Quarter IV, 2007

In this issue:

2008 Board of Directors

Pat Merritt, president
pat.merritt@georgiaemc.com
Henry Fischer, 1st vice president
H.fischer@scapartnership.com
Rick Shortell, 2nd vice president
Rick@ure.com
Rick Nelson, secretary-treas.
rjnelse@nppd.com
Sherry Rose, past president
sherryr@wvpa.com

2008 Committee Chairs

Bob Muirhead, Professional Development
bmuirhead@mwenergy.com
Linda Salmonson, Strategic Alliances
lsalmonson@erepc.com
Karen Mitchell, Legislative/Government Affairs
Fcda_director@mchsi.com
Henry Fischer, Annual Conference
H.fischer@scapartnership.com

Fred Baughman
Baughman@cipower.com
Andrea Cumpston
ACumpsto@nrtc.coop
Brad Captain
Brad.captain@nrucfc.coop
Bobby Davis
Bobby.davis@bemc.org
Lori Fischetti
LFischetti@ntca.org
Mark Gaddy
MarkG@becsc.com
Clare Gustin
cgustin@sunflower.net
Tom Lambrecht
tlambrecht@grenergy.com
Jane Marden
jane.marden@nreca.org
Eric Phillips
ephillips@unioncounty.org
Stan Williamson
swilliamson@santee.org
Linda Yohon
linday@ruraltel.com

Member-To-Member
NREDA members appreciate sharing ideas, suggestions, and development solutions. What's going on in your area? Is there a resource or solution you think other member should know about? Let us know: director@nreda.org.

Change of address?
Update your membership information at www.nreda.org/core/login.aspx.

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Hot Topics for Rural Developers
If you missed the 2007 NREDA Conference, be sure to catch up on conference highlights via links to brief summaries of presentations, plus links to available PowerPoint presentations. Three sessions are included, below, with more to come in upcoming issues of the Rural Developer.

•  New Regionalism: World Class Strategies to
  Compete Globally
  If your community wants to stay in the race, it's time to think regionally and adopt a global economic development strategy. Mark Drabenstott, director of the Rural Policy Research Institute, shares his advice.
  More >>
  
•  Ethanol: Will it Boost or Stymie the Rural Economy?
  Corn-based ethanol was touted as the savior of the rural economy but that opinion is changing. Two NREDA conference speakers present their views on ethanol and how it could impact rural areas.
  More >>
  
•  NREDA Members Swap Ideas
  What's happening in your area to further entrepreneurship? Workforce development? Promote energy efficient programs? NREDA members shared their views on such topics during breakout sessions at the NREDA Conference. The sessions prompted lively exchange among members; most said they'd like to continue the topic-based networking via listserv or otherwise. NREDA is considering these options and appreciates your input and/or suggestions. In the meantime, note from each breakout session are posted below.
  Economic Development Partnerships
  Energy Efficiency
  How to Promote Entrepreneurship
  Workforce Development & Retention

Dennis Krueger, general manager of Kiwash Electric Cooperative, Cordell, Oklahoma, tapped into the REDL&G program to shift the struggling southwest Oklahoma economy from dependency on agriculture and oil industry to more small enterprise and entrepreneurs.
More >>

JoAnne Lewis, executive director, Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Authority helped her rural Georgia region recover from a loss of 1,007 jobs due to off-shoring. In 2006, the area celebrated over $90 million in new investment and more than 450 new jobs.
More >>

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Tools to Implement a Regional Plan
The U.S. Economic Development Administration recently funded the development of the "Know Your Region" project to provide development practitioners with tools to create and implement effective regional strategies in the increasingly global economy. The tools include a comprehensive curriculum, pod casts, links to relevant sources and funding organizations, tutorials, and movies. It's available free of charge on the project website.

Legislation on Biofuels Could Impact Your Area
Public policy on renewable fuels will impact your rural area. Get the details on ethanol bills currently before the 110th Congress by visiting the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Web site. The RFA public policy page is a valuable resource to developers who wish to stay up on biofuels legislation. They also include a list of congressional representatives serving on the Biofuels Caucus.

Scholarships Available for Entrepreneurship
Are you partnering with a local community college in your region? If so, please share this information with them: As part of its mission to promote entrepreneurship, the Coleman Foundation is generously providing scholarships for 100 community college professionals to attend the 2008 National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship Conference on January 6-9 in San Antonio. The purpose of these scholarships is to introduce new attendees to the network of community colleges interested in entrepreneurship. The 2008 NACCE conference will be full of resources for you to take home and apply at your community college, as well as contacts with whom to share information.

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Source: NRECA Community Catalyst
Second Quarter REDL&G Applications Due by End of December
In most states, co-ops must submit applications to the state Rural Development office by December 31. Check the new REDL&G scoring system and complete REDL&G forms for additional information on the new rule issued May 2007.

Unless Congress passes a 2008 USDA appropriations bill, the maximum REDL&G loan remains at $740,000, the maximum grant at $300,000 and the maximum grant/loan combination at $1,040,000.

Grants Available to Promote Historic Places
Does your rural area include historically significant sites, events or buildings? The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) helps communities as well as local governments, schools, universities and non-profit organizations educate the general public about local culture and history by providing funding for heritage tourism. The NEH Interpreting America's Historic Places Implementation Grants support projects that are significant to American history, and convey that history to visitors. Applications are due to NEH by January 23, 2008.

Co-op Incentives to Promote Efficiency and Renewable Energy
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and CFC are working together to promote renewable projects and energy efficiency at DOI sites through the electric cooperatives. As part of this initiative, CFC will provide financing to the electric cooperatives for viable projects. Facilities such as military bases, National Park Service visitor centers, and schools on Indian reservations are some of the opportunities for updating electric efficiency. For more information, contact CFC's Leslie Ebert at (703) 709-6751

Online DUNS Number Registration
If your cooperative or community partners apply for federal funding, they may be asked to provide a DUNS number on their grant or loan application. The DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number is a unique nine-character number that identifies your organization and allows the federal government to track how federal money is distributed. More than 100 million institutions worldwide now have an assigned DUNS number. Your organization can obtain a DUNS number, usually within one business day, through a link on Grants.gov.

The Rural Developer E-Bulletin is published
monthly for members of the
National Rural Economic Developers Association
100 East Grand Avenue, Suite 330 Des Moines, IA 50309
Tele: 515-284-1421 FAX 515-243-2049
E-mail: director@nreda.org

www.nreda.org