Center News Releases

Lyons, Nebraska - On July 22nd, Nancy Flock, Nebraska Hispanic Business Specialist with the Center for Rural Affairs' Rural Enterprise Assistance Project will hold office hours in Ogallala. Hours will be 10 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Keith County Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber will handle the appointments; (308) 284-3126. The Keith County Chamber of Commerce office is located at 204 East A St. Ogallala, NE. Flock will hold Ogallala hours once a month on a regular basis with those dates to be determined.

Lyons, NE - The Center for Rural Affairs' Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP), a partner of the Nebraska Development Network - Central Region (NDN-CR) is collaborating with the South Central Economic Development District (SCEDD) to sponsor Regional Revitalization through Community Development, a series of workshops to bring community development to rural communities.

LYONS, NE – Farm Aid President and Founder Willie Nelson distributed the first grant from the Iowa Farm Disaster Relief Fund on Saturday, June 21, to the Iowa Farm Disaster Relief Coalition, a group of farm and faith based organizations that are collecting donations to provide emergency relief for farmers market and community supported agriculture farmers and others specialty crop producers hit hard by recent flooding that are not eligible for crop insurance and other forms of relief.

La Junta – The Colorado Rural Development Council (CRDC) is collaborating with the Center for Rural Affairs to host the first ever “Colorado Entrepreneurship MarketPlace”. This exciting event will be held on October 10, 2008 on the campus of Otero Junior College in La Junta Colorado. MarketPlace will stimulate small business development and rural community growth throughout rural Colorado.

Lyons, NE - The Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP) Women's Business Center, a program of the Center for Rural Affairs, along with the Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a marketing seminar. The event will take place at the Tumbleweed Café Meeting Room in Broken Bow at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 23.

Lyons, NE - Today the Center for Rural Affairs announced their opposition to passage of the farm bill conference report and encouraged President Bush to veto the bill if it passes.

Lyons, NE – Today the Center for Rural Affairs announced their opposition to passage of the farm bill conference report and encouraged President Bush to veto the bill if it passes.

The Conference Committee agreement includes two ostensible reforms. It attributes farm payments received through entities to the payment limitation of the ultimate beneficiary. And it adjusts the means test, which denies payments to certain high income recipients. However, the impact of those provisions is outweighed by the 25% increase in the direct payment limit from $80,000 to $100,000 for married couples.

LYONS, NE - The Center for Rural Affairs' Rural Brief April 2008 Issue takes a close look at Rural Development funding for FY09. President Bush released his Fiscal Year 2009 budget on February 3, 2008. While this $3.1 trillion budget for the entire federal government sets the parameters for future debate and deliberations in Congress, it is primarily a recommendation and the first step in the annual appropriations process.

Lyons, Nebraska – This week kicks off National Student Leadership Week. Each year during the third week in April, schools are invited to recognize and celebrate their student leaders for their outstanding efforts and achievements in representing their peers and giving voice to student concerns.

Lyons, NE - Utilizing $11,000 in funds provided by the Women and Company® Microenterprise Boost Program, the Center for Rural Affairs—Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP) Women’s Business Center, is pleased to announce that six women microentrepreneurs across rural Nebraska will receive financial support for their enterprises. New this year, we were able to award $1000 to a former Women and Company awardee. The equity award winners are being announced in April and recognized at the GROW Nebraska Spring Meeting on April 18, 2008 at Burchell’s Whitehill Farmhouse Inn near Minden, NE. The REAP recognition of equity award recipients ties nicely with GROW Nebraska’s mission to maximize the state’s entrepreneurial and small business spirit.

Lyons, NE – On the evening of March 29, 2008, several artists where recognized for their work and unique talents at a gala event and art auction at the Historic Minden Opera House. The event was in honor of the Center for Rural Affairs’ first ever statewide arts and tourism project titled Winds of Life: Windmills across Nebraska.

Lyons, NE – Six women-owned businesses in Nebraska will have the chance to boost their enterprises through the REAP Women’s Business Center and the Women & Co.® Microenterprise Boost program. The entrepreneurs will receive cash awards of $1000 or $2000 as well as business skills training from REAP Women’s Business Center to help them with the growth and development of their businesses. Boost Award Winners will be recognized at the GROW Nebraska Membership Meeting at Burchell’s Whitehill Farmhouse Inn near Minden on April 18, 2008.

Lyons, NE - The Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP), a program of the Center for Rural Affairs, recently hired Nancy Flock as the new Southwest/ Central 2 and Hispanic REAP Business Specialist.

Lyons, NE - Today the legislature killed LB 1174. On a vote of 27 opposed to 20 in support the legislature rejected the committee amendment that addressed opponents concerns about the legislation by allowing unrelated farmers to form farm corporations. LB 1174 itself was withdrawn from debate after the amendment failed.