June 2005 Volume III, Number 6

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

JUNE IS HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH & DAIRY MONTH

IN THIS ISSUE:

- Guest Columnist - Small Town Symposium, by Jennifer Hawkins
- Across the Field: Moving Beyond Ideology & Partisan Paralysis
- Policy
- Funding
- Meetings & Conferences
- Tools & Miscellaneous
- Jobs

Small Town Symposium Spotlights Entity Close to Our Hearts
--by Jennifer Hawkins

Do small towns have a future? Those of us who live in, or work with, small towns think they do, and it's looking brighter. The recent Symposium on Small Towns, held in Morris at the University of Minnesota last week, convened ruralites from around the state (yes, even those that might live in larger cities) to explore the future of small towns.

Topics discussed at the Symposium ranged from culture to agriculture and infrastructure to diversity. While it is difficult to develop a consensus on the route to the future -- vital, economically and physically healthy, thriving small towns -- it became clear at the Symposium that there are many, many people who have hope and vision for these towns. Keynote speakers explored key overarching issues like innovation, change, and making that positive vision a reality.

What it comes down to is rural communities, and their leaders, must acknowledge and understand that rural towns are players in much larger global trends and that the way things have been done for so long, likely need to evolve. Small towns will need to be creative in addressing issues, unafraid of change, able to imagine the possibilities, and move towards those possibilities. A tall order, but the future is looking brighter. I challenge small towns, in the words of Henry David Thoreau, to "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined." I'll be there! (Editors' note: Jennifer Hawkins is the Economic Development Director for Region Five Development Commission based in Staples, Minnesota. She is also a board member for Minnesota Rural Partners. Jennifer is a native of Osakis, MN, and one of those cherished young people who came back after college to live and work in rural Minnesota. She can be reached at jhawkins@regionfive.org, 218-894-3233 ext 18.)

ACROSS THE FIELD, by Jane Leonard
Creating a New Economic Framework

I am definitely pumped this week, having seen firsthand the enthusiasm Jennifer Hawkins noted above at the recent Small Town Symposium, and getting word last Friday after the Symposium that Minnesota Rural Partners' leadership was lifted up by the folks at CFED as showing "Promising Practices in Entrepreneurship."

The Promising Practices in Entrepreneurship Report, which is a supplement to the Development Report Card for the States (DRC), highlights examples of existing, real-world practices in support of entrepreneurship. The DRC is intended as a tool for policymakers, practitioners, and advocates to understand how their states' economies, and the factors that promote healthy economies, are faring relative to other states. The supplement features promising examples of existing, real-world practices in support of entrepreneurship that are being initiated by states or that could be supported at the state level. These are meant as a starting point for readers of the DRC who want to know where to turn to find the best ideas around the country that could be adapted or replicated in their state."

The Promising Practices in Minnesota, the Minnesota Entrepreneurial Gateway project and BizPathways (http://www.minnesotaruralpartners.org/http://www.minnesotagateway.net) was not initiated by the Minnesota state government nor funded by it, but has been a totally grassroots effort by 30-plus organizations to build a new economic framework for Minnesota, one that emphasizes entrepreneurship, use of technologies like broadband, small business development and sustainable community and economic development practices.

To that end, Minnesota Rural Partners has begun serious work on two legs of that framework: an overview of health insurance strategies that meet the needs of a changing business and workforce environment; and community design strategies that encourage, not inhibit, citizen interaction and entrepreneurial spirit and action at social, civic and business levels. We received feasibility and planning funding for this effort from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Over the next two years we will partner with the Minnesota Rural Health Association, Minnesota State University Mankato, and Renewing the Countryside to carry out the work. Please contact me if you have suggestions, concerns, feedback, partnership ideas, etc. More funding is welcome, too!

We'll discuss this and other elements of a new framework, given the changing demographic and economic landscape in Minnesota, at the Minnesota Rural Summit, July 28 & 29 at St. John's University. Register now to get early bird rates at http://www.minnesotaruralpartners.org/2005_summit/index.htm.

Finally, our "Long Arm of the Small Town" Storytelling Contest in advance of the Summit is underway this week and first reports in are very positive and oh so Minnesota summer! The first storytelling contest last night started in Roseville with a bang of thunder and included deafening hail and a tornado siren. It was a perfect evening for hearing stories from 5 Minnesotans: Noel LaBine of Andover, Joyce Hoelting of Minneapolis, Harlan Stoehr of Shoreview, Gene VanMassenhove of Arden Hills, and Nora Murphy of St. Paul, all who had grown up and lived in small towns but are now living in the metro area. The audience was entertained with stories of small towns, big cities, bees, bears, high school reunions, car accidents and religion. Harlan Stoehr was the winner of the Twin Cities region contest. He will be joining us in St. John's for the finals at the Summit. Tonight's contest is in Morris and then the last regional will be Wednesday evening in Waseca at FarmAmerica. We will be posting the all of the stories in the next few days.

POLICY

--Community Development - Main Street Economist - "A Review of the Federal Role in Regional Economic Development." This new comprehensive report by Mark Drabenstott, director of the Center for the Study of Rural America, examines what the federal government's future role could be in regional economic development. http://www.kansascityfed.org/RuralCenter/RuralMain.htm

--"Crafting a Competitive Future," a report from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines maps the current situation facing rural America and presents some general strategies that could help jumpstart growth in these regions. The researchers identified 1,399 programs to assist rural regions. Copies are available at http://www.fhlbdm.com/Docs/About_Us/PF/SRIReport_FINAL.pdf

--The May issue of The Main Street Economist is now available on the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's website. Jason Henderson of the Center for the Study of Rural America and Bridget Abraham discuss "Rural America's Emerging Knowledge Economy" in this issue. The authors present an overview of the knowledge economy and strategies for building a knowledge economy in rural America. See http://www.kansascityfed.org/RuralCenter/mainstreet/MainStMain.htm

--The 20th Century Transformation of US Agricultural and Farm Policy. The structure of farms, farm households, and the rural communities in which they exist has evolved markedly over the last century. Historical data on a range of farm structure variables-including the value of agricultural production, commodity specialization, farming-dependent counties, and off-farm work-offer a perspective on the long-term forces that have helped shape the structure of agriculture and rural life over the past century. These forces include productivity growth, the increasing importance of national and global markets, and the rising influence of consumers on agricultural production. Within this long-term context of structural change, a review of some key developments in farm policy considers the extent to which farm policy design has or has not kept pace with the continuing transformation of American agriculture. See http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/eib3/

--Effective Rural Governance: What Is It? Does It Matter? is the title of the first publication of the Rural Policy Research Institute's (RUPRI) Rural Governance Initiative (RGI). The RGI seeks to understand how rural people and institutions make decisions about their collective well being, and in other words, the process of governance. The Rural Governance Initiative's goal is to strengthen the decision-making process in rural communities, especially in struggling rural regions. The RGI publication defines effective governance, explains why governance is suddenly in the spotlight, details and illustrates eight key principles of effective rural governance, and poses questions to guide the RGI's program of work.
http://www.rupri.org/ruralPolicy/publications/RGI_in_pdf.pdf

For more information about the Rural Governance Initiative, contact Nancy Stark, Director (nancy@rupri.org or 202-207-0158).

FUNDING

--The Minnesota Department of Health will award grants to institutions sponsoring interdisciplinary clinical programs that include dental education, and to clinical dental training sites involved in innovative training programs. The grants should increase dental access for underserved populations and promote innovative clinical training of dental professionals.

Information on the Clinical Dental Education Innovations Grant is online at http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpsc/hep/merc/rfp_fy06.pdf or contact Diane Rydrych at the Minnesota Department of Health, (651) 282-6349 or diane.rydrych@health.state.mn.us Proposals must be received by 4:30 p.m., Monday, June 20, 2005 at the Minnesota Department of Health, 85 East Seventh Place, Suite 300, St. Paul, MN 55101, attention Diane Rydrych. Emailed or faxed proposals will not be accepted.

--HHS' Administration for Children and Families has more than $6.7 million available for the Community Services Block Grant--Rural Community Development Activities Program. The program's grantees provide training and technical assistance in developing and managing community facilities in rural areas that will help low-income rural communities develop the capacity and expertise to establish and/or maintain needed community facilities. http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-8133.htm The deadline is June 24.

--USDA Rural Development's Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) are to improve the economic condition of rural areas through cooperative development. RCDG grants are used to facilitate the creation or retention of jobs in rural areas through the development of new rural cooperatives, value- added processing and other rural businesses. Funding is $5.9 million nationwide. The deadline is July 1. See http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg/rcdg.htm

--Rural Development in SE MN The University of Minnesota's Southeast Regional
Sustainable Development Partnership, called the Experiment in Rural Cooperation, is a citizen-led initiative in the areas of agriculture, natural resources, community vitality and tourism. Farmers, entrepreneurs, civic groups, volunteer leaders, nonprofit corporations, government units or private businesses are encouraged to propose projects that foster sustainable development in the area. Projects related to land use and development are particularly encouraged at this time. Proposals must be submitted by July 7, 2005 to be included in the next review cycle. For details and a simple proposal form, visit http://www.regionalpartnerships.umn.edu/ then select SE MN, then select "Have a project idea?" Also contact the Experiment's Director, Erin Tegtmeier, at 507/536-6313 to discuss your idea and to work with her to develop it.

--HUD has announced the re-opening of its Rural Housing and Economic Development Program NOFA competition, which was included in the SuperNOFA, which closed May 17. The new deadline for applications is July 11. Contact Thann Young, Community Planning and Development Specialist, for more information at 202-708-2290 or visit http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa05/rhedreopen.pdf.

--The Rural Utilities Service High Energy Cost Grant Program offers financial assistance to provide, improve, or reduce the costs of energy generation, transmission, and distribution services for rural communities with home energy costs that are over 275 percent of the national average. More than $19 million is available. The deadline is July 25. For more information, visit http://www.usda.gov/rus/electric/hecgp/index.htm

--The USDA's Rural Housing Service (RHS) has more than $6 million available through intermediaries for the new rural preservation revolving loan fund. See Federal Register, Vol. 70, No. 88, 5/9/05, p. 24367. The deadline is August 8. For more information, contact Henry Searcy, Jr. at 202 720-1753 or http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs.

--Universal Service Administrative Company is accepting applications for rural health care providers to obtain discounts on Internet and telecommunications technology. Application Form 465 and other information is online at http://www.rhc.universalservice.org/whatsnew/042005.asp#041805

CONFERENCES & MEETINGS

--The Rural Policy Research Institute invites you to "The Power of Place: Rural Communities. Global Reach" June 19-24 in Abingdon, Virginia. USA. The website provides the latest updates on conference events, including the selection of mobile workshops offered on Wednesday, June 22. Information on this and all aspects of the conference can be found at http://irn.rupriconvene.org

--Training on housing, infrastructure, and economic development in Indian Country will be June 22-24 in Rapid City, S.D. For details visit http://www.ruralhome.org/gateway or contact Gateway staff at gateway@ruralhome.org or 877-RURAL-26.

--Meth Treatment Options Workshop, July 13th, 9:00 - 3:00 at the First Baptist Church, Cambridge. For more information, call Leah Posterick toll free at 877/632-9255 or lposterick@ifound.org.

--The Minnesota Rural Health Conference will be July 18-19 in Duluth, Minnesota and information is online at http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/chs/orhconf.html. This year's theme builds on the National Institute of Medicine's 2004 report, "Quality through Collaboration: The Future of Rural Health with Minnesota." Examples of effective innovations in quality, technology, collaboration, financing and more. Register for the conference by using the online brochure or contact the Rural Health Resource Center at (218) 727-9390 or (800) 997-6685.

--The Minnesota Rural Summit is July 28 & 29 at St. John's University, Collegeville. "The Great Reconnect: Bridging Rural & Urban Resources for Community and Economic Success" looks at the changing demographic and economic landscape in Minnesota, offers emerging best practices around these changes, and seeks your input to build a new economic framework that helps rural and urban communities work together for a sustainable future. Sign up now and get the Early Bird rate! http://www.minnesotaruralpartners.org/2005_summit/index.htm.

MISCELLANEOUS

--The Assets and Opportunity Scorecard - online at www.cfed.org/go/scorecard measures the financial security of families in the U.S. by looking beyond just income to the whole picture of building ownership and protecting against financial setbacks. The Scorecard ranks the 50 states and the District of Columbia on 31 performance measures in the areas of Financial Security, Business Development, Homeownership, Health Care, and Education. States were graded from "A" to "F" on their performance in building assets.

-- USDA Economic Research Service's AMBER WAVES, JUNE 2005. Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS's research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. See http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/June05/

This edition includes articles such as: WILL 2005 BE THE YEAR OF THE WHOLE GRAIN? For the first time, the Dietary Guidelines have specific recommendations for whole grain consumption separate from those for refined grains. The Guidelines, released in January 2005, encourage all Americans over 2 years old to eat roughly half of their recommended 5 to 10 daily servings of grains as whole grains, depending on calorie needs. The goal of this new recommendation is to improve Americans' health by raising awareness of whole grains and their role in nutritious diets. The Guidelines could also, however, have big impacts on farmers and farm production. How big depends on consumers' and manufacturers' responses. See http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/June05/Features/
Will2005WholeGrain.htm

OBESITY POLICY AND THE LAW OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES - Action to combat obesity and overweight could come in many forms since many variables influence diet and lifestyle choices. While economics tells us that prices and income shape choices, other factors are important, too. Individuals choose foods based on taste, convenience, family structure and traditions, age, health status, knowledge, and lifestyle. Policy targeted at any of these factors could have some success in reducing obesity and overweight. See http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/June05/Features/ObesityPolicy.htm

NORTH AMERICA MOVES TOWARD ONE MARKET - This feature article for Amber Waves examines how the agricultural economies of Canada, Mexico, and the United States are increasingly behaving as if they form one market. To illustrate this trend, the article provides several examples of market integration from grains and oilseeds, livestock and animal products, fruits and vegetables, and food processing. The article concludes by identifying several areas in which further integration could be pursued. See http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/June05/Features/
NorthAmericaMoves.htm

--The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits is seeking nonprofit organizations to honor with this years' Nonprofit Mission Awards in the areas of Innovation, Advocacy, Anti-Racism, and Responsive Philanthropy. Do you know of an organization that does outstanding work in one of these areas? Please take this opportunity to nominate an organization whose work you admire, or nominate an organization for which you work or volunteer, such as these outstanding recipients from 2004:
Nonprofit Innovation: Spare Key of Minnesota
Nonprofit Advocacy: Minnesota Disability Law Center
Anti-Racism Initiative: Mixed Blood Theatre Company
Responsive Philanthropy: Becker Furniture World Foundation
To nominate an organization for a Nonprofit Mission Award go to: http://www.mncn.org/missionawards.htm
Submit your nominations before the June 30 deadline. Please contact Shelly Dreyling, MCN Operations Manager, at 651-642-1904, ext. 225 if you have any questions.

--Current Population Survey (CPS) Table Creator, U.S. Census, an exciting new web tool from the Census Bureau, allows users to create customized tables from the Current Population Survey's Annual Social and Economic Supplement
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/cpstc/cps_table_creator.html

--Mark Schoenbaum has been selected as the new Director of the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, effective Monday, May 23. Mark can be reached at (651) 282-3859 or mark.schoenbaum@health.state.mn.us.

--A newly released Office of Rural Health & Primary Care report shows that geography may be a factor in our health and well-being. Health and Well-being of Rural Minnesotans: A Minnesota Rural Health Status Report is online at http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/chs/healthwellbeing.pdf

--The American Hospital Association's fact sheet describing the growth of the Critical Access Hospital system, with data by state, is online at http://www.aha.org/aha/key_issues/rural/content/050124cahgrowth.pdf

--The National Rural Health Association published Meeting Oral Health Care Needs in Rural America. This report includes policy recommendations and is online at http://www.nrharural.org/advocacy/sub/policybriefs/OralHealth3-05.pdf

--Population Interaction Zones for Agriculture (PIZA) This data product provides electronic access to indexes that measure the degree of influence that nearby urban-related population exerts on agricultural land. The county-level and 5-kilometer indexes are based on a "gravity model" of urban influences. See http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/PopulationInteractionZones/

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