4^thQuarter - 2006

In this issue:

>NREDA Updates

>Sharing Success

>Rural Resources

>Grants & Funding

>Conferences & Training

Change of Address?
Update your membership information:
http://www.nreda.org/
core/login.aspx.

Share Your News
The Rural Developer should serve as a pipeline of information among members. If you have tips, success stories or recent news you'd like to share with fellow rural developers, please e-mail this info to Molly Lopez, director@nreda.org.

NREDA members save on shipping!
www.nreda.org

One phone call to 1-800-MEMBERS can help you save on all your shipping needs. Send three shipments by 2/28/07 and receive a $25 savings certificate for your DHL Express invoice.* CALL 1-800-MEMBERS VISIT www.1800MEMBERS.com
/nreda

Catch up on Conference Highlights
If you missed the 2006 NREDA Conference in San Antonio, you can still catch up on the conference highlights. For the next three issues, the Rural Developer will carry brief articles covering key conference topics. From revitalizing Main Street to understanding the Rural Economic Loan and Grant (REDL&G) program, conference speakers shared both fun and targeted information that applies to rural developers today.

• Rural Development and the Beatles? Embracing competition, knowing your strengths and knowing when to go against the flow are traits that propelled the Beatles to the top of the billboard charts and kept them there. Find out how to apply their secrets to your own programs… more
• Make Your Downtown Vital! Apply the lessons learned by successful communities such as Flagstaff, AZ. Get serious about changing downtown attitudes and taking risks... more
• REDL&G 101. There's a lot to know about the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program and your NREDA members offer a great resource. Learn the basics (and then some) about REDL&G via fellow three members who have used the program to bring jobs, industry and good feelings to their area... more

  New Officers for 2007
  NREDA members approved the slate of officers for 2007: Sherry Rose, president; Bruce Hensley, first vice president; Pat Merritt, second vice president; and Henry Fischer, secretary-treasurer. Re-elected NREDA directors include Mark Gaddy and Rick Nelsen. Tom Lambrecht was a newly elected director.
  
  Leaders Honored for Rural Development Success
  NREDA members recognized two individuals for outstanding leadership in rural development. Rural Economic Development Leadership Awards were presented to Joe Max Higgins, chief executive officer of the Columbus-Lowness Development Link in Columbus, Mississippi. Higgins work on 120 major community and economic projects has resulted in the creation of over 12,000 new jobs... More

  Eric Phillips, executive director for Union County/Marysville Economic Development Partnership, was honored for his leadership in establishing the partnership, increasing the funding for economic development efforts and garnering over $800 million in new capital investments... More

  President's Award Goes to Loren Medley

  Few individuals support the goals and visions of NREDA with the commitment of Loren Medley. Medley, business development coordinator for Kansas Electric Power Cooperative in Topeka, KS, was the recipient of the 2006 NREDA President's Award, presented by President Stan Rice. A long-time member of the organization, Medley is past president of NREDA and currently serves on the board of directors. Congratulations, Loren, your work is appreciated.
  
  Talk to Us: NREDA Needs Your Input
  What topics would you like to see covered at the 2007 NREDA Conference? How can this conference become more useful to you? 2007 NREDA Conference Chairman Bruce Hensley wants to know. Contact Hensley by telephone, 660-265-1719, or e-mail, brehensley@aol.com.
  
  The Conference Committee traditionally meets via conference call once a month throughout the year and active participation is encouraged. If you'd like to participate on the committee, please contact Molly Lopez at director@nreda.org.
  
  NREDA Conference Snapshots
  

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  SHARING SUCCESS

  Building Local Leaders

  How can your community nurture homegrown leaders? From Georgia, NREDA member Pat Merritt shares this story of three unique training programs that prove leadership begins with the talent and resources found at home.

  More

  An Open House for Contractors
  NREDA board member Loren Medley held an open house for contractors in the Topeka, KS area to introduce them to cutting edge energy efficient home design. The open house invited contractors to inspect a 1,500 square foot super efficient home with estimated annual energy costs of only $200 per year. If the energy savings weren't convincing enough, Medley 'put his money where his mouth is.' The open house is Medley's personal abode. To visit with him about the event or his new home, call 785-271-4846 or e-mail, lmedley@kepco.org.
  

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  RURAL RESOURCESS

  NET 2007 Focus on Key Accounts

  This year's New & Emerging Technologies (NET) 2007 Conference on February 7-8 in Orlando offers two pre-conference workshops designed exclusively for key account managers. Experienced instructors will cover a range of topics that have been on your mind. Key Accounts pre-conferences include:
  • Basic Site Selection: Principles and Practices
    If you're new to the world of site selection and economic development, here's your chance to learn how the site-selection process works from a leading practitioner.
  • Key Accounts Summit
    Sharpen your management skills, spark your creativity, and educate yourself on hot topics including: the energy outlook for 2007 and beyond; how to design and market innovative rates; winning strategies to manage C&I load; how federal policy may shape your C&I relationships; and how to foster business opportunities with builders and developers.
  Visit https://touchstoneenergy.cooperative.com/public
  /programs/NewTech/index.htm for details, or contact Kathryn Momot at 703-907-5707.

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  GRANTS & FUNDING

  From the NRECA Community Catalyst
  REDL&G Applications due in December

  Second quarter REDL&G deadlines are approaching. Some states set deadlines earlier in the month. For most, the second quarter deadline is December 31. Check with your state Rural Development office for application deadlines, for state-specific application requirements and for assistance in making your application as competitive as possible.
  
  Remember, the REDL&G program awards up to 40 percent of the total funds available in the first quarter, 30 percent in the second quarter, 20 percent in the third quarter and 10 percent in the fourth quarter. The earlier you submit your application, the more funds remain. If not funded initially, your application will move to the next round.
  
  HHS Offers $61 Million for Rural Health Care
  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will award $61 million to increase the number of comprehensive health care centers, especially in sparsely settled areas. Public entities, private non-profits and community, faith-based and tribal organizations may apply. Each applicant must establish a new center, or access point, that offers comprehensive primary care, preventive health care and social services (including mental health) to target groups that currently have limited access or no access to services at all. HHS will give priority to proposed projects in areas with seven or fewer people per square mile.
  
  Visit the HHS New Access Points program site for more information and www.grants.gov for application instructions and forms. Applications must be submitted electronically by December 6th.
  
  Grants for Community Nonprofits
  Tell your community partners the Public Welfare Foundation supports "helping people help themselves" in communities large and small. In 2006, the foundation awarded over $15 million to community groups involved with economic development, youth, the environment, civic participation and other community activities. Within these areas, the foundation funds organizations that provide service to the community, advocacy for people with limited income and opportunities for greater civic influence.
  
  Your community partners may submit letters of inquiry at any time during the year to learn if their project is eligible for funding. Visit the Public Welfare Foundation Web site for full disclosure.

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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

www.nreda.org

3^rd Quarter - 2006

In this issue:

>NREDA Updates

>Rural Resources

>Grants & Funding

>Conferences & Training

NREDA Conference
September 6-8
San Antonio, TX
Hotel reservations: 800-HILTON (445-7661)
Hilton Palacio del Rio
Conference info and registration:
www.nreda.org

Hilton Palacio del Rio

NREDA members save on shipping!

Welcome New Members!
NREDA welcomes the following new members to our organization:

Dennis Hughes
Navopache Electric
Cooperative

Jada Ackerman
Blue Valley
Tele-Communications, Inc.

JoAnn Rodenbiker
Northern Plains Electric

Dana Baker
GVNW Consulting

Mike Peters
Kansas Electric
Power Co-op

Karen Baldwin
Kauai Island Utility
Cooperative

Ray Paler
Kauai Island Utility
Cooperative

David Altman
Lumbee River Electric Cooperative

We look forward to meeting you at the 2006 Conference!

Update your NREDA Membership Information

NREDA Conference: Late Registrations Are Welcome!
If you've been too busy to think about early conference registration, breathe easy. NREDA welcomes everyone to the Annual Conference, including last minute attendees. "We understand how rapidly plans change," said Molly Lopez. "If a window opens up for someone, by all means join us at the conference!"

The 2006 event will cover key development issues including:

• Trends in site selection
• Cultural diversity and its impact on your economy and organization
• Downtown revitalization: how to do it step by step
• Legislative issues you should know about and more!

All conference details are found at www.nreda.org

New to the Conference or NREDA? Attend the Orientation.
If you're new to NREDA or the Annual Conference, please join us for the New Member and First Time Attendee Orientation on Wednesday, September 6^th. This pre-conference option will introduce you to the organization, bring you up to speed on NREDA benefits and explain how you can get the most value from your membership. The orientation takes place from 3:15 - 4:00 pm, immediately preceding the conference kickoff.

Last Minute Business
The NREDA 2006 Annual Business Meeting/Luncheon and Awards Recognition will take place on Thursday, September 7 from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. To familiarize you with motions made at the 2005 meeting, please review the 2005 Business Meeting Minutes

Looking Ahead: Conference Committee Needs Your Suggestions
Do you have suggestions or ideas on how to improve the NREDA Annual Conference? If so, Conference Chairman Bruce Hensley would like to hear from you. Please contact him at brehensley@aol.comor (660) 265-1719.

The Conference Committee traditionally meets via conference call once a month throughout the year and active participation is encouraged. If you'd like to participate on the committee, please contact Molly Lopez at director@nreda.org.

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United REMC's Soybean Oil Project Aids Farmers
NREDA member Sherry Rose reports Indiana installed its first all soybean oil run substation at United REMC. How will this impact the local economy? "More agri-business for our farmers here in Indiana," says Rose. It's also an environmentally friendly program that positions United REMC as an innovative utility. For full report on the soybean project, visit the NREDA website.

Send your Small Businesses to SBU
Rick Whalen, NREDA member and director of community and economic development for Butler County REC, Allison, IA, implemented a new program to help small business owners. The program, called the Small Business University (SBU) is the first online academy created especially for small businesses and entrepreneurs. SBU teaches the "3Ms" of business-money, marketing, and management-via 24 core courses including Creating a Loan Package, Attracting Investors, Promotions and Marketing 101 and Buying a Business. "SmallBizU has become a valuable Web-based tool for small businesses in our community," says Whalen.

Tell Your Communities: The World is Flat
I know this is OLD news to most people, but I have been "CD-reading" The World is Flat by Friedman. It is fantastic! I had heard and heard about it, but had not read it. The theories are not rocket science, but I wish that many of the rural communities we work with would read it and realize that we live in a large global world and it is getting flatter and flatter all of the time."
From Sherry Rose, NREDA member.

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Fitzgerald appointed Rural Development Chief of Staff
In July, Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas Dorr announced the appointment of James F. Fitzgerald as chief of staff for USDA Rural Development.

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From the NRECA Community Catalyst
USDA Funds Innovative Small Businesses Research
Small businesses contribute innovations in all sectors, including agriculture. USDA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program funds small businesses and entrepreneurs to develop innovative research and development projects that address critical agricultural problems. With grants ranging from $80,000 to $350,000, small, for-profit firms can develop models for the agricultural community that encourage technological innovation, broader availability of technology and the adaptation of these technologies by minority and women-owned firms. Applications are due September 1. Details: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/sbir/sbir_synopsis.html

$6 Million for Rural Technical Assistance Organizations
Rural organizations that need help in developing effective housing, community facilities and economic development projects, should check out USDA's Rural Community Development Initiative Program (RCDI). The program will award over $6 million dollars to intermediary organizations to train local non-profits, community-based groups and recognized tribes in community building. To be eligible for RCDI funds, intermediary organization must provide a dollar for dollar match and have experience in providing community development training for eligible recipients and target communities. Details and application forms are posted at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi/. Deadline is October 10.

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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

www.nreda.org

2^nd Quarter - 2006

In this issue:

> NREDA Updates

> Rural Resources

> Grants & Funding

> Conferences & Training

NREDA Conference
September 6-8
San Antonio, TX
Hotel reservations: 800-HILTON (445-7661)
Hilton Palacio del Rio
Conference info and registration:
www.nreda.org

Hilton Palacio del Rio

Welcome New Members!
NREDA welcomes the following new members to our organization:

Dennis Hughes,
Navopache Electric Cooperative

Jada Ackerman,
Blue Valley Tele-Communications, Inc

JoAnn Rodenbiker,
Northern Plains Electric

Dana Baker,
GVNW Consulting

Mike Peters,
Kansas Electric
Power Co-op

Karen Baldwin,
Kauai Island Utility Cooperative

David Altman,
Lumbee River Electric Cooperative.

We look forward to meeting you at the 2006 Conference!

NREDA Conference: See You in Sunny San Antonio!
The 2006 NREDA Conference is your opportunity to hear nationally known and industry-related speakers, attend timely educational sessions and benefit from ample networking opportunities.

For fun, you may also choose to enjoy a Riverwalk Development tour/luncheon cruise, participate in a TexMex cooking class, or play in the annual NREDA Golf Outing.

Bring your family! There is so much to do in San Antonio, Texas, and lodging is affordable. Make room reservations by August 1 to receive the conference room rate. Call (210) 222-1400 or (800) 445-8667 and be sure to mention NREDA.

Walk-ins Welcome! NREDA Financing Forum - June 14th
How can your community access financing opportunities that will further economic development goals? Find out at the upcoming NREDA Finance Forum on June 14th. Walk ins welcome! The forum takes place at the Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort at Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach, and S.C. From community foundations, to accessing the secondary market and angel networks, this one-day workshop will provide you with information you can use! If you are involved with a revolving loan fund (RLF), you will learn how to grow yours.

Registration: $195. For a complete agenda, reservation forms, and hotel information, please download the information packet or visit www.nreda.org.

Branding Your Community
NRECA will host a one-day seminar that will teach you how to "map" your local assets, inventory community development and integrate these strategies to deal with current and emerging issues. The seminar begins the day before the NREDA 2006 Financing Forum, Tuesday, June 13, at the Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort at Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach, S.C. Registration: $195. Get the details >

Nominate Rural Leaders by June 23^rd
NREDA is seeking applications for the 2006 Rural Economic Development Leadership awards. Award recipients are honored at the 2006 NREDA Conference in San Antonio, Texas. If you know an exceptional candidate, please complete the nomination form found online www.nreda.org and return it along with the appropriate support materials to NREDA no later than June 23, 2006.

Top-notch Speakers to Highlight 2006 NREDA Conference
The 2006 NREDA Conference is known for attracting terrific, informative speakers. Just check out our key speakers:

New and Improved: NREDA Web Site
If you haven't visited in a while, go now to www.nreda.org. You'll be amazed at the changes: attractive design, more information, more member resources and friendlier navigation.

Of particular note, check out the page of related links http://www.nreda.org/web/2006/03/related_links.aspx for a list of valuable resources including demographic data, training, government sites, and other information. Another highlight: NREDA members can now access and update their membership information online. To view or change your member records, visit http://www.nreda.org/Core/login.aspx.

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REAL Summer Training Institutes
*From Rural Entrepreneurship Newsletter
REAL Entrepreneurship is a hands-on entrepreneurship education curriculum that gives entrepreneurs the knowledge and confidence to start a small business. The versatile curriculum covers business idea research, financial concepts, market feasibility and business operation. The philosophy behind REAL is that entrepreneurs are doers, not watchers, who learn best through active participation, new experiences and reflection. The curriculum contains over 200 activities to appeal to people with different styles of learning and with different levels of business experience. REAL is used in SBDCs, community colleges and community-based organizations across the country. The weeklong training institute introduces facilitators to the activities of the curriculum and guides them through developing a semester-long course outline. It is an excellent professional development opportunity. Training institutes will be offered throughout the summer in various locations including NC, SC, MI, VT and WV. Average tuition is $1,000 plus the cost of the curriculum. Scholarships are available. To learn more or register online for REAL training institutes, go to www.realenterprises.org.

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Support for Communities Affected by Katrina
Many co-op communities hit by Katrina will be rebuilding for years, and could use an infusion of funding. The Bush Clinton Katrina Fund is offering funding to community organizations as well as state and local governments. The funding focuses on building better communities through housing and employment as well as religious, educational and recreational institutions. Donations to the fund come from all over the world. Submit letters of interest, no longer than five pages, indicating:

• the nature of the project;
• how and why it meets program requirements and goals; and
• a proposed project budget.

SUSDA to Fund Co-op Economic Impact Study
Capturing the socioeconomic impacts of cooperatives is enabling cooperative statewide organizations to issue reports on the benefits of electric cooperatives to the state's economies. Now, the USDA has funds to help a university capture and analyze the economic impact of all kinds of cooperatives for local areas. The $495,000 grant will run for two years through the Research on the Economic Impact of Cooperatives program. Applications are due by June 30 electronically or by mail. Application information and guidelines.

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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

www.nreda.org