it, please make an investment to help sustain that work.

Minnesota Rural Partners is a nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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