Vermont Working Lands Bill Moving toward Enactment -
Governor expected to sign bill
MONTPELIER, VT – Legislators gave final approval to the Working Lands Enterprise Investment bill (H.496) in the final days of the session, and sent the bill to the Governor’s desk. Governor Shumlin is expected to sign the bill.
The final version of the bill creates a Working Lands Enterprise Board, comprised of 15 members, three of which will be non-voting. The Board will oversee the Working Lands Enterprise Fund, which will have three focus areas of investment: (1) enterprise grants and loans to land-based and value-added businesses that are new or want to grow; (2) wrap-around services to working lands enterprise including technical assistance, business planning, financial packaging, and other services required by companies ready to transition to the next stage of growth; and (3) needed infrastructure for creative diversification projects, value-added manufacturing, processing, storage, distribution, and collaborative ventures. The Fund will be overseen by the Board.
The Appropriations bill allocated $1.175 million to the Working Lands Enterprise Fund, with $175,000 going toward two positions to support the work through the Agency of Agriculture.
The bill also adds a forestry focus and additional members to the existing Vermont Agricultural Development Board and renames the board as the Vermont Agricultural and Forest Products Development Board.
Paul Costello, executive director of the Vermont Council on Rural Development, celebrated the conference committee agreement by saying, “This bill raises a flag in Vermont for our natural resource economy and lets the nation know that agricultural and forest products entrepreneurs are welcome here. Vermont will be known as the ‘value-added’ state. This initiative is an economic development strategy that supports rural prosperity.”
PRA congratulates the Vermont Council on Rural Development and everyone associated with this great initiative.
Broadband connections can open opportunities in all sectors and for all Vermonters. On May 8th, join leaders from around the state to set the path for using Internet technology to create jobs, strengthen our communities, reinvent schools and increase citizen participation.
Highlights of the conference include:
Welcome address by Governor Peter Shumlin
Keynote address by Nicco Mele, former webmaster for Governor Howard Dean's 2004 presidential race and a leading expert in the integration of social media and Web 2.0 with politics, business and communications
Panels on creating economic opportunity through connectivity, connecting communities, building digital literacy and education innovation
Facilitated discussions for you to share your ideas about how to ensure that Vermonters can make best use of broadband resources as they expand across our state
Vermont's Digital Future Conference
The Youth Entrepreneurship track is open to students in grades 6,7,8. Youth registration is $25 with limited scholarships available. To apply for a scholarship, email a letter of application to,
Diane C. Vigna, PhD,
University of Nebraska Lincoln
dvigna@unlnotes.unl.edu , 402‐472‐6318
Application deadline: March 23 by 5pm
LODGING
Hotel reservations are the responsibility of individual registrants. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Holiday Inn Express for April 17‐18.
Rooms can be reserved at a rate of $99 or $77 (government rate) per night. Please make your
hotel reservations by April 3 or earlier to receive the discounted conference rate. To make reservations, call 308‐532‐9500 or toll free, 888‐562‐9500. Identify yourself as a “Governor’s
Conference on Rural Development participant.”
Maine Rural Partners promotes farm energy conservation
Use Less. Grow More. Find Money.
Get a REDA quality audit and qualify for federal assistance programs along with Efficiency Maine small business funding programs, helping you reduce your energy use and grow your bottom line!
On behalf of Farm Energy Partners, Efficiency Maine and Maine Rural Partners secured a grant from USDA Rural Development to pay 75% of the cost of a USDA-approved audit for 100 dairies and greenhouses. The audit will qualify the farm for grant and cost-share programs of USDA NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) and Rural Development that can help pay for recommended equipment upgrades.
Along with the audit, we will analyze whether and how a solar thermal or PV system might work for your farm. We are offering an "energy solution provider service" that does not just stop with an audit report. Our energy advisors will work with the farmer after the audit to access available incentives, find financing, identify vendors or address other barriers to implementing smart steps.
Services Available:
Basic Energy Assessment (Free)
Contact us (see contact information at the bottom of the flyer) to receive a free energy screening to compare your energy usage with industry standards and determine if an energy audit or renewable energy assessment might be right for your business. REDA Energy Audit and Solar Assessment.
A certified Energy Auditor will evaluate your farm or greenhouse's major systems, measure energy usage over time and recommend improvements which lower your energy costs and increase your bottom line. The viability of a solar system for heat or electricity on your farm will be evaluated, with a system sized and rough cost estimate provided to determine if it is worth considering. This audit will qualify you for USDA NRCS and Rural Development grant and cost share programs.
Retail Cost: $1200.00 • Your cost under this program: JUST $300.00!
Follow-up Assistance
Once you have decided to implement system recommendations, MRP and its partners will work with you to provide implementation assistance necessary to apply for funding and secure contractors. Funding Source: USDA Rural Development's Rural Energy for America Program administered through Efficiency Maine and delivered by Maine Rural Partners.
Already had an audit?
Have you implemented all the recommendations? We will review your prior audit, compare it with changes based on current bills presented and adjustments in your farm operation and concentrate on working with you to implement recommendations that make sense or further explore a renewable energy opportunity. We will make sure your audit is done to the level that will qualify for USDA grant and cost-share programs.
How to Apply:
Send a completed audit application, copies of 12 months of all energy bills related to farm operations (excluding truck and tractor costs), and the last two Schedule Fs from tax returns to Claudia Lowd, Maine Rural Partners, 4 York Village, Orono, ME 04469. We will call and schedule an on-farm audit visit. The $300 fee payable to Maine Rural Partners is due at the audit visit but will not be deposited until the audit report is delivered. Copies of energy bills will be returned at the audit visit.
The National Telecommunications Cooperative Association cordially invites you to...
The Smart Rural Communities Summit
When: April 26, 2012 • 8:30 a.m. - Noon Where: Marriott Courtyard Capitol Hill/Navy Yard • 140 L Street SE Washington, D.C. 20003
The economic prosperity of rural communities is a priority for NTCA. Regardless of location or size, communities compete in a global marketplace where the ability to access and share information is critical.
Join the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association on April 26 for the Smart Rural Communities Summit. The event will convene leaders from the fields of consumer protection, education, health care, public safety and other interests to explore what it means to be a “smart rural community.” The summit will include a keynote address from the Honorable Jonathan Adelstein, administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service, and the release of a white paper on the smart rural community.
Summit Schedule 8:30 a.m. Breakfast 9:00 a.m. Keynote: Jonathan Adelstein, RUS 9:30 a.m. White Paper Presentation: Jesse Ward, NTCA 10:00 a.m. Break 10:15 a.m. Facilitated Discussion 11:30a.m. Wrap up and Opportunities for Action
RSVP: Please RSVP by April 20 to Jessica Golden at jgolden@ntca.org or call 703-351-2015.
News Flash: Rural Partners of Michigan merges with Michigan Rural Network
This is an exciting time for rural advocates in Michigan. Two rural focused organizations have joined forces in order to better serve communities. CEDAM is pleased to announce that the Rural Partners of Michigan and the Michigan Rural Network have merged to create the Michigan Rural Council (MRC). For several years, these two organizations have both been working on behalf of rural places. This merger is a consolidation of both groups’ efforts and will create a more streamlined approach to addressing rural Michigan’s issues.
The MRC is poised to take part in the growing conversations about rural development in Michigan. Governor Snyder has elevated rural development into the spotlight by explicitly adding it to the title of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, now titled Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. In addition agri-tourism, agriculture and rural infrastructure were discussed in the recent State of the State address. MRC members are excited to serve as partners and resources in the work to make rural Michigan a great place to live.
Representatives from each organization worked together to develop a shared mission and vision for the Rural Council:
MRC Mission: The Michigan Rural Council connects and educates community leaders, provides expertise and advocates for policy and projects to impact rural Michigan.
MRC Vision: The Michigan Rural Council is a bridge between leaders and communities to revitalize and enhance rural Michigan.
Michigan Rural Council members hope you will join us in this work! As part of the MRC, you will have the opportunity to participate in one of our issue-based working groups. MRC convenes groups around specific areas including broadband, housing, economic development, rural philanthropy, transportation and more. If you would like to be involved in action oriented projects designed to benefit rural communities, a working group is the place to be! The Rural Council will also continue to offer bi-monthly meetings. These meetings not only give you the chance to meet and converse with other community leaders and rural advocates, but each meeting also provides an in-depth discussion of a topic related to rural community building. Finally, MRC will distribute a monthly electronic newsletter filled with rural news, policy updates, funding alerts and more. You can stay up to date by having this resource delivered directly to your inbox.
RPM is Michigan's USDA designated state rural development council, and under the new merged organization, MRC director Kari Marciniak will serve in the position of director of this SRDC. She'll also serve as designated representative in the Partners for Rural America (PRA) organization. The contact information for Kari and the Michigan Rural Council is:
Kari Marciniak
Coordinator, Michigan Rural Council
Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM)
1000 S. Washington, Lansing, MI 48910
517-485-3588 x1947
marciniak@cedam.info www.michiganruralcouncil.org
Partners for Rural America congratulates all involved in this exciting merger and welcome Kari to the PRA family.
Don’t miss the upcoming Small Town and Rural Development Conference
Mark your calendars now for the upcoming Small Town and Rural Development conference. Although held in Michigan, the general session speakers are national in scope and are some of the best available in terms of the topics and concepts they address. They include Mary Randolph, PRA treasurer and executive director of the Wyoming Rural Development Council. Additionally, many of the breakout session topics are general in scope as well. The Small Town and Rural Development conference is held at an excellent venue in the rolling hills and forests of Northwest Michigan. The cost of the three-day event is extremely low – just $125 for the entire conference. Click here for more the conference brochure or call 517-485-3588. You can also visit the website at http://michiganruralcouncil.org for more information or to register.
Illinois Rural Partners reflects on 2011 successes
Illinois Rural Partners recently released a recap of their highlights and accomplishments from the previous year. Like other State Rural Development Councils across the nation IRP embodies the spirit or collaboration as it works to coordinate efforts toward a brighter future for rural Illinois.
Illinois Rural Partners........
Connects Rural Partners Members to One Another
Rural Partners connects our membership by providing networking opportunities at conferences; posting information to the updated and interactive website; publishing a newsletter, sharing success stories, funding opportunities and ideas; and responding to individual initiatives across the state. Rural Partners acts as an intermediary to resolve impediments between communities, not for profit corporations, businesses, state and federal agencies, and others helping to resolve impediments to progress.
Sponsors, Plans and Participates in Conferences
Rural Partners co-sponsors and attracts exhibitors to community and business development, broadband, leadership and other conferences to inform rural leaders, enable them to replicate successes of others, and to find creative approaches to address problems and develop opportunities. Rural Partners was a gold level sponsor of the Economic Development Downstate Summit attended by over 200 economic developers and legislators to develop support of favorable legislation for TIF Districts and Enterprise Zones. The annual Rural Economic Development Conference in Peoria is March 7-8 and the annual Leadership Conference is June 6th.
Provides Funding For the Illinois Rural Life Poll
The results of the Rural Life Poll, conducted by the IL Institute for Rural Affairs and partially funded by Rural Partners’ membership dues, has been widely used by community leaders, policy makers, conference planners and others as well as the Rural Partners board.
Publishes Regular and Information Packed Newsletters
Rural Partners is recommitted to provide regular newsletters with articles about funding, conferences, success stories and more. Our members and others are encouraged to contribute articles and information which can help promote your company, your cause or your ideas. Over 95% of our members say they read these newsletters.
Keeps You in Touch with State Government Leadership
As a member of the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council and Housing, Child Care, Extension, Transportation and other task forces, Rural Partners is informed of state rural development initiatives and funding opportunities, and steps up to share issues and address problems facing rural communities and businesses.
Updated Rural Partners Website
Rural Partners updated its website to make it more informative, responsive and interactive to better serve our members and others. Check it out at www.ruralpartners.org
Speaks for and Advocates for Rural Issues
Rural communities and organizations look to Rural Partners to be their voice. Rural Partners provided that voice at Illinois affordable housing task force meetings; Governor’s Rural Affairs Council and through its membership in the National Partners for Rural America, Association of Counties, Association of Townships, Extension Partners, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and others.
Supported Establishment of an Annual Housing Awards Program
With others, Rural Partners actively supported the establishment of an annual awards program to recognize and seek duplication of housing initiatives that demonstrated innovation and excellence.
Asks for Feedback from Members
Rural Partners stays in touch with its members. Rural Partners continually seeks input from its members and others to determine their needs and priorities and what services Rural Partners should offer. Continuing existing services in this time of tight budgets, obtaining broadband service and supporting existing businesses and entrepreneurs are current high priority goals.
Join Rural Partners!
Your voice can be heard, along with others, through Illinois Rural Partners. For more information, go to www.ruralpartners.org
Illinois Rural Partners is a member-driven forum that links individuals, businesses, organizations and communities with public and private resources to maximize the potential of rural Illinois.
WISCONSIN THINKS SMALL; VERMONT INNOVATES: TWO GREAT STORIES FROM THE DAILY YONDER
Two engaging stories by Craig Nettles recently published in the Daily Yonder highlight what a little gumption and creative thinking can produce in rural areas.
Can a group of citizens from small town Wisconsin entice Internet providers to set-up shop in sparsely-populated, seeming unprofitable rural areas? You bet, just take a look at the town of Three Lakes, located in the far northern part of the state. Not only did town residents unite to attract broadband, they used its availability to attract new residents. Read the Daily Yonder story at:
In rural northern Vermont, it’s not so much what they have but what they do with it. The Vermont Council on Rural Development had previously been involved in the 3-county Northeast Kingdom area to better connect businesses with the Web, but a new contest backed by locals folks and businesses brought over 100 contestants and produced some amazing work. Yes they can! You can lean how through the Daily Yonder at:
Investing in our Farm and Forest Future is the final report of the Vermont Working Landscape Partnership. It offers five recommendations to help reinvigorate the state’s rural economy: • Build a major campaign to celebrate the distinctiveness of the working landscape that is Vermont.
• Target strategic investment through a Vermont Agriculture and Forest Products Development Fund.
• Designate and support “Working Lands.”
• Develop tax revenue to support working landscape enterprise development and conservation.
• Create a State Planning Office and activate the Development Cabinet.
The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) launched this broad-based partnership as a way to focus efforts to keep our farm and forest economy healthy and prosperous. Click HERE to read it online. For a print copy of the report, please contact VCRD at 802 223-6091 or info@vtrural.org
WISCONSIN RURAL PARTNERS AWARDS THREE TOP RURAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES FOR 2011
Wisconsin Rural Partners, Inc. awarded the Top Rural Development Initiatives for 2011 at a ceremony at the Stoney Creek Inn and Conference Center in Mosinee, Wisconsin on Friday, December 2nd, 2011. The awards were presented by Wisconsin Rural Partners president Dennis Deery at the luncheon of the 2011 Wisconsin Rural Summit.
The three efforts receiving Top Initiative awards are:
Building Community Capacity through Broadband, statewide through offices in Madison. The University of Wisconsin-Extension led the effort to secure the two largest grants in UWEX history: federal Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grants and matching partner funds totaling approximately $45.9 million. These grants will benefit communities by laying over 600 miles of fiber optic cabling connecting 182 anchor institutions (libraries, schools, hospitals, police, fire, government and healthcare) in Douglas, Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, Marathon and Grant counties. Education and outreach efforts are occurring in these counties and also through the College of Menominee Nation to close the digital divide and bring citizens and businesses online and into the communities’ economic mainstream.
Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen, Mineral Point. The Innovation Kitchen is the only community-based food processing center in the United States with a full time, professionally licensed staff. Using this model, farmers, chefs, culinary professionals, and food entrepreneurs can start and grow their own businesses and private-label food brands.
Neshkoro Enhancement Committee, Neshkoro. The spirit and hard work found in a Marquette County village of 434 has resulted in myriad successful projects, including the creation of two parks, a home and garden tour, a summer concert series, a community chorus (with over 50 members!), the Scarecrow Festival and many other initiatives. As the nomination said, “If we can do it, other communities can too.”
Click here for complete descriptions of the 2011 Top Rural Development Initiatives and local contacts.
Wisconsin Rural Partners is a statewide non-profit organization that develops leadership, networks and voice for rural Wisconsin. WRP is the federally-recognized State Rural Development Council for Wisconsin.
This is the twelfth year that Wisconsin Rural Partners has recognized Wisconsin=s Top Rural Development Initiatives. The program is designed to identify, highlight, and share innovative models, practices and programs that have a positive impact on rural Wisconsin communities. Wisconsin Rural Partners created the program to provide a mechanism for rural communities to learn from each other.
ISSUES FACING RURAL ILLINOIS: RESULTS FROM THE 2010 ISSUES SURVEY
Urban and rural Illinois residents share views on some issues but a survey of over 1,000 individuals shows they differ on the importance of other key concerns. Illinois Rural Partners and the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs conducted a rural issues survey in 2010 to understand broad trends affecting rural Illinois, report on the opinions rural and urban Illinois residents hold about quality of life issues and use survey data to foster debate about rural development policy in Illinois. Approximately 45% of the surveys were completed by non-metro residents and 55% from those in urban areas.
Survey results provide evidence to suggest that conditions are getting better in rural places. National level data suggests that for the past year, rural America (and Illinois) has been on the rebound. Rural counties in the Midwest are doing better than rural counties in the High Plains and Intermountain West. According to the website Rural Yonder (2010) two-thirds of rural counties have lower unemployment rates in October 2010 than they did in 2009. One explanation for job recovery in rural regions is high commodity prices which have spurred a positive ripple effect through rural communities. This has resulted in increased purchases of farm equipment, farm labor increases, and rising land prices
But these positive short term trends are overshadowed by some worrisome longer term trends. Data from 2010 shows that rural counties nationally and in Illinois continue to show population declines between 2000 and 2010. Of the 102 counties in Illinois, 9 of 36 (19.4%) metro counties lost population. Remarkably, 54 of 66 (81.8%) of non-metro counties lost population.
The state is experiencing a persistent and growing wage gap between rural and urban counties in Illinois. The gap between metro and non-metro wages increased from $9,922 in 1990 to $11,418 in 2008.
Metro and non-metro residents alike agreed that jobs, healthcare and education ranked highly. But compared to their urban counterparts, non-metro residents placed more importance on a skilled workforce to meet demand and on keeping young people in their communities. Non-metro residents were less optimistic and also more concerned about Internet access, local government, and the adequacy of school funding, Internet access, than their metro counterparts.
For more information on the 2010 Illinois Rural Life Survey contact Jerry Townsend of Illinois Rural Partners or Christopher Merrett at the Illinois Institute of Rural Affairs.
Vermont Working Landscape Partnership Program
New White House Rural Council named
On July 28th the Associated Press issued a rather depressing story for those who live in rural America. The local headline read, “Rural America Disappearing? Population share hits low”. Indeed, in the last hundred years the population of the rural United States has plummeted from 72% to the current 16%.
On the other hand, President Obama recently affirmed the importance of rural America in creating the White House Rural Council. “Strong rural communities are key to a stronger America,” said President Barack Obama. “That’s why I’ve established the White House Rural Council to make sure we’re working across government to strengthen rural communities and promote economic growth.”
The Council, created on June 9, 2011 by Executive Order, will coordinate programs across government to encourage public-private partnerships to promote further economic prosperity and quality of life in rural communities nationwide. Chaired by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, the Council will be responsible for providing recommendations for investment in rural areas and will coordinate Federal engagement with a variety of rural stakeholders, including agricultural organizations, small businesses, and state, local, and tribal governments.
In the coming months, the White House Rural Council will focus on job creation and economic development by increasing the flow of capital to rural areas, promoting innovation, expanding digital and physical networks, and celebrating opportunity through America’s natural resources. The Council will begin discussing key factors for growth, including:
Jobs: Improve job training and workforce development in rural America
Agriculture: Expand markets for agriculture, including regional food systems and exports
Access to Credit: Increase opportunity by expanding access to capital in rural communities and fostering local investment
Innovation: Promote the expansion of biofuels production capacity and community based renewable energy projects
Networks: Develop high-growth regional economies by capitalizing on inherent regional strengths
Health Care: Improve access to quality health care through expansion of health technology systems
Education: Increase post-secondary enrollment rates and completion for rural students
Broadband: Support the President’s plan to increase broadband opportunities in rural America
Infrastructure: Coordinate investment in critical infrastructure
Ecosystem markets: Expanding opportunities for conservation, outdoor opportunities and economic growth on working lands and public lands
The Obama Administration has set goals of modernizing infrastructure by providing broadband access to 10 million Americans, expanding educational opportunities for students in rural areas, and providing affordable health care. In the long term, these unparalleled rural investments will help ensure that America’s rural communities are repopulating, self-sustaining, and thriving economically.
Partners for Rural America welcomes the establishment of the White House Rural Council. “The functions of the Council closely resemble the work of the national Rural Development Partnership,” said Rick Rolfsmeyer, PRA Board Chairman. “We look forward to assisting the council in any way possible. As work to revitalize rural America progresses, PRA and State Rural Development Councils stand ready to assist on the state level.”
Please remit your 2012 Membership Dues to Partners for Rural America to support efforts to advance the National Rural Development Partnership and State Rural Development Councils throughout the nation, to advance policies that address the challenges before rural America, and to promote funding to support SRDC direct services in meeting the needs of rural communities in their states.
About Partners for Rural America
Our Mission & Goals
Partners for Rural America (PRA) exists to support the efforts of its member State Rural Development Councils
(SRDC’s), which are uniquely positioned:
To expand economic and social opportunities for America’s rural communities and their residents;
To promote equal treatment of rural America by government agencies and the private sector;
This event is brought to you by:
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Join the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association on April 26 for the Smart Rural Communities Summit. The event will convene leaders from the fields of consumer protection, education, health care, public safety and other interests to explore what it means to be a “smart rural community.” The summit will include a keynote address from the Honorable Jonathan Adelstein, administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service, and the release of a white paper on the smart rural community.
This is an exciting time for rural advocates in Michigan. Two rural focused organizations have joined forces in order to better serve communities. CEDAM is pleased to announce that the Rural Partners of Michigan and the Michigan Rural Network have merged to create the Michigan Rural Council (MRC). For several years, these two organizations have both been working on behalf of rural places. This merger is a consolidation of both groups’ efforts and will create a more streamlined approach to addressing rural Michigan’s issues.
• Build a major campaign to celebrate the distinctiveness of the working landscape that is Vermont.
