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Center For Rural Affairs Releases i F

Report On Small Businesses p The Center for Rural Afhirs

recently released a report titled "Small Business Needs Asscss- ment." The report examines the findings ofrecent survey work by tlrr Rural Enterprise Assistance 1'ro.i~ ct (:<GAP), a program of the C5nt-r for Rural Affairs.

'rhe "Small Business Nceds Asscssment." a self-administered sulvey, was made available to ap- proximately 1.000 ciii:,epreneur~ and to local cl~;imher:; of com- merce, economic cie ielopment organizations. Nebraska Eco- no17i~. f)evelopers Association rcc!n' r r s , the Nebraska Bankers As: ,c:i;ition and other service pro- viders that work with Nebraska's small businesses.

The purpose of the survey was to gather information to evaluate the needs of Nebraska's small businesses from the perspectives of both business owners and the people that serve them.

According to the results of this survey, rural small businesses, regardless of size, maturity or any other characteristic, appear

7-X1 . . -

to have similar challenges and needs. Many small business own- ers start out with limited amounts of linarlcial resources and insuf- ficient business plans.

As businesses grow and ma- ture, financial issues and related challenges continue to plague many. Other issues included lack of training. lack of planning and the challenge of retaining youth and their entrepreneurial spirit in our rural communities.

"The REAP program is very pleased with the response to the recently completed needs as- sessment survey. The survey is a current snapshot of small business needs in Nebraska. REAP will be using the results of the survey to figure out ways to best serve rural entrepreneurs in Nebraska and meet the current needs that ex- ist." stated Jeff Reynolds, REAP Program Director.

To view the Center for Rural Affairs' report "Small Business Needs Assessment" visit: http:// www.cfra.org/node/l370

REAP is Nebraska's largest

microenterprise program and is committed to meeting the needs of _ - startup and existing entrepreneurs in rural Nebraska. REAYprovides lending, loan packaging, training, networking, and technical assis- tance opportunities for startup and existing small businesses.

For more information about REAP and its sewices and to access the survey, visit: www. ' cfra.org/reap

Funding to make the work of REAP possible comes from'

I many sources and includes: the , Community Development Block E Grant program through the Ne- [ braska Department of Econon~ic 1 Development, Share Our Strength

through the Nebraska Conkrnun~ty

I Foundation, Wealthspring Fund

Foundation, NebraskaEn terprisef Fund through the Nebraska ~ i - 1 croenterprise Developmerlt ~ c t , ~ Small Business Administration Microloan & Women's Business Center Programs, and from the; United States Department o Agriculture.

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TIMES WEDNESDAY WEEKLY RANDOLPH, NE Circulation = 944

0912412008

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- Area reside 4 11 learn about all -

(1 kinds of ideas -gd --. --,

HARTINGTON - The timing to - hold a Renewable Energy Fair in 1. Nebraska was right.

Residents in iebraska, as well as

Hartington deemed the event a success.

Terry Gompert. Knox County E,utension Agent, thought the Re- newable Energy Fair was a wonder-

"It is all about savingmoney," said

"Hopefully, we will be better educated on the energy crisis we are currrntly in." said Dickey. "The e n e r a crisis is a real challenge for boll1 producers and consumers. I would like to see an e n e r a policy be put together for the nation"

Dickey said he would like to see thc U.S. become less dependant on

inter~sted in findingways tocut costs wit11 file1 and other- energy saving

He drives a Honda Civic Hybred

"This is so worthwhile - it has all

canle to thr Energy Fair because of their interest in solar heating.

They thought the Fair had some

'We have used solar heat for over twenty years - we are looking at upgrading." said Jan.

Eighteen studentsfrom the Ener- gy. Power and Transportation Class at Wayne State College attended the Fair to g a l extra knowledge outside the classroom.

Eva Soh1 set up a booth for the Nebraska Leag~~e of Conservation Voters to encourage people to know who they are voting for in the up-

with the first ever Nebraska Renew-

"It is great to see such a big turnout -there is a good crowd here when you consider it is the middle of :i the day in the middle of the week," ., said s,.

7 Soh1 said she could just feel the "ecergy" in the air on Thursday. p.

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COURIER THURSDAY WEEKLY CALLAWAY, NE Circulation = 580

0912512008

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b a c k l e d by poverty in ~ebraska I I

( ' By Elisha Greeley Smith use it. The 20 percent credit on found small business develop- These accounts allow families - 1c Center for Rural Affairs investments ofup to $50,000 is ment to significantly increase to build assets and long-term ji InNebraska there are 65,309 refundable, which means that assets and reduce poverty, espe- financial well-being and across dildren living in poverty ac- businesses that don't owe taxes cially among rural people. the nation have been found to cording to recent data released receive a cash infusion from Nebraska should consider alleviate poverty.

5 . by the U.S. Census Bureau. the state. The state should also starting Individual Develop- Formore information: WWW. , The number of rural Ne- maintain strong funding for mentAccount(IDA)programs cfra.org. I

- .. braska children living in pov- the Nebraska Microenterprise in rural areas. IDAS are savings i; erty, 28,217, is higher than Development Act, a program accounts matched by public in suburban or central city that provides loans, training or private funds that allow Nebraska. I and technical assistance to low-income families to accu- 7

Ifalltheruralchildrenbelow small businesses. Nebraska rnulate savings to purchase a the poverty level lived in one should also expand programs home, start a small business or place it would be the 6th largest that promote entrepreneurial enhance education or training. city in Nebraska. opportunities in rural com-

Rural Nebraska can benefit munities. - -.. I

by the Legislature expand- Research - including exami-, ing the Nebraska Advantage nation of the Center for Rural Microenterprise tax credit to Affair's Rural Enterprise As- I I allow more small businesses to sistance Project (REAP) - has,

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NEWS-TIMES MORNlNG DAILY YORK, NE Circulation = 4196

10/22/2008

." - - - Guest Opinion

Celebrate National Microenterprise Day By Elisha Greeley Smith

Center for Rural Affairs

This \Vedi~ehday, October 22 , 2005, is National Microen- terprise Day. It's a day to recog- nirc \ur:al businesses, entrepre- neurship, a11d an investment in the American Dream. We con- stantly hear about the deepening affect of the current, financial crises. Many businesses are closing and people are worried about their financial security and future. What we do not hear about is the part of the economy that is working, the local eco- nomic heroes in all our commu- nities - the microentrepreneurs and small businesses. Microen-

terprise and small businesses are the backbone of America. They create new jobs, generate income. build assets and support local economies. They create opportunity and vibrant rural communities. They are the fami- ly farmer, the artisan; they run qtores. restaurants, garages and small manufacturing plants. There are an estimated 2 3 mil- lion microenterprises' (enterpris- es with five or fewer employees) in the US, representing 18% of all private employment in the country. More than 87% of all businesses in the US are microenterprises. Nationally, microenterprises created more than 4.5 million jobs in the past

five years. And history points to the important role microenter- prises and small businesses play during economic slowdowns. In 2002, during the nation's last recession and at a time of high unemployment, microenterpris- es and small businesses created nearly 1 million new jobs. To celebrate National Microenter- prise Day, we can make a com- mitment everyday to support our local businesses. This will stim- ulate the economy, providing additional resources for the

.entrepreneur to create jobs and rebuild America's economy. For more infornlation visit: www.cfra.org

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CLIPPER-HER4LD IVED./SAT. BI-WEEKL I' LEXINGTON, NE Circulation = 2476

I Neb. Enterarise Fund ' i

earns 2008 award ; The U.S. Department of the Treasury's office of Community Development Financial

Institutions (CDFI) announced recently that the Nebraska Enterprise Fund (NEF) will receive a financial assistance award of $590,785 in 2008. NEF is one of 89 organizations in the country to receive funding in the most recent CDFI funding notice.

CDFI Financial Assistance awards allow the CDFI Fund to achieve economic and com- munity development impact by investing in CDFIs, such as NEE that demonstrate the financial and managerial capacity to provide affordable financial products and services to low-income communities and populations.

Financial Assistance awards are made only to certified CDFIs (meaning, they have been certified by the CDFI Fund prior to applying for funds). CDFIs leverage private capital to respond to demand for affordable financial products and services in economically dis- tressed markets and by low-income people.

The Nebraska Enterprise Fund (NEF) became a certified CDFI in 1997. NEF is an inter- mediary CDFI serving nonprofit and public sector small business loan programs through- out the state of Nebraska. =

Rose Jaspersen serves as the Executive Director of the Nebraska Enterprise Fund. Jaspersen noted, "NEF is committed to leveraging funds for microenterprise development across the state. The CDFI funding provides a valuable equity stake in addition to state support through the Microenterprise Development Act (Department of Economic Development), banks and private foundations. Multiple sources that blend equity and debt capital make it possible for micro programs to provide loans, training a-ndtechnical assistance to Nebraska's micro/small businesses."

Microenterprise Development Organizations funded through NEF work with small busi- nesses across Nebraska. Examples of businesses that have been served are profiled on the NEF website (www.nebbiz.org) and in the NEF Report to the Legislature. One recent busi- ness profile highlighted Russ's Repair & Salvage and Auto Sales in Fairbury.

Owner, Russ Furrow, a disabled veteran turned a small personal savings of $11,000 into g a business worth over $200,000 in assets with business planning assistance and training courses from the Rural Enterprise Assistance Project. i

He usetl loan resources from the local revolving loan fund, and his local bank with a SBA I guarantee. Furrow said that he appreciates the assistance he received and went on to : share that starting his business has had many challenges. He'll continue to utilize techni- =

cal assistance from REAP and would participate in ongoing trainings that are offered, especially if it can help him with improving his records management and financial analy- sis of his business.

The Nebraska Enterprise Fund exists to make sure that Nebraska micro and small busi- nesses have access to capital, training, and technical assistance.

"Small /micro businesses are the base of Nebraska's economy. The CDFI funding is ' going to make a difference with regards to letting the general public know about services to help businesses and in making affordable capital available for loans," Jaspersen explained. -- -

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NEM4HA CO. HER4LD FRIDAY WEEKLY AUBURN, NE Circulation = 2628

10/02/2008

$~ocar Food Vendors Are ' fsought for Marketplace

onference in N. Platte ons - The Center for Rural Af- s requesting proposals for local tems to serve at the Marketplace rence luncheon, along with

morning and afternoon snacks, and - :an evenlng banquet.

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The event will take place at the

FooJ pl oposals are due November 1, 2008. 'The Request for Proposals

one-day event focused on strengthen- ing small businesses and rural com- munities. Attendees of Marketplace will learn essential business skills; network with service providers and other entrepreneurs, including agricul- tural entrepreneurs; and discover new ideas that work for small businesses and communities. There will be over 600 in attendance.

"This is a great opportunity for I producers to get market exposure for ( their products," commented Traci Bruckner with the Center for Rural Affairs. "And it makes sense that a

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MONITOR THURSDAY WEEKLY BLOOMFIELD, NE Circulation = 1405

10102/2008 i

! ~hacltleb by Poverty - By Elisha Grcelcy Smith,

" elishas@cfra.org. Center for Rural .[ Affairs f.: In Nehrxka there are 65,309 chil-

ren living in poverty according to recent data released by the U.S. Census

The number of Gral Nebraska chil- a" dren living i n poverty, 28,217, is higher 1 than in sub~rrban or central city Ne- :?

9 i

If all the rural children helow the j puberty level lived in orle place it 5 would be Lhc 6th largest city in Ne- I

I Rural Nebraska can benefit by the ;

L,egislature expanding the Nebraska 2 Advantage Microenterprise tax credit to '

20 perccnt credit on investments of to $50,000 is refundable, which

cans that busi~iesses that don't owe xes receive a cash infusion from the 1

state. The state should also maintain '

strong funding for the Nebraska Micru- enterprise Dcveloprncr~t Act, a program that provides loans, training and techni- cal assistance to small businesses. Ne- braska should also expand programs thar promote cntrcpreneurial opportuni- ties in rural communities.

Research - including examination of Center for Rural Affair's Rural [

erprise Assjs&nce Project;!REAP) - I

. found sm.aIl business developme~lt -i significantly increase assets and

duce poverty, especially among rural I Nebraska should consider starting [

Individllal Development Account (IDA) proyams in rural areas. IDAs arc savings accounts matched by public cg private funds that allow low-income f b l i e s to accum~!i$~savings lo pur- !

ase a home, start a sinall busin& or hance education or training. These

ccounts allow families to build assets nd long-term financial well-heing and cross the nation havc bzcn found to

inforlnation:

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MONITOR I THURSDAY WEEKLY 1 BLOOhfFIELD, NE Circulation = 1405 I

I

1 he Rural Vote Is Up Foor 1 ifrabs I _ - Rv Chuck I Hassebrook, p -,

'chuckh@cfra.org, Center forRural Af- !;

ith only weeks left, the rural vote for grabs. That sends a message to ; parties: don't write us off and

on't take us for granted. A Center for Rural Strategies poll of

rural voters in key swing states found John McCain leading Barack Obama, but by a smaller margin than President Bush won the same voters four years earlier. The margin among rural voters may determine the outcome of the na- tional election.

The poll also shows that rural voters see little difference between the two parties on rural issues. Regardless of the party in power, Washington has subsidized mega farms to drive family farms out of business and failed to invest in creating genuine opportunity for rural people and a future for their communities. Both parties lavish tax :

breaks on corporate America and mega farrns instead of helping ordinary rural people buy homes and start farms and small businesses. !

Neither party has demonstrated a : real commitment to ensuring that rural j people -.\?rho c~ntr-i@e so much to the -

nation's prosperity - share in it. Neither party seems to understand that America I will never be as strong as it can be until 1 all of America has the opportunity to 1 share in building wealth, assets, and :

The party that demonstrates that it will fight for ordinary rural people can capture the rural margin it needs to win

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this election and many elections to

For more information visit: - - www.cfra.org11icws . -. - . . . . - -. . medialnewsletter

HITCHCOCK CO. NEWS

TRENTON, Nebraska

Date: Thursday, October 16, 2008

Frequency: WEEKLY Circulation: 970 .2~aZ-, I Clip Size: 10.57 sq. inches , z%.?21i z;:*iw Ad Rate: $9 4~Ue@/ j l Pagelsection: 7 ;&Rig?, ,,,

October REAP Office Hours in McCook Dena Beck, central and

southwest Nebraska Busi- ness Specialist with the C a - ter for Rurak Affairs' Rural Enterprise Assistance Proj- ect will hold office hours in McCook on October 22nd. Hours will be 10 a.m. until 2:45 p.m. McCook Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) will handle the appointments; (308) 345- 1200. MEDC office is located at 301 Norris Av- enue, Suite 200.

The Center for Rural Af- fairs' Rural Enterprise As- sistance Project (REAP) and its services are available to rural communities across Ne-

braska. REAP offers techni- cal assistance, educational and networking opportuni- ties, and a loan program for small businesses. REAP is designed to assist all types of small businesses, including businesses with 5 or fewer employees, self-employed full-time, part-time, home- based, farm-based, start-up, and store-front businesses. REAP has six regionally based Business Specialists across Nebraska. These Business Specialists can get involved in assisting entrepreneurs at various stages of their busi- ness progress.

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i RECORD 6 WEDNESDAY WEEKLY 1

CRADRON, NE Circulation = 2673

~ h e answer is blowing in the wind By Elisha Greeley Smith

i Center for Rural Affairs = T Boone Pickens' came to Nebraska last month

! to talk about his plan to reducc Americans ;dependence on foreign oil by developing wind .."

; filrtns across the plains. Boone's plan could be a boon to rural comnlunities.

5 But Nebraskans need to take wind development nwrc scriously. Right now Nebraska ranks 21 in the nation in using wind energy with only 73 mcgawatts installed, but Nebraska ranks sixth in tlic nation in wind potential, with 868,000

r mcgawatts /hour potential. To put it into bettkr perspective, Texas, the state

L with the second-most wind potential has 5,317 a nlcga~~at ts inst;~lled right now. Iowa and

Minnesota, both statcs with less wind potential : than Nebraska, have nearly 1,300 megawatts of i installed wind capacity each.

Nebraska Public Power District has for the first

time set a goal to produce more wind energy, 6

which is a good start, but not enough. Wind can provide an enomlous economic bene-

fit, particularly to rural areas. A wind turbine Dc- tory in Pipestone, Minnesota (pop 4,000) employs I 500 people and has an estimated $15 inillion pay- ( roll.

When these wind turbines are locally owned vs. I I owned by outside investors; they deliver niorc -

jobs and more local area dollar impact. I Nebrabka's power system is governctl by an

elected board. Contact Nebraska Public Poucr

nlemhors and urge them to increase wind power

i board members or your local public powcr board / '

~roduclion in Nebraska. Visit l1ttp://www.nppd.cotn/boi1rd~of~dircctors

to Find your statewide representative. Attend Nebraska's first Renewable Energy Fatr

to learn more about what you can d o http:llwww.cfra.orb./nodei1324 I

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GAZETTE WEDNESDAY WEEKLY WAUSA, NE Circulation = 753

09/24/2008

lllllllllllllllllllll IIIIIII IIIIII Ill A -- -- -

?- Northeast Nebraska Energy fair aids area farmers By Drcnznci Andc.l:voti renewable energy. Cedar Co!rntj. ,4'01u.s Martin Kleinschtnit from the Center for Rural

MAR~INCI 'FON Thc tillling to hold a Affiirs Officc in Hartington decmcd thc cvcnt Renewable [.,ncrgy Fair a success. in Nebraska was right.

L 6 ~ have had nntlzing but good con,- "1 have had nothing Residcnls in Nshras- nrc,,t,5, v ' c ~ h i ~ a but good comments,"

ka, a s well as across the grfat to new irlms. said Klcinschmit. "This nation, arc f:rcingrlrii!,llcr was a great timc to scc utility bills and seeing some new ideas. higher tln;tn cvcr priccs at gas pumps. 'I'crry Gcmpert, Knox County Extension

The Ncbraska Rolicwablc Encrgy Fair, the Agent, thought the Rencwablc Energy Fair was first one ever hcld in Ihe stilt^, was hosted by a wonderful idea. the Centcr for I<uriilAlfhirsat tlie Ccdar C'ouni y "It is all about saving moncy,"said(iompert. Fairgroutids Sept. 18. "We have all thc solutions -- we just have to

Close to 250 people from a s I'ar amlay as adapt to it. It is the right thing to do. I t is just a Washington, Colorado, Kansas, Oltlahorna as nlattcr of mind set." wellasNebraskashowcduptoleam moreabout Bob Dickey, Laurcl, agrecd the Rcncwable

Eticrgy Fair was a, "good idea." "fIopcfully, wcnill bc bcttcrcducatcd on the

cncrgy crisis \vc are c ~ ~ u e n t l y in." said Dickey. "Thc cncrgy crisis is a real cl~allcngc for both producers and consumers. 1 would likc to sccan energy pollcy bc put rogcthcr for the nation"

Dickey said lie would like to see the U.S. become less dependant on ibrcigri oil.

Paul Sp~itz, Osmond, was alrcacly intcrcsted in finding ways to cut costs with fi~cl and other i energy saving dcviccs before attending the ; Fair.

1lc drivcs a Honda Civic Flybrcd vehicle and 11;1s hecri using the new florcsccnt light bulbs to cut down on c~ ic rg . LISC.

"This is so u~ortliwliilc - i t llas all been wortl~whilc," said Spat./.