Community Vitality Update
August 2004 Issue No. 10
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.
Community Philanthropy Satellite Series: 7PM on September 9th
A second in a series of four statewide satellite meetings on Community Philanthropy is being scheduled for 7:00 PM on September 9th at various county locations across Iowa. ISU Extension (ISUE) is hosting this educational series. The first program was on June 28th and drew 300 participants at locations in 50 counties. The program series is designed to explore topics related to community philanthropy, foundations, the transfer of wealth, and attracting donors to help create community vitality. Iowa has passed two statewide philanthropy incentive programs (Endow Iowa and Gambling Revenue Distributions) that were being implemented earlier this year. A recent Iowa Supreme Court decision on the Iowa Values Fund has slowed the implementation process and many people are interested in the future implications and timing of the incentives. The second program will provide an update on these issues as well as implications for program implementation and the administrative rules process. In addition, the program will also discuss the differences in fund raising for endowments and annual projects; how community foundations manage and invest their funds; and how financial management of endowments is different from managing finances for other community projects.
The first hour of the program will feature opening comments from a panel of experts and a discussion of questions called in from the downlink sites across the state. The second hour of the program will feature local discussions facilitated at each local meeting site to review progress made since the first satellite program and to discuss the next steps to be taken in the future prior to the next programs in the series. The next programs are scheduled for October 25th and November 29th.
To find the nearest meeting location, please visit the ISU Extension Calendar at: http://dbs.extension.iastate.edu/calendar/ and enter “Communities” for category and “June” for the month, or contact your County Extension Office to express interest in attending the nearest site or having a site hosted locally. Copies of the video from the first satellite program can also be obtained by contacting the County Extension Office or the CVC by email: cvc@iastate.edu .
Community Entrepreneurship Academy to be in Fairfield on Oct 20th
The Community Vitality Center is partnering with the Fairfield Entrepreneurs Association and other sponsors to host a statewide Community Entrepreneurship Academy on October 20th, in Fairfield. The program starts at 9AM and will feature national speakers as well as more than a dozen workshops to discuss innovative community entrepreneurship projects from across the state. The program also features local entrepreneurs who will discuss and describe the community support systems, culture, and keys to success that contributed to Fairfield's entrepreneurial success and national recognition. Fairfield is a unique rural community of less than 10,000 people that won the 2003 National Community Entrepreneurship Award from the Kauffman Foundation and National Center for Small Communities. This event is already drawing inquiries from several states.
Topics to be featured include: “What is an Entrepreneurial Community? The Fairfield Story” by Fairfield Mayor Ed Malloy; “Creating Regional Entrepreneurial Support Systems,” by Tom Lyon, University of Louisville; “ Understanding the Different Kinds of Entrepreneurs and Needs” by Don Macke, RUPRI Rural Entrepreneurship Center; and “Approaches Favored by Iowans, Assessing Community Assets, Gaps in Supporting Entrepreneurs, and Taking the Next Step” by Mark Edelman, Community Vitality Center. Plus there are numerous breakout sessions. Check out the full draft agenda on the CVC website under Conference Registration.
The conference is very content rich and covers a lot of territory in a short time period! To fully absorb and retain the best ideas and appropriate resources, communities are encouraged to identify four or five leaders who can attend as teams. Community leaders from diverse interests are encouraged to attend including those from economic development, local government, chambers, bankers, utilities, extension, agriculture, education, health care, telecommunications, nonprofits, faith-based groups. The conference is open to all citizens who are interested in examining what can be done to support and stimulate entrepreneurial activities in nonmetro areas across the state.
Registration is $35 received by October 12th and $50 thereafter through October 20th. Registrations should be sent to Becky Johnson, blj@iastate.edu , CVC, 478 Heady Hall, Ames, 50011-3091 or by calling 515-294-3000. Registration, a complete agenda, and a list of hotel accommodations will be available online next week at
www.cvcia.org .
Checklist for Community Entrepreneur Development Activities
Community leaders are increasingly interested in identifying local entrepreneurship support activities that can be conducted and organized on a cost effective basis. Several asked CVC about what it would take to develop a business incubator, business accelerator, and/or other services in their community. While the scope of services and track record are likely to vary by size of community, focus, resources, and expertise available, it has been demonstrated that even very small communities and sparsely populated rural areas can develop a track record in creating new businesses and expanding existing businesses with the right strategies. Based on several reports and community forums held across Iowa, the Community Vitality Center has designed a 2-page assessment tool that may be used by community leaders in conducting a self-assessment to identify local services and next steps in adding to local entrepreneur development programs. The assessment tool may also be used by regional networks as a classification tool, in configuring training programs, and in designing technical assistance to meet unique local community needs. For more info, see the CVC web site:
www.cvcia.org and click on “Community Entrepreneurship.” The first item listed is a power point on the steps for developing a Community Entrepreneurship Development Team and the second is the Community Entrepreneurship Checklist.
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.
