Free webinar offers advice for starting a micro-lending program
Has your community been considering a micro-lending program? If so, the eXtension Entrepreneurship webinar, "Establishing a Microenterprise Lending Program," set for Thursday, Oct. 11 and led by Nancy Bowen from OSU Extension and Julie Miller from the Wright State University Business Enterprise Center, can help!
For a microenterprise development program to be successful, there must be both access to capital and technical assistance. The presentation will be a "how to" on development of a micro-lending program that helps to level the playing field for entry into business ownership while strengthening rural economies. The session will discuss the nuts and bolts of starting and sustaining a program, as well as anticipated results.
No pre-registration for webinars is required, and there is no fee to participate. All webinars will air monthly on the second Thursday at 2 p.m. (ET); 1 p.m. (CT); noon (MT); 11 a.m. (PT). Upcoming webinars include "How Social Networking Can Promote Local Economies" in November and "Best Practices for Food Safety for Processors" in December.
Visit https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/etc-cop. You will be presented with a login screen that has an "Enter as Guest" option. Enter your full name then click "Enter Room" to join the conference. You will be able to hear the audio directly from your computer's speakers.
Program Leadership Network conference registration now open
Online registration and conference information is now available for this summer’s Joint Meeting of the Southern Region Program Leadership Network, Association of Extension Administrators and Association of Southern Region Extension Directors, set for Aug. 19-23 in Nashville. This year’s theme is “Connecting Our Communities: Preparing for the Next 100 Years.” As the Land Grant System celebrates its first 100 years of the Smith-Lever Act, we look forward to what the next century will bring. Advances in technologies, changes in communities, and expanded partnership opportunities are among just a few of the possibilities as we move forward. Register by July 15 for the early bird discount!
Read More | May 16, 2013
Identity and Wealth in Rural America
Most of us have heard of the growing racial wealth gap and the statistics that show how white America continues to diverge from households of color when it comes to building assets, particularly in the form of quality homeownership. While we may tend to think about this disparity in the context of urban and suburban environments, it is crucial to also relate the issue to the households that live on the other 90% of the U.S. landmass, known as rural and small town America.
Read More | May 22, 2013
Institute for Research on Poverty RIDGE Center calls for visiting scholar applications
The Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP) invites applications from U.S.-based food assistance scholars to visit the IRP RIDGE Center for National Food and Nutrition Assistance Research for one week during the 2013–2014 academic year, interact with its faculty in residence, and become acquainted with the staff and resources of the Institute. Application deadline is June 28, 2013.
Read More | May 22, 2013
Rural unemployment falls, but jobs decline
The eXtension Entrepreneurship webinar series finishes the season with presentations of interest to farmers' market vendors and farmstand owners. A free June 13 webinar, “Are you a Supermarket Vendor or a Super Market Vendor?” will be hosted by with Ginger Myers, UMD Extension Marketing Specialist.
Read More | May 16, 2013
Are you a Supermarket Vendor or a Super Market Vendor?” webinar airs June 13
The eXtension Entrepreneurship webinar series finishes the season with presentations of interest to farmers' market vendors and farmstand owners. A free June 13 webinar, “Are you a Supermarket Vendor or a Super Market Vendor?” will be hosted by with Ginger Myers, UMD Extension Marketing Specialist.
Read More | May 16, 2013
Immigration and the Rural Workforce
In key parts of rural America and ag-dependent metro counties, more than 25 percent of the population was born in a foreign country. The percentage of the U.S. population born in foreign countries isn’t as great in rural areas as it in metro America, but the foreign-born population has been on the increase in non-metro areas, especially since 1990. The USDA Economic Research has followed this trend and has published a background report on “Immigration and the Rural Workforce.”
Read More | April 16, 2013
Manufacturing Summit highlights partnerships that promote rural jobs
The SRDC took part in a recent Manufacturing Summit at Mississippi State University, which highlighted the importance of communities working across county lines to bring jobs to rural regions of the state.
Read More | April 8, 2013