Minnesota Rural Partners Newsletter May 2006 - promoting rural-friendly policies, communities & businesses

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

We apologize for the late date of this September newsletter. Everyone at MRP had a hard time coming back from a great summer filled with family and friends, long trips and even some reflective time. This month we’ve hunkered down getting ready for a myriad of events in October, and I wanted to highlight them for you. Especially as we prepare for some serious elections in Minnesota, these meetings described below might help you better understand and shape the issues behind the sound bites.

----Understanding the world around us: CHINA & RURAL DEVELOPMENT - October 3, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, Wilkins Room, Minneapolis, 4 p.m. (driving directions) – Join Professor Wen Tiejun, Dean of the School of Agriculture and Rural Development, Renmin University in China, to discuss the rural Chinese economy. He is one of the world's foremost authorities on rural China. A hands-on activist and advocate in his own right, Prof. Wen is also a senior research fellow at the China Society for Economic Reform and the chief editor of China Reform. He will be joined by Dr. Hong Yang, Director of the University of Minnesota's China Center and Jim Harkness, President, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. There will be a reception in the Freeman Commons to follow. Please RSVP to rsvp@iatp.org. This event is sponsored by the Freeman Center for International Economic Policy, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and Minnesota Rural Partners.

---Understanding our own economy: MINNESOTA DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE – October 4 & 5, Crowne Plaza Hotel St. Paul – Riverfront, Accelerating Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Keynotes by Governor Pawlenty (invited) and Dr. Richard Florida, author of Rise of the Creative Class and Flight of the Creative Class. Very useful in understanding why economic development is different today than 10 or 20 years ago. More info at http://www.deed.state.mn.us/events/devConf.htm

As part of this conference, Minnesota Rural Partners will be giving a brief overview of the draft report and recommendations on the proposed Office of Entrepreneurship this summer. It hasn’t been all play this summer: over 100 people met from July to September to compile this report, which you can download at http://www.minnesotaruralpartners.org/officeofentrepreneurs/index.htm

--Understanding federal rural development policy -- ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND ASSET BUILDING-- Meetings On The Rural Development Title Of The 2007 Farm Bill -- October 10-12. We have an historic opportunity to develop a rural policy based on a positive vision for rural America, one that strengthens rural communities in a variety of ways. To help make that happen, the national Center for Rural Affairs (based in Nebraska), Minnesota Rural Partners, and Northern Great Plains (based in North Dakota) are hosting meetings in Bemidji, Bertha, and Marshall to share ideas on and discuss the rural development title of the next farm bill.

-----October 10 in Marshall at the Marshall-Lyon County Library 301 W Lyon St
-----October 11 in Bertha at the Bertha Community Center on Main Street
-----October 12 in Bemidji at the Beltrami Electric Company, 411 Technology Drive NW

Meetings will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and will include lunch at no cost. Please RSVP to dano@cfra.org so we can get an accurate lunch count.

--Understanding broadband policy and practice for rural communities – Blandin Foundation’s NEXT GENERATION BROADBAND: POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND PEOPLE - October 18-19. Arrowwood Resort, Alexandria, MN. Practical ideas, demonstration lab, policy discussions, Governor candidate forum. Costs: $95 ($48 for one day). Do you have a question for the gubernatorial candidates? Here's your chance to ask on the 2006 E-Debate . Take the pre-conference survey on broadband - tell us what you think, even if you can't attend the conference. For more information contact Denise Pfeifer, Minnesota Rural Partners, dpfeifer@minnesotaruralpartners.org -- 507.828.5559 or go to http://www.blandinfoundation.com/bbsummit/index.htm.

--Understanding the role of leadership & civic engagement – THE HORIZONS PROGRAM COMMUNITY SHOWCASES – October 18-26. The Horizons program provides technical assistance to strengthen 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 is the delivery organization for Horizons in Minnesota, sponsored by the Northwest Area Foundation. Come to an informational “Showcase” meeting near you between October 18 and 26. For more information, schedule, locations, and to see if your community is eligible, go to http://www.extension.umn.edu/community/horizons/index.html.

--Applications for the Community Clinic Grant Program are available. The Program provides funding to improve the ongoing viability of rural and urban clinic-based safety net providers. Pre-applications are due 4 p.m. October 6, 2006. The strongest of these will be invited to submit a final application. Information is online or email Debra Jahnke or call her at (651) 201-3845.

---Interconnected Electronic Health Records Grant Program. The final deadline is October 12, 2006. Information on this program to support the adoption and use of interoperable electronic health records in rural and underserved areas is online.

--The Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grant Program emphasizes health care service delivery through creative strategies requiring the grantee to form a consortium with at least two additional partners. The deadline is October 18, 2006 and information is online.

--The Rural Health Network Development Grant Program supports organizations that further ongoing collaborative relationships among health care organizations to integrate systems of care administratively, clinically, financially and technologically. The application is online and the deadline is November 2, 2006.

--Scenic Byway Grants are being offered to assist communities in promoting Minnesota’s scenic byways. Grants provide 40% of the cost of a project with a 60% cash match of non-state funds required. A maximum of $2500 is available per byway. Minnesota non-profit organizations formed for the primary purpose of scenic byway tourism promotion or having scenic byway tourism marketing as a component of their programming are eligible to apply. If a Scenic Byway Committee is not incorporated as a non-profit organization, you must work through a designated non-profit, incorporated entity such as a Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Chamber of Commerce (chamber), or other tourism organization.

The application deadline is November 1, 2006 for projects occurring between January 1 and December 31, 2007. Scenic Byway Grant Guidelines and applications are available from the Explore Minnesota Tourism Regional Managers listed below:

--Treasury Department's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund announced the opening of the fiscal year (FY) 2007 round of its CDFI Program with the publishing of a Revised Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) in the Federal Register. The CDFI Program application deadline is 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 14, 2006. Those interested in learning more about the FY 2007 round of the CDFI Program can do so by either: (1) viewing a live satellite broadcast of an Application Workshop on Wednesday, October 4, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time; or by attending one of eight Application Workshops that will be held in select cities across the nation. CDFI Fund staff will travel to each of these cities to conduct the Application Workshop in-person. For details on the FY 2007 Round of the CDFI Program and on the Application Workshops please visit the following links:

--Get Broadband Community Grant Program supports Minnesota communities outside the Twin Cities metro area that want to make Internet technology a key component of their economic and community development strategy. Apply if you want your community’s:

--businesses to be globally competitive
--health care providers able to deliver more advanced services at lower costs
--local government more responsive to citizen needs
--residents able to enjoy a choice of lifestyle options

The program provides a cash grant, planning and technical assistance, pre-and post market surveys, and ongoing information assistance. The last application deadline for 2006 is November 10. For more information and an application form contact Bill Coleman at 651-426-7741 or bill@communitytechnologyadvisors.com or go to http://www.blandinfoundation.org/bsite/bbsite.html

--The Kresge Foundation is accepting applications on an ongoing basis through the “Kresge Capital Challenge Grant Program.” The challenge requires organizations to meet 100% of their fundraising goals. Funds should be used for the construction and renovation of facilities, purchase of major equipment or an integrated system costing at least $300,000 or the purchase of real estate. For more information, contact the Kresge Foundation at 248-643-9630 or visit http://www.kresge.org

--Women's Foundation of Minnesota is accepting applications through October 13, 2006 for girlsBEST (girls Building Economic Success Together) planning grants -- up to $5,000 per group to support programs that build girls' future economic success. Multi-year funding is available. For more information, go to http://www.wfmn.org

-- The Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) Full Application is now on SCDP's Homepage website @ http://www.deed.state.mn.us/SCDP/. All applicants must first have gone through the Pre-application process to submit a Full Application, and all proposed administrative agencies must have been determined by SCDP during the pre-application process to have the capacity to administer the proposed activities. .

--The First Annual Iron Range Business & Entrepreneur Expo will be held Saturday, September 30, 2006 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mountain Iron Community Center. A Business-to-Business Networking Reception to follow. Local businesses owners and emerging entrepreneurs will come together at the Iron Range Business & Entrepreneur Expo to exchange ideas, showcase their expertise, and learn more about the techniques that make businesses buzz! Current business owners; local entrepreneurs; prospective entrepreneurs; general public interested in supporting local businesses; investment agencies; insurance companies; banks and other lending institutions; business suppliers; business distributors; community leaders; local, state, and federal elected and appointed officials are welcome. Questions and information contact Shannon Hoffman: 218-749-4191 ext. 310 or (1-800-422-0374 toll-free)
shannonh@entrepreneurfund.org

--MN Council of Non-Profits & MN Council of Foundations Joint Annual Conference will be held on Oct. 4-5 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre. Join your colleagues for the second Joint Annual Conference of the Minnesota Council on Foundations and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits to explore the sector's role in promoting common ground for common good. For more information see: www.mncn.org/conference

--Connecting the Dots: Cultural Heritage Tourism, Monday, October 9 in Minneapolis at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Plans are shaping up for the first-ever Cultural Heritage Tourism Summit in Minnesota. Rudy Maxa, of the show “Savvy Traveler” is the featured speaker. Special hotel rates have been secured at the Best Western Normandy Inn in downtown Minneapolis for those attending from Greater Minnesota. Go to www.industry.exploreminnesota.com and click on “Minnesota’s First Cultural/Heritage Tourism Summit” for current information.

--Moorhead/Fargo Resource Fair to Showcase Tools for Small Business Success, Monday, October 16 at the Center for Business-Minnesota State University Moorhead. Whether you’re already in business, launching a new startup, or pondering a future venture, you can explore dozens of programs and services to help ensure your success. More than 20 exhibitors including government agencies, nonprofits, educational institutions, and lenders will be on hand. Free workshops covering such topics as customer service, business finance and marketing your business will be presented throughout the day. To register call 218-477-2289 or go to www.mnsbdc.com

--Northern Minnesota Reservation Economic Development Initiative -NMREDI summit at the Shooting Star Casino and Convention Center in Mahnomen MN, on November 29-30, 2006. Leech Lake, White Earth and Red Lake communities are hosting this event to introduce Indian businesses to government and private industry representatives seeking to do business with Indian owned companies. Information will be provided on: government business development programs; business opportunities for tribes and individuals; accessing capital, leveraging and maximizing federal and private sector resources and much more within the following 14 counties: Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Clay, Crow Wing, Clearwater, Hubbard, Itasca, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Norman, Pennington, Polk, and Red Lake. For more information contact Landa Moore at landam@whiteearth.com or at 218-983-3285.

-- Am I Rural? http://www.raconline.org/funding/rural.php -- New tool from the Rural Assistance Center (and lots of funding announcements, too.) -- http://www.raconline.org/--The Rural Assistance Center has also launched State Resources on its Web site, allowing easy access to continuously updated demographics and statistics, documents and resources, contacts and success stories for all 50 states. This new state information resource, located at http://www.raconline.org/states, features an overview of each state and its rural health and human services environment.

-Rural America at a Glance, 2006 Edition highlights the most recent indicators of social and economic conditions in rural areas for use in developing policies and programs to assist rural areas. The brochure provides information on key rural conditions and trends for use by public and private decision-makers and others in efforts to enhance the economic opportunities and quality of life for rural people and their communities. See http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EIB18/

--Global Agriculture and the Doha Round: Market Access is the Key. Agricultural trade negotiations in the Doha Development Round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have been contentious. This article highlights the main issues in the agricultural negotiations, and explains why tariff reductions, which produce the greatest economic gains from freer trade, have been difficult to achieve. http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/September06/Features/GlobalAg.htm

--Amber Waves, September 2006 presents the broad scope of research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or “eZine,” includes links to web-only resources. See http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/September06/

--Agricultural Policy Affects Land Use and the Environment. Economic forces and policy changes encourage producers to shift less productive, or “marginal,” cropland in and out of production. Because marginal lands are also environmentally sensitive along several dimensions, cropland shifts have environmental as well as economic effects. http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/September06/Features/AgPolicy.htm

--In the latest issue of the Main Street Economist Stephan Weiler, Jason Henderson, and Katie Cervantes discuss, "A Catalog of Innovative Regional Partnerships: Part Two. Summaries of two innovative regional partnerships in the Tenth District: GROW

Nebraska and the Prairie States Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. The regional cooperation in these examples crosses traditional spatial, institutional, and networking boundaries, creating synergies among players that previously seemed unrelated. http://www.kansascityfed.org/RuralCenter/mainstreet/MainStMain.htm.

--The Housing Assistance Council recently released a report “Formulas for Success: Housing Plus Services in Rural America.” The report uses four case studies to examine how combining housing and services can be beneficial despite the challenges faced in rural areas due to the social, economic and geographic characteristics of these places. For a copy of the report please visit the HAC website at http://www.ruralhome.org

--Directory of Minnesota Organic Farms. More than 200 certified organic farmers and processors are listed in this inaugural 2006 directory, whose aim in part is to help food manufacturers, livestock producers, brokers, feed mills, restaurants and grocery stores find locals sources for organic food. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) estimates there are about 500 certified organic farms in Minnesota, with almost 150 certified organic processors that turn organic raw materials into organic food and feed products. Free print copies are available by calling 651/201-6012or on the Web at: http://www.mda.state.mn.us/esap/organic/directory.htm

-- Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) Publishes Newsletter Covering Revisions to the Community Reinvestment Act. National banks invested $638 million to revitalize and stabilize communities in the second quarter of 2006 just one year after revised Community Reinvestment Act regulations took effect, according to a new publication. In its latest edition of "Community Developments Investments, the OCC highlights how changes promulgated by the OCC, the Federal Reserve, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation give greater flexibility for banks to make investments to help distressed or underserved rural areas and federally designated disaster areas while reducing regulatory burden on banks with assets between $250 million and $1 billion. The newsletter is available on the OCC Web site at: http://www.occ.gov/cdd/summer06/index.html.

--University of Minnesota Extension Service has several openings in Community Economics, Leadership and Civic Engagement, and Evaluation and Research. They are located throughout the state, except for the evaluation and research position, which is located in St. Paul. See www.extension.umn.edu/community/career

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EDITORS' NOTES: Thanks for your patience as we took time off for some summer vacation. We’ll be back on our regular schedule in August – newsletter publication date is August 8, so please have items of news and interest to us by August 4. 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.

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