Community Vitality Update

January 2008

This newsletter provides community leaders, economic developers, entrepreneurs, and Iowans interested in community vitality with features on innovative strategies, updates on CVC projects, and info about opportunities for learning and networking.

Register Now--Philanthropy Academy on Feb.4th at Hotel Fort Des Moines. The fifth annual Iowa Community Philanthropy Academy is scheduled for February 4 at the Hotel Fort Des Moines. Keynote speakers Nancy Straw, President and CEO of the West Central Initiative in Minnesota and Maxine Moul, Endow Nebraska Coordinator and President Emeritus of the Nebraska Community Foundation will share experiences and best practice ideas for using philanthropy to support entrepreneurship and community vitality. A Panel of Iowa Award Winners will share success stories and innovations in their efforts to build endowments and create a stronger culture for community philanthropy. Participants will hear highlights and reports on the impacts from 2007 philanthropy activities across Iowa. Rural development programs related to philanthropy and 2007 Legislative updates will also be topics discussed. The Academy will begin at 10:00 a.m. and adjourn at 4:30 p.m. followed by a Legislative Reception at Finkbine Mansion. Click here for full program agenda, speakers and registration info.

Microenterprise Summit Recommends Statewide Nonprofit Microloan Intermediary for Iowa. Consultants conducting a Microenteprise Study for the Iowa Department of Economic Development organized a Microenterprise Summit on December 17th to release their Report. The consultants developed five recommendations after conducting interviews and collecting survey responses from 200 Iowa leaders. The recommendations included the follwing: (1) Create an Iowa Emerging Entrepreneurs and Very Small Business Program with competitive grants to community programs, (2) Create a statewide Nonprofit Microloan Intermediary supported in part with state funding, (3) Support current efforts to create entrepreneurial communities including the Community Vitality Center and UNI-MyEntreNet Initiatives, (4) Create a Microenterprise and Small Business Innovation Office showcasing successful microenterprises and promoting diffusion into other communities, and (5) Create a Governor's Task Force on Establishing Regional Entrepreneurial Development Systems in Iowa. Summit participants listened to successful Microloan Intermediary leaders from Nebraska and Oregon before participating in small group discussions regarding next steps. See Community Entrepreneurship Information for the Summit and Microenterprise Report materials

CVC Receives Award to Develop Iowa Microloan Intermediary and Microenterprise Projects. The Community Vitality Center and Iowa State University Extension has received a $300,000 subcontract award from the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation and Northwest Area Foundation for a 3 year project to facilitate development of a statewide nonprofit microloan intermediary and four regional/multi-county pilot demonstration projects. The project is called Iowa Microenterprise Assistance Project (IMAP) and it is designed to enhance the capacity of Iowa's Microenterprise support system by leveraging Iowa funds with federal programs that are currently not being used in Iowa to provide a source of microloans for Iowa's small entrepreneurs with promising business plans. IMAP will also create additional incentives for collaboration with existing expertise networks to provide coaching, mentoring, training, and technical assistance for microloan clients. For more information about this new project email cvc@iastate.edu.

Family and Lifestyle Factors Affect Decisions to Move in Nonmetro Iowa. The CVC new movers survey finds sufficient evidence to suggest that family factors and lifestyle factors do in fact influence the decisions of many people who move into and out of Iowa's nonmetro counties. "Family Factors" were an influence in 69% of the respondents' moving decisions and "Lifestyle Factors" were an influence in 70% according to the respondents of the CVC-ISUE survey. While a few respondents indicated a desire to be further away from other family members, more than 20 percent of the respondents said they moved be closer to children, parents, or other family members and friends. In terms of lifestyle, respondents moving into Iowa were more likely than those who moved out to say they moved to find a less congested placed to live, a safer placed to live, or a simpler pace of life. Whereas those who moved out, were more likely indicate a desire for arts, entertainment, cultural activities and a more exciting lifestyle as a factor in the moving decision. See more implications of the latest reports on family and lifestyle factors from the New Movers Study.

“Entrefest” Event scheduled for Feb. 21-22 at Park Place Event Center, Cedar Falls. Come learn, share and celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit at Entrefest an innovative and exciting two-day conference for small business owners and emerging entrepreneurs. The CVC and other premier rural service providers throughout the state are collaborating and co-sponsoring the event to further build upon the past successes of the Entrepreneurship Academy while establishing a new mechanism for providing business assistance, education and outreach. Entrefest’s unique format brings together national and local business experts, business owners, community leaders and financers to share and learn from one another. Hear a diverse mix of presentations on topics such as secrets of selling, healthcare alternatives and successful marketing along with informative panel discussions and networking events. Entrepreneurs and entrepreneur support networks do not want to miss this event! For the program agenda, speakers and registration information, please visit the website www.entrefest.com.