January 2007 - Volume V, Number 1

Compiled by Deb Miller Slipek, News Finder Extraordinary
& Jane Leonard, MRP President & Editor

IN THIS ISSUE:

 
ACROSS THE FIELD, by Jane Leonard
My hopes for 2007

Dear Friends & Colleagues:
 
Wow – we are starting on our fifth year of the Rural Round-Up and holding steady at 2500 subscribers. Thank you!
 
A good friend suggested I write my hopes for 2007 as this month’s column topic, and I will take that excellent advice. Since my twin sister and I turn 50 this year, here’s my five hopes – one for each decade of our lives.
 
1. I hope that Minnesota citizens and organizations will take one moment this year to reflect on how we are connected as Minnesotans – no matter how divided we may be or see ourselves by regional geography, culture, sector, etc. When I was a young girl spending time on my grandparents’ farm in central Minnesota, I observed that people were connected more strongly between city and countryside in the 1960s and even into the 1970s and early 1980s, than they are today. I’ve been very concerned that we’ve become too fragmented. I hope we return to a stronger sense of connectedness and support for one another as Minnesotans, as proud of our state as we are of our community of place or community of interest.
 
2. I hope that people my age reach out to the young people coming out of high school and college and offer them opportunities to work alongside us. Our predecessors were pretty good at sharing their wisdom and experience when we were making our way into the workforce. Let’s do the same for the “kids” coming out now. They will be determining our future in the next 50 years so guide them well.
 
3. I hope that as renewable energy policies and energy-based economic development takes hold in Minnesota that state and community leaders take the long view and not the short gain. Local control and regional cooperation is vital to ensuring that such development benefits the whole community – in jobs that can support a family, build and sustain housing, and strengthen local schools and more. Let’s not sell out to the East and West Coast investors. Minnesota holds the keys to 21st century sustainability for America. Let’s not blow it for short-term riches.
 
4. And speaking of holding the keys to the 21st century kingdom, I hope Minnesota determines a water policy that protects this precious world-wide resource. It’s a simple and indisputable fact – we will die without clean water. So let’s make sure, since we harbor much of the world’s freshwater resources, that we are wise stewards and take our responsibility seriously.
 
5.  Last but not least, I hope we’ll all be guided by the heritage of American optimism and a rededication to the principles of democracy our founders sought to create in 1776 after many years of terrorism by oppressive rulers an ocean away. We can’t give in to fear and anxiety, because it just makes our world small and in despair. Let 2007 be remembered for its renewed sense of high purpose, outreach, innovation and teamwork.
 
ONE FINAL NOTE –  I hope you will all consider attending the 2007 Minnesota Rural Summit – the 10th annual get-together -- May 10 & 11, 2007 in Brainerd. The theme (and passing mention) of the 2007 Rural Summit, “Thriving by Design,” is a featured topic in the latest issue of Architecture Minnesota magazine (http://www.aia-mn.org/am_magazine/am_magazine.cfm).  “Thinking about tomorrow” articles (starting on page 33) show how the connections between design and a healthy, productive community environment are becoming more important than ever as we enter what some are calling the design economy. Good design can help our Minnesota communities be a better place to live and more economically competitive. See how it all fits together for you at the 2007 Rural Summit, May 10 & 11, 2007, in Brainerd. Sign up before April 1 and get the early bird rate $185). Don’t miss out on what’s sure to be leading edge ideas, trends and forecasts in the economy & demographics, ag & energy, housing, transportation, information & communications technology, education, and design and planning tutorials to help you and your community Thrive by Design.  Registration, agenda, speakers, and other information: at http://www.minnesotaruralpartners.org/2007_summit/index.html.
 

FUNDING

--Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has $4 million available for redevelopment projects in out state MN.  Applications are due Feb 1st.   You can download the application or get information at http://www.deed.state.mn.us/community/redevgrt/
-- One-time grants (up to $5,000) are available for certain expenses incurred in consideration of and preparation for designation as a Level III or Level IV trauma hospital. Applications are considered on a first-come basis and will be accepted between October 12, 2006 and May 31, 2007, or until the funding is exhausted. Grant funds must be expended no later than August 31, 2007. The one-page application is online. For further information email Tim Held or call him at (651) 201-3868
-- The W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Rural People, Rural Policy initiative is accepting applications online. Each year five organizations are accepted from; Central Appalachia, the Mid South, the Midwest/Great Plains and the Southwest and an at-large member. Each organization participates in a program to strengthen its communications capacity and hone its policy development skills and rural development knowledge. Selected organizations receive grants up to $100,000 over four years. Applications are due January 22, 2007. For more information, visit http://www.wkkf.org/Default.aspx?tabid=90&CID=274&ItemID=5000304&
NID=5010304&LanguageID=0 
 --The General Mills Foundation has grants available to encourage communities to improve the eating and physical activity patterns of young people, ages 2-20. It will award fifty grants of $10,000 each. The deadline is February 1, 2007. For more information contact Elisabeth Puga at 312-899-4803 or epuga@eatright.org or visit www.generalmills.com/corporate/commitment/champions.aspx.    
--The U.S. Treasury has announced the fifth round of competition for tax credits on $3.9 billion in investments under the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program. $400 million is allocated for the Hurricane Katrina Gulf Opportunity Zone. The competition’s review process is administered by Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. Applications are available at www.cdfifund.gov. The deadline is February 28, 2007.
 
--All Habitat for Humanity affiliates and support organizations are eligible for the U.S. Advocacy Pilot Projects. Four pilot project sites will be selected to create advocacy initiatives around one of four key issues: community land trusts, inclusionary zoning, state tax credits for Habitat homes, and housing trust funds. Support from HFHI will be provided for selected pilot project sites. Proposals are due on January 29, 2007. To receive a copy of the Request for Proposals, please contact Colleen Fitzgerald, Associate Director of Grassroots Advocacy at 202-628-9171 x4904 or cfitzgerald@habitat.org.    
 
--The U.S. Department of Justice has grants up to $900,000 for nonprofits working to prevent and address crimes that include domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and child victimization in rural communities. The deadline is Jan. 30, 2007. Call 202 307-6026 for more information.
 
--The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is accepting proposals for childhood obesity prevention research. Approximately $3 million in total funding will be awarded for two types of research grants: 1) Studies to identify and evaluate promising food environments and policy changes with potential to prevent obesity among children (12- to 18-month awards of up to $100,000 each, and 18- to 36-month awards of up to $400,000 each); and 2) Analyses of macro-level policy or system determinants of food environments and policies that relate to the targeted community settings (12- to 18-month awards of up to $75,000 each). The deadline is February 13, 2007. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.
 
--The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has Rural Business Opportunity grants up to $150,000. Empowerment Zones, Enterprise Communities, Rural Economic Area Partnerships and Indian Tribes are eligible. The deadline is March 30. Contact Cindy Mason, 202-690-1433 for more information or visit www.usda.gov.
 
--You may qualify to receive quality dental care at Minnesota State Community and Technical College-Moorhead. Thanks to grants through the Minnesota State Department of Health and the Dakota Medical Foundation, the college has opened a dental clinic for MN Care and MA recipients providing: dental exams, x-rays, dental cleanings, fillings, extractions, and dentures. The clinic provides Minnesota Board Certified staff, with student assistance. Second-year dental hygiene students provide x-rays and cleanings under close supervision. Open Tuesdays from 6-9pm, 1900 - 28th Avenue South, Moorhead, MN  56560. For appointments or information call 218-299-6560.

MEETINGS

--Small Business Administration Programs & Services Seminar: If you are new to business or thinking about starting a business, and would like to learn more about the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), join a web conference call on Wednesday, January 17 at 10 a.m.  Participation is FREE and open to the public.

This workshop will help you gain a better understanding of the various SBA programs and services that are available to prospective or current entrepreneurs who need assistance in starting or expanding their businesses. General information will be provided on the following programs and services:

- Procurement Assistance
- Business Development Assistance
- Financial Assistance

The training is available at your desk through your phone and computer. Simply dial the toll-free number to access the audio part of the program (a speaker phone is recommended, if possible) and go to a web-site for the visual presentation. If you do not have access to a computer, you can still participate by calling in.

If this is your first ReadyTalk Conference it is recommended that you test your browser compatibility and network connection prior to the conference by logging onto: http://www.readytalk.com/test.html.

To participate in the actual conference:

From your telephone:
  1. Dial: 866.740.1260.
  2. Key in the access code 3050802 & press #.
  3. You will be prompted for your name.

On Your Computer:
  1. Logon to http://sba.readytalk.com
  2. In the participant log-in, type 3050802 in the access code field.
  3. Click on Join.
  4. Enter at least your name as requested.

Conference lines are limited to the first 75 callers. If you are unable to access the call, email Minneapolis.MN@sba.gov and SBA staff will make arrangements for a second call.

-- MarketPlace for Entrepreneurs in Fargo, ND, at the FargoDome January 17, free and open to the public.  See www.marketplaceforentrepreneurs.org
There are many mini-sessions planned on a variety of topics.  If you'd like to attend a more comprehensive session on topics such as the inventors congress, tourism, the exporting council, venture capital, business plans competition, and more...see the line-up on January 16th, also at the FargoDome.

-East Central Minnesota 2007 Business Development Summit at Grand Casino Mille Lacs Events & Convention Center will be January 18 (noon – 7:30pm) and January 19 (7:00am – 1:30pm). The main theme is Renewable and Alternative Energy as an Economic Development Tool.  Registration Fee is $55.  For more information contact Sara L. Schlegel, Business Development Planner, 320-532-8816.

--2007 EDAM Winter Conference: Driving Development Into the Future
Jan. 18 and 19, 2007, Airport Marriott, Bloomington, Minnesota. For more information go to www.edam.org
 
--The Great Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference is January 23 – 25 at Cragun’s Resort in Brainerd.  Breakout session highlights include two sessions on e-marketing – one an overview for beginners and one more advanced. We’ve brought in an expert in e-marketing for travel businesses/organizations to provide concrete suggestions in these sessions. Minnesota industry experts will share their success stories on topics like “Weather Resistant Marketing” and “The Power of Promotions.” The Minnesota Film & TV Board will also share ways that you can make your community “movie-friendly.”  Get the entire schedule, along with a link to online registration and the form to book your room at Cragun’s at www.industry.exploreminnesota.com/07_conference
 or contact Gayle Junnila at 651-296-5205 / gayle.junnila@state.mn.us.
 
--If you are interested in value-added forms of business...See the line-up for the Value-added conference in Red Wing at Treasure Island Resort January 26 and 27
 http://www.rivercountryrcd.org/Registration2007_rev4.pdf
 
--The "Home Grown Economy -- Foods from Local Farms as an Economic Development Tool” conference in Morris, MN is scheduled February 26, 2007, sponsored by Congressman Collin Peterson, at the University of Minnesota Morris. $25 registration fee. Lots of great speakers! See http://www.regionalpartnerships.umn.edu/public/Agenda%20for%20Day.pdf
 
--The Association of Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) will host the Let’s Talk Microenterprise Webinar Series featuring hot topics in the microenterprise development field. These webinars are designed to encourage conversation about Health Insurance Challenges for Entrepeneurs (February 27, 2007) and about Entrepreneurial Communities (March 1, 2007). For more information, go to www.microenterpriseworks.org/EntrepreneurshipWeekUSA. For information about EntrepreneurshipWeek USA activities scheduled by other partner organizations across the country, go to http://www.entrepreneurshipweekusa.com/activities/index.asp.
 
 --Region 5 in central MN will host legislative forums from 6-8pm January 19, April 20, June 15, and September 21 at various locations. Contact ksmith@regionfive.org for more info or call 218-894-3233. 

RESOURCES

--Initiative Foundation Seeks Sites for AmeriCorps*VISTA Volunteers to help reduce poverty in central Minnesota, the Initiative Foundation is seeking agencies to host a full-time AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer for at least one year.  Eligible agencies include public, private or faith-based nonprofit organizations and local, state and federal agencies. In partnership with the VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) national service program, the foundation will place up to 20 full-time VISTA members in organizations serving Benton, Cass, Crow Wing, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena or Wright Counties.   

Eligible agencies are invited to submit a project inquiry by February 7, 2007.  Final selection of project sites will be made by February 14.  VISTA volunteers will begin service in August after attending a four-day pre-service orientation.  According to Chris Fastner, the Initiative Foundation’s VISTA Program Manager, the following project types will be given highest consideration:

Current Initiative Foundation program partners desiring to more directly respond to issues of poverty and/or wanting to more fully engage people in low income situations into their efforts.

Financial literacy, financial asset-building and local job training programs.

Faith-based initiatives.

Efforts to increase civic engagement among recent immigrants.

Agencies interview and select their own AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers from a pool of local and national candidates.  Selected volunteers receive training, emergency medical insurance and an $865 monthly living allowance from the AmeriCorps program.  This national service program also provides a $4,725 education award or $1,200 cash stipend upon successful completion of a service year.  Agencies must share the cost of AmeriCorps*VISTA placement for service beyond one year.

For more information or a project site inquiry form, visit the Initiative Foundation website at www.ifound.org or contact Chris Fastner, VISTA Program Manager at 1-877-632-9255 toll-free or cfastner@ifound.org.

--The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy’s Rural Communities program has a terrific website and newsletter – this month’s issue features “biofueled economy” and also transportation issues and ideas. Go to http://www.iatp.org/ruralcommunities/  and sign up for the newsletter listserv at http://lists.iatp.org/listarchive/subscriptions.cfm

--The National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) has released a white paper on credit unions' opportunities to serve Native Americans and posted Native American outreach resources on its website.  The Native American research is based on NCUF's national survey of credit unions with Native Americans in their fields of membership and its summit of 14 credit unions that serve this demographic.  The white paper identifies many opportunities for credit unions serving Native Americans, such as minimal competition, financial literacy, membership expansion, increased lending, tribal government accounts and the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund.  The white paper concludes with model products and services that have proven successful for credit unions serving Native Americans.

Resource Links: NCUF white paper (Microsoft Word document) http://www.ncuf.coop/media/Native%20American%20Convening%
20Proceedings%20White%20Paper%20Final.doc 

NCUF Native American resources: http://www.ncuf.coop/render_site.asp?sectionpath=10/184/213 

-- The Center for Rural Policy and Development seeks four representatives. One representative of the general public who must reside in a Minnesota town of less than 5,000, outside of the metropolitan area; one representative of one of the two largest general farm organizations; one representative of a rural county government; and one representative of a rural retail and service business. The posting is on the Secretary of State Web site at http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=308 (Click on December 2006 press release)

-- CICK, LISC's national child care program, has just released its two latest child care resource guides on "how-to" assist organizations that are planning to renovate, construct or improve early childhood facilities. Developing Early Childhood Facilities identifies all of the steps in the real estate development and financing process, and helps child care providers and their partners overcome the hurdles that every project faces. Designing Early Childhood Facilities highlights the important connection between well-designed space and quality child care programming and helps providers, their architects and development partners, and create effective spaces for young children. To download these reports, go to http://www.lisc.org/content/publications/detail/3520.

The latest issue of the Main Street Economist is available.  Nancy Novack discusses U.S. agricultural credit conditions in 2006 which have remained generally solid, but are battling the familiar foes of drought and higher input costs. As a result of tighter farm finances, midyear Federal Reserve surveys of agricultural credit conditions showed signs of weakening. The full issue is available at http://www.kansascityfed.org/ruralcenter/mainstreet/MainStMain.htm

FACTS & FIGURES THAT MAY BE OF USE

--Entrepreneurship key to 21st century progress. The research message is clear and growing stronger -- every region and community needs to understand the powerful connection in today’s world economy between entrepreneurship and economic success. The research of the Small Business Administration finds startling statistics that paint the picture of the power of entrepreneurs:

 --55% of new job creation in the United States comes from existing businesses expanding.

--44% of new job creation comes from new business startups.

--Only 1% of new jobs come from business relocations.

Second, the National Commission on Entrepreneurship in landmark research in the 1990s found that entrepreneurial growth companies or just 4-5% of all businesses generate:

--2/3 of all job creation.

--2/3 of all business growth.

--Over ½ all business innovation.

-----From Jed Wagner, RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, Lincoln, Nebraska

(Editor’s note: Minnesota Rural Partners is working with other partners to help start a Council on Entrepreneurship in Minnesota to promote all the innovation in entrepreneurship that is happening at community, area and neighborhood levels across Minnesota. We still do not have a state-level policy on entrepreneurship strategies, but each day we hope we get closer to that priority. Check out the most recent reports on a proposed Council on Entrepreneurship at http://www.minnesotaruralpartners.org/officeofentrepreneurs/index.htm) We thank again the students at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter for producing a feasibility study on the proposed Council, just published in December.)

--Rural Employment At A Glance is a six-page brochure that highlights the most recent indicators of employment and unemployment in rural areas. It documents changes and differences in metro and nonmetro employment growth, unemployment, earnings per job, and occupational mix, as well as differences across nonmetro areas by location and county type. See http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EIB21/

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

--Blandin Foundation is currently posting for a Senior Program Officer position for their Public Policy & Engagement Program.  The position is posted on the website under “About the Foundation”—“Employment Opportunities.” – www.blandinfoundation.org

--The University of Missouri-Columbia's College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources (CAFNR) invites applications for the Al and Mary Agnes McQuinn Chair in Entrepreneurial Leadership. The successful candidate will serve as Director of the McQuinn Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and, based on qualifications, be eligible for a tenured professorship in the College's Division of Applied Social Sciences (DASS). Candidates with backgrounds in economics, agricultural economics, sociology, rural sociology, business administration and similar fields are encouraged to apply. When created in 2004, the McQuinn Chair was designed to enhance research, classroom teaching and one-on-one mentoring in entrepreneurial leadership. This includes the pursuit of innovative and non-conventional visions, the parameters and requirements of risk-taking, and personal conduct and priorities. The scope of the chair is not only with the creation, management and growth of new firms but also with the operation of existing enterprises, adaptation to technological and organizational innovations, and the management of human resources. A complete position description and instructions for submitting applications is available at: http://www.ssu.missouri.edu/DASS/positions.htm -- Applications will be reviewed starting February 1, 2007. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

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. We receive no state or federal funding. We count on you to help us; please consider making a contribution to help support MRP. – www.minnesotaruralpartners.org -

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

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