Community Vitality Update
July 2004 Issue No. 9
This newsletter provides community leaders, economic developers, entrepreneurs, and other Iowans interested in community vitality with features on innovative strategies, updates on CVC projects, and info about opportunities for learning and networking.
CVC Announces Call for Innovative Community Demonstration Projects
CVC is now accepting proposals until September 1st for Innovative Community Entrepreneurship Mini Grant projects. The maximum award for each project is $10,000 and requires a local match. The purpose is to help communities and regional entrepreneurial support networks to implement innovative entrepreneurial development concepts locally or to feature lessons learned from an existing innovative project that would be of interest to leaders in other communities. During the past two years, the Community Vitality Center has funded five or six mini grants to communities each year. Local projects have included Development of Community Entrepreneurial Centers, Entrepreneurial Mentoring Programs, Development of Community Entrepreneurial Support Committees, Industry Specific Entrepreneurial Training Support, MyEntreNet projects, Sirolli workshops, and others. Application materials and spending guidelines are available by clicking “Mini Grant Submission” on the CVC website: https://www.cvcia.org/ . Applications should be submitted by email to cvc@iastate.edu by September 1, 2004 and are contingent on funding availability.
CVC looking for Communities/Counties to Pilot College Intern Project
One of the best project ideas for addressing the brain drain of youth from rural communities is the Kossuth County College Intern Program. This concept was uncovered two years ago by the CVC mini grant program. The concept is simple: provide an opportunity for college students to learn about employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in a progressive rural community via Summer Job Internships. At the same time, they learn about the quality of life and amenities of living in the local area. Each year a program committee of the Kossuth County Economic Development Corporation surveys local businesses to determine their summer intern needs. Then they set up a booth at college career days to sign up prospective interns who match the needs identified by local businesses. In addition, several events are hosted over the summer to orient the interns to the amenities of the community and region, to build local networks with business leaders, and to provide an opportunity for them to get to know each other. This year 60 college interns are involved in the Kossuth County program. CVC is looking for three additional counties geographically dispersed across the state that are interested in adopting the program. CVC will provide a $5,000 matching grant to the local sponsors. The Kossuth County program leaders will help to train teams from each of the selected counties. Groups interested in implementing the Kossuth County Program locally should express interest by email: cvc@iastate.edu .
Recipients of CVC Youth Entrepreneurship Program Awards
Eleven community mini-grants of $1,000 each are being awarded to the following organizations for implementation of the Iowa State University, Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, Youth Marketplace Program during the fall, spring, or summer of the 2004-2005 school years. The program teaches upper elementary and middle school youth the basics of entrepreneurship. The recipients are:
• Adair County Extension/ Greenfield Middle School Summer Program Greenfield, IA
• Algona Community School District- Algona, IA
• Allamakee County Extension /Waukon Community Schools - Waukon, IA
• Bedford Community Schools/Bedford Area Economic Development - Bedford, IA
• Hawkeye REC, Cresco Chamber of Commerce, and Winneshiek Co. Development/
Cresco Community Schools & St. Benedict’s Catholic School - Cresco and Decorah, IA
• Linn Co. 4-H Youth Program /Central City School District Marion, IA
• Mahaska County Extension /Oskaloosa Community Schools- Oskaloosa, IA
• Moravia Junior High School Moravia, IA
• Ringgold Co. Economic Development/Mount Ayr Community Schools Mount Ayr, IA
• Sacred Heart Catholic School- Boone, IA
• Southern Iowa RC&D/Nodaway Valley Middle School Fontanelle, IA
CVC marketed the program with announcements in the March CVC Update newsletter. The response has been excellent. CVC is very pleased with the diversity of local sponsoring groups that applied for the program.
CVC Governance Board Announces New Members and Officers
The Community Vitality Center is pleased to announce the election of the following Governance Board members for 3-year terms:
Robert Bauman, Homeward, Inc., & Butler County REC, General Manager
Maureen Elbert, Kossuth County Economic Development Director
Denise Essman, Essman and Associates, Des Moines
Jane Halliburton, Story County Supervisor
Ed Leahy, retired banker and community foundation leader, Sac City
Rick Morain, Bee Herald Publisher, Jefferson
David Osterberg, University of Iowa, Iowa Policy Project, Mount Vernon
Steve Padgitt, Iowa State University Extension to Communities
Kevin W. Prine, Graceland Center for Entrepreneurship Director, Lamoni
Ed Raber, Washington Economic Development Group Director and RC&D Board
Doug Sickler, Adams County Business and Economic Development Leader
Manuel A. Silva, Jr., Union County Development Association Director
Nancy Van Milligen, Dubuque Community Foundation, President
Mike Wells, Corning Superintendent
Rick Morain, Jefferson was elected CVC Board Chair and Mayor Jim Erb, Charles City was selected Vice Chair.
Each member and officer brings valuable skills, knowledge, and expertise to the Board of Directors. The new members of the Governance Board further enhance the CVC’s ability to address the challenges faced in the economic development climate of Iowa’s rural communities. Congratulations to each.
Comments and CVC Contacts
If you have comments, suggestions, innovative ideas, or community success stories, please email us at cvc@iastate.edu and indicate your comment. If you would no longer like to receive this newsletter or are receiving duplicates, simply type “duplicate” or “unsubscribe” in the subject line. For more information about our mission and projects visit our web site at:
www.cvcia.org .
COMMUNITY VITALITY CENTER
A Catalyst for Creating Real Impact in Real Communities
477 Heady Hall, Ames, IA 50011-1070
Phone: 515-294-3000 Fax: 515-294-3838.
