What's happening with the Center for Rural Affairs? Find the latest on rural America and our work here.
For the community of Brookings, S.D., sustainability is more than a buzzword touting efforts to be green. Guided by the Brookings Sustainability Council, the community has adopted a holistic perspective and plan of action toward sustainability.
- Small Towns
- Policy
We’d like to let you know about an open funding opportunity for conservation. The signup process for the updated Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is now open and applications are being accepted...
- Farm and Food
With donations still coming in, suffice it to say that Giving Tuesday 2016 was the most successful online fundraiser in the Center for Rural Affair’s history. One hundred eight donors across the...
- Small Towns
In early November, I gathered with nearly 170 women from several states at the 2016 Women, Food & Agriculture Network’s (WFAN) annual conference. One thing that made it particularly sweet was that for...
- Farm and Food
First National Bank recently provided a $500,000 equity-equivalent investment to the Center for Rural Affairs. The investment will support micro and small business lending activities throughout rural...
- Small Towns
Sydney, a 200-pound Newfoundland, and Beatrixx, an American Staghound, get the royal treatment. Their owner, Rachel, is a dog groomer. Rachel Pittner, owner of the Groomin’ Room in Minden, Neb., has...
- Lending
The Sandhills of Nebraska is the largest sand dune formation in the Western Hemisphere, spanning almost 20,000 square miles. In addition to its geological importance, the region also serves as home to a significant community of birds and various species at risk, and provides grazing habitat for cattle.
- Policy
- Farm and Food
The annual Walthill Christmas Bazaar will be held on Dec. 1 at the Walthill Fire Hall, located on the main street of Walthill, Neb. The Bazaar offers unique, handmade jewelry, shawls and bead-work made by members of the Omaha Tribe, and a wide array of other gift ideas.
- Small Towns
We are not working hard enough to make dreams come true in Nebraska. As a result, we complain about taxes. I want to write about legislators in Nebraska and surrounding states who have started to talk about drastically cutting or eliminating income taxes during the next legislative session.
- Farm and Food
- Small Towns
Small Business Saturday is this week, on Nov. 26. The benefits of buying local and shopping small are truly endless. Where we shop, where we eat and have fun – all of it makes our community home.
- Lending
When a room fills with 30 people, many driving more than an hour to be there on a beautiful fall evening in the midst of football playoffs, one can assume there is an important matter at hand. This was the case during a recent community energy conversation hosted by the Center for Rural Affairs in Valentine, Neb.
- Policy
Meet Blair Nelson. She recently went to the doctor for a physical and was forced to pay out of pocket, which took away money she had already allocated for other household bills. Blair is a student...
- Policy
As a Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP) loan specialist, I’ve had the opportunity to serve many hardworking entrepreneurs. So I know firsthand the importance of supporting small businesses whenever possible.
- Lending
State governments across the nation are looking to cut income tax rates. We are paying close attention to legislators in Nebraska who are publicly discussing their plans for cutting income tax rates.
- Farm and Food
- Small Towns
Tuesday’s election has distracted most of us from, well, just about everything. We have a lot to do in working with the transition team of the new administration, and getting to know new members of the House and Senate.
- Farm and Food
Mark your calendars: Giving Tuesday is Tuesday, Nov. 29, and the money you give to the Center for Rural Affairs will be matched by Newman’s Own Foundation, dollar for dollar. Giving Tuesday hasn’t...
- Small Towns
Traveling to conferences seems to be the perfect way to get away, stop working, and get to know new places you haven’t visited yet.
- Small Towns
Iowa farmers are in the midst of harvest season, but many are pausing to share the fruits of their labor with local kids. October is Farm to School Month, and activities and events around the state are educating students about eating healthy foods.
- Small Towns
A lot of you want to see more family farms and ranches and more businesses in our rural communities. You also care about healthy food and clean water. But if you’re not a farmer, and I say the words...
- Farm and Food
From September 2015 through May 2016, Women’s Business Center specialists and contracted technical assistance providers delivered 2,592 hours of business counseling to 733 clients.
- Small Towns
