Community Vitality Update

January 2005 Issue No. 15

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 Approves funding for 10 Entrepreneurship Programs

At a January 7 meeting, the CVC Board approved $90,000 in funding for ten entrepreneurial programs that will be conducted across the state during 2005. The following programs were approved for funding:

• Pilot Hometown Competitiveness Program in Bedford
• Carroll County Entrepreneur Coaching and Mentoring Network
• Iowa Valley Community College Kitchen Incubator Training Project
• VanBuren High School Entrepreneurial Apprenticeship Program
• Lee County Community Entrepreneur Network
• MyEntreNet Incentive Program for 4 Nonmetro Communities/regions
• SWICO-ISED MicroEntrepreneur Incentive Program for 4 Communities/regions
• Fairfield Entrepreneurs Assn. Creating Entrepreneurial Communities Project
• ISU Pappjohn Middle School Youth Market Place Program for 10 Communities
• UI Pappajohn High School Business Plan Competition for 40 Communities

Second Community Philanthropy Academy Set for April 22 in Ames.

Plans are being made for holding a second statewide Academy on Community Philanthropy at the Gateway Hotel in Ames on April 22, 2005. This years Academy will feature breakout session themes for assisting new community foundations and affiliate boards in setting priorities, developing best practices and taking the first steps in conducting countywide philanthropic initiatives. Reserve the date and look for more information in next month’s news letter.

CVC Discusses Iowa Entrepreneurial Alliance Concept at Rural-Urban Summit

Mark Hamilton, former CVC Board Chair, and Mark Edelman, CVC Director attended a Rural-Urban Summit hosted by Senator Jack Hatch and Des Moines Area Community College President Robert Denson on January 21st at the Des Moines Convention Center. Creating an Iowa Entrepreneurial Alliance was a concept that was discussed in the Economic Development breakout session. Building capacity for supporting entrepreneurs is a theme that resonates in both metro and nonmetro communities of Iowa, however, most of the entrepreneurial support assets are located in metropolitan and university communities. The missing link for Iowa's nonmetro communities and rural areas appears to be building community capacity to support entrepreneurs that is linked to regional resources and expertise. One recent report indicated the $19 million in revolving loan funds that are not being used in part because there are not enough viable entrepreneurial projects or entrepreneurs have inability to access the availble funds. Des Moines Register Columnist David Yepsen recently plugged the idea of small grants for entrepreneurial projects in metro areas. CVC is using this approach and is already in place for non metro areas of Iowa. National statistics suggest that 10.5 percent of the adult population is involved in entrepreneurial activities. Unlike target industry incentives, innovation and entrepreneurship is not limited to any one industry segment, income group, sex, or education level. In fact, high school graduates have higher entrepreneurial participation rates than do college graduates. Perhaps part of the response to the challenge is to enhance entrepreneurial support mechanisms across the state and to create an entrepreneurial culture in more of Iowa's communities.

CVC Reports on Philanthropy to House Economic Growth Committee

Rick Morain, CVC Board Chair & Jefferson Bee-Herald publisher, provided testimony on behalf of the Community Vitality Center to the House Economic Growth Committee on January 27, 2005. Also providing testimony were Johnny Danos of the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation and Dan Baldwin of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. The hearing purpose was to brief the legislative committee on efforts to enhance philanthropy during the past year and plans for the coming year. Among the CVC activities mentioned by Morain were:

• Conducted County-by-county Iowa Wealth Transfer Study based on county probate records
• Funded University of Iowa NonProfit Resource Center project to conduct survey of existing community foundations.
• Spearheaded efforts to organize first annual statewide Community Philanthropy Academy, March 29, 2004 which attracted 176 leaders from across Iowa.
• Sponsored 4 community philanthropy demonstration projects for nonmetro areas.
• Organized 4 statewide Satellite Town Meetings on Philanthropy, Jun-Nov 2004. Each program featured a panel of recognized experts and was hosted by local Extension staff in 40 to 60 nonmetro counties.

County Endowment Entity Application Process Feb. 1 to May 1, 2005

County Foundation entities in non-gambling counties planning to attain legal status for receiving $50,000 to $60,000 in annual gaming revenues for HF2302 distribution to local philanthropic and charitable purposes should look for the program and application announcements around February 1. The initial plan is for the applications to be due May 1 with revenues distributed beginning fall of 2005. A draft application form which is subject to revision includes evaluation of four factors: (1) Strength of collaboration and diversity of leadership, (2) Board representation from entire county, (3) Identification of countywide needs and manner in which needs will be addressed, and (4) Plan for growing philanthropic activity across the county. For more information about the application process see the Endow Iowa website or the website of the Iowa Council of Foundations.

Groups seeking advice on identifying needs countywide may consult the CD-DIAL website. CD-DIAL has years of experience in helping local groups conduct needs assessment surveys. CVC has also put together a template survey instrument that may be helpful. For this and other related information see Community Philanthropy Presentations for the Nov. 29 Enhancing Community Philanthropy Satellite Program. This program was co-sponsored by CVC, ISU Extension, Iowa Council of Foundations, and IDED.