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NREDA Member Honored:
NREDA
Member Honored: Bruce Nuzum, vice president of finance
for the Iowa Area Development Group, was honored
recently as the U.S. Small Business Administration Small
Business Advocate of the Year. The award is presented to
individuals who show exemplary leadership and commitment
to small business development. Congratulations, Bruce!
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Key Accounts & ED:
If
you think key accounts and economic development aren't
directly related, you've got a major problem. Bryan
Singletary, president of Tampa-based Practical Energies,
Inc., lays out the straight scoop on the relevance of
both programs and offers excellent advice on how both ED
and key account professionals can build and retain their
customer base. FULL
STORY >>
A
Commitment to Rural America:
Using
the painting "American Gothic" to illustrate her point,
Hilda Legg, USDA Rural Utilities Service administrator,
says it's time for rural developers to paint a new
picture of rural America. To do this, ED professionals
must rely on new tools to create awareness of rural
issues, build new alliances, increase access to
necessary funding and promote rural advantages. FULL
STORY >>
Main Street
Revitalized:
Find
out how the tiny community of Monticello, GA fought its
way back to business and prosperity with renewed
enthusiasm, leadership and a commitment to changing
negative attitudes. FULL
STORY >> .
Rural
Renaissance Act:
Darren
Pittman, government affairs representative for the
National Telecommunications Cooperative Association,
shares late-breaking news of the recently introduced
Senate Bill 1796, a.k.a. the Rural Renaissance Act.
Sponsored by Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) and co-sponsored
by Sen. Mike Dewine (R-OH) and Sen. Lindsey Graham
(R-SC), the bill would amend the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act by establishing a Rural
Renaissance Corporation for the purpose of issuing $65
million in bonds for qualifying projects. Projects
described include wastewater treatment facilities,
conservation projects and projects that affect housing,
distance learning, broadband technology access,
value-added agriculture and more. Full text of this bill
can be found at www.senate.gov.
Rural
Legislation Across the Country:
As
of July 2003 states have enacted more than 100 measures
to improve rural conditions. Nearly a third of the
measures concern infrastructure issues - particularly
water, telecommunications and electric services. Other
measures relate to land use, housing, rural health and
education. Find out about what's going on in your state
by checking out the database of state rural legislation
compiled by the National
Conference of State Legislatures.
Infrastructure Report Card:
If
you're curious about the condition of your state's
roads, bridges, drinking water systems and other vital
infrastructure, check out the 2003
Report Card for America's Infrastructure published
by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Prepare
yourself: the findings are not good.
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REDL&G Deadlines:
Mark
your calendars for December 1, 2003 and March 1 and June
1, 2004 - these dates are deadlines for Rural
Economic Development Loan and Grant applications.
The USDA is expected to award $4 million in grants and
up to $15 million in loans to electric and telephone
cooperatives in 2004. Helpful advice: Work closely with
your state
USDA rural development director as you prepare your
applications. These professionals understand these
programs and are also responsible for scoring your
application before it goes to Washington. Additional
information on scoring factors will also be available
mid-November via the C&ED Community on Cooperative.com.
Ben & Jerry's
Foundation:
Tell
your community partners about Ben & Jerry's
Foundation grants of up to $15,000. Grants are awarded
to grassroots, nonprofit organizations that address
environmental and societal problems. GET
INFO >>
Funding
Website:
If
you've got the time and inclination to wade through
thousands of federal, state and foundation grant
programs, visit Firstgov.com.
The site provides an extensive listing of available
funds for citizens, nonprofit organizations and other
groups seeking money.
Rural Housing:
USDA's
Rural Housing Service offers $6 million in grants to
rural non-profits and low-income rural community
organizations to improve housing and community
facilities. Electric cooperatives are not eligible for
these funds, but share this information with your
community development partners. Deadline to apply is
October 28, 2003. GET
INFO>> | |
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November 5-7 • Baltimore, MD
The
Enterprise Foundation 2003 Network
Conference
November 12-14 • Louisville,
KY
The
Future of Rural: Multi-State Summit on Rural
Development
November 19-21 • San
Antonio, TX
NRECA
Competitive Issues & Strategies Summit
December 2 • Winston Salem, NC
Southeast
Wireless 2003
December 10-12 •
Atlanta, GA
Economic
Development Finance
Programs
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January
13-16, 2004 • Miami, FL
NET2004
New and Emerging Technologies
Conference
February 8-11 • Miami Beach,
FL
NTCA
Annual Meeting & Expo
April 25-28
• Atlanta, GA
International
Conference on Business Incubation
April 25-27 • Washington, DC
NADO
Washington Policy Conference
September
11-14, 2004 • Memphis, TN
NREDA Annual
Conference
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The Rural
Developer E-Bulletin is published
monthly for members
of the
National Rural Economic Developers
Association
431 East Locust Street, Suite 300 • Des
Moines, IA 50309
Tele: 515-284-1421 • FAX
515-243-2049
E-mail: director@nreda.org or
staff@nreda.org
www.nreda.org
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