Community Vitality Update

March-April 2006 Issue No. 24

This newsletter provides community leaders, economic developers, foundation leaders, entrepreneurs, and other Iowans interested in community vitality with features on innovative strategies, project updates, and info on learning and networking opportunities.

Apply for Community Philanthropy Success Story Awards - $1000

CVC is launchinga series of four $1000 annual awards to recognize success stories and best practices. This effort will assist in creating a web based library that shares philanthropy-building ideas and best practices to others accessing the web. The CVC is looking for 300 words or less that describe examples of innovative and dynamic leadership, new and effective policies and procedures, and demonstrations of unique or inspirational outcomes and impacts that would be helpful to other foundations and philanthropic organizations across Iowa. To recognize these achievements, CVC will feature the award winners at future Philanthropy Academies. The first deadline is June 1, 2006. Details for submission are available here.

Grants for Philanthropy in Support of Entrepreneurship - $5000

As Iowa’s new community and county foundation entities begin to move past initial organizational decisions, there is a perceived need in many communities to encourage the building of capacity to support local entrepreneurs in many nonmetro areas of the state. Iowa ranks near the bottom of the national rankings in new business startups. While some positive steps have been taken to encourage and sustain rural community entrepreneurial support capacity, networks, and capital, much more can be accomplished in the future if more community leaders and citizens make it a priority and devote their creative skills in making entrepreneurship a priority. The 2006 Philanthropy Academy keynote speaker from the Aspen Institute featured several innovative approaches for community foundations to consider in supporting entrepreneurship and economic development. Click on the most recent Academy under “Community Philanthropy Presentations” on the CVC web site: www.cvcia.org . To help encourage use of these and other innovative tools, CVC is offering two annual $5000 mini grants to Iowa community foundation entities that are interested in developing or implementing philanthropy initiatives or endowments that support entrepreneurship and building of community entrepreneurship support capacity. The first deadline is June 1, 2006. Details for submission are available here.

School & Community Foundation Pilot Project Incentives Available

K-12 School Districts, School Foundations, and Community Foundations across Iowa have several reasons to consider collaboration according to an expert panel featured at the recent Community Philanthropy Academy. Their power point presentations can be found Community Philanthropy Presentations section. As a result, the CVC Philanthropy Committee and the National School Foundation Association are collaborating to establish four pilot projects of school and community foundation collaboration across Iowa and are jointly willing to commit up to $2000 in resources to facilitate the development of such local efforts. For consideration, local school and community foundation representatives must send an E-mail expressing interest to: cvc@iastate.edu by June 1, 2006. Details for submission are available here.

“Be your Own Boss Entrepreneurship Day” Features Student Successes

During the past year, CVC sponsored a project to develop a High School Business Plan Competition program with the University of Iowa Pappajohn Entrepreneurship Center. Seventeen High Schools participated in the program. One teacher and two students from each participating high school were invited to “Be Your Own BossEntrepreneurship Day” at the University of Iowa on April 18. About 75 participants interacted with college entrepreneurship students and heard enthusiastic presentations from adult entrepreneurs and student entrepreneurs regarding their business enterprises. It was great to see so many inspiring young people tell their stories of success. For more information on program participation, see K12 entrepreneurship section or contact dawn-bowlus@uiowa.edu .

Middle School Youth Entrepreneurship Mini Grants Available

Five $1000 community incentives are available for implementing the ISU Pappajohn Center Youth Marketplace program designed for middle school and upper elementary students. The program involves local entrepreneurs and community business leaders in teaching 25 hours of curriculum, students create businesses, develop business plans, create their own products, and market the goods and services during a school-community marketplace event. Evaluations suggest that the program provides a positive hands-on experience for the first time entrepreneurial students. The program may be sponsored by a local school, economic development group, extension, or service club. More details about the program and an updated application are available in the K12 entrepreneurship section.

CVC Board Nominations Sought

CVC seeks nominations of community leaders representing diverse interests from across the state to serve on the CVC Board. The board meets quarterly in conjunction with the Iowa Rural Development Council. Board member access to quarterly meetings by phone is permitted if meeting attendance is not possible and CVC covers expenses for board members who request reimbursement. Roles and responsibilities are outlined in the Governance Section. Those interested in being considered for a board position or those who are interested in nominating someone else should email the names, short bio info, and contact information to cvc@iastate.edu by June 1, 2006 for review by the CVC Nominations Committee.

CVC participates in 2007 Farm Bill Rural Development Focus Group

Selected CVC Board members and staff were invited to participate in a Focus Group of leaders from Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri on April 19th to review the rural development provisions of 2002 Farm Bill, discuss the lessons learned, identify emerging needs, and examine prospects for the 2007 Farm Bill. The process will continue over the summer and will involve rural development leaders from several key states. Newsletter readers are invited to share thoughts regarding rural development priorities and critical policy or program needs for the future by e-mail to cvc@iastate.edu with the subject line 2007 Farm Bill.

CVC Participates in White Rock Conservancy Planning Charrette

After a drive of 2.2 miles east of Coon Rapids on blacktop and 2.2 miles south on hilly gravel, vehicles are parked on a grassy bottom where saddle clubs camp. One gets out to hear the rushing of the Raccoon River and pans up to spot a carp jumping up in the air every 20 seconds. When you turn around, you see “Oak Savanna, the River House, and the White Rock” outcropping that lends its name to one of Iowa’s Great Places. During a three-hour trail tour on the back of a GATOR driven by Liz Garst, we saw Iowa’s beautiful green vistas, discussed restoration practices, and visited the historic Garst Home. One begins to understand why Coon Rapids and White Rock Conservancy was selected as one of Iowa’s Great Places. CVC was there with about 25 other state and local participants representing various economic and ecological perspectives to provide ideas for development planning. The challenge is to protect, restore, and preserve natural beauty and unique geological and ecological assets, while creating managed people access for varied audiences and complementary activities that can support economic sustainability. If done well, Iowa gains another uniquely Iowa destination gem spot.