Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development, NETWORK Newsletter

NETWORK 11

A Quarterly Newsletter for Northeast Rural Development, Vol. 26, no. 3, 2011

In This Issue

What Works! 2011

What Works Keynote Presentation

The Entrepreneurial League System

Making the Case for Supporting Entrepreneurs

Other What Works! 2011 Presentations

NIFA Requests for Applications

Food Environment Conference

e-Communities Workshop

Foundations of Practice Class

Quick Links

Newsletter Archive

More On Us

What Works! 2011

Center holds successful conference on Entrepreneurship in Philadelphia.

Held on September 18-20, 2011, this Extension-oriented conference brought together practitioners, researchers, educators, and decision-makers to address critical issues in promoting entrepreneurship in the U.S. The workshops provided opportunities for over 70 extension educators and other service providers to learn about new strategies and programs that work in different communities to stimulate job creation and business formation; for researchers to share science-based analyses that could be further developed into programs that will enhance economic development; and for town managers and local planners to share their experiences given new budget constraints and to learn about new research and outreach projects related to entrepreneurship and business development. For more info click here.

What Works Keynote Presentation

Ross Gittell highlights lessons from the University of New Hampshire's Green Launching Pad.

Professor Gittell discussed strategies for nurturing the next generation of entr Entrepreneurs 2

epreneurs and job creators. Entrepreneurship opportunities and new venture creation strategies in sustainable business were highlighted along with collaboration opportunities with large employers and with local anchor institutions. Recent data and case studies were presented with a review of lessons learned and best practices. View the presentation.

The Entrepreneurial League System

Day 2 Keynote by Tom Lyons

"Investing in Entrepreneurs" explains how to increase the numbers and the rate of success of entrepreneurs in our communities and regions. The authors presented a tool, called the Pipeline of Entrepreneurs and Enterprises, that enables economic developers and others to assist entrepreneurs in developing their skills and in building their businesses. For individuals or organizations that work directly with entrepreneurs, the Pipeline helps them understand what individual entrepreneurs need and how to most effectively support their growth and development. For those in leadership or policymaking positions, the Pipeline improves their ability to make more informed decisions about how and where to invest scarce resources in order to generate more jobs, greater wealth and higher social as well as economic returns for their community or region. Communities can now manage their economies as a portfolio of entrepreneurial assets, allowing them to transform their economies and more strategically compete in the global economy. The full presentation is on NERCRD's web site.

Making the Case for Supporting Entrepreneurs in a Jobless Recovery

By Stephan J. Goetz

More than ever before, expectations are high that entrepreneurs can serve as engines of economic growth in local economies. Yet the scientific research base documenting the local economic impacts of smaller entrepreneurs remains weak, and organizations such as The Kauffman Foundation are promoting billion-dollar businesses rather than smaller operations to rekindle economic growth. Click here to learn more.

Other What Works! 2011 presentations included:

Unleashing the Power of Ten, Kelly Nix and Denis Scott

If We Offer It Will They Come? Determinants for County-Level Demand for Community-Based Entrepreneurship Programming, Akja Suljavic

Assistance Paths for Rural Entrepreneurs, Winifred McGee, Jeff Hyde, Lynn Kime and Dana Ollendyke

Successful Entrepreneurship Programs for Youth of All Ages, Nancy Eberly, Diane Vigna, Ann Sherrard and Kathleen Liang

Cooperative Development, Peggy Fogarty-Harnish and Bob Noble

Enhancing LGU's Role in Creating Economic Opportunity through Community Based Entrepreneurship, Louis Bassano and Jim McConnon

What Mentors Need to Know About Youth Entrepreneurship, Debra Kantor

Logistics of Youth Markets, Ann Sherrard

2^nd Homeowner Study, Bill McMaster

Creating a Sustainable Entrepreneurship Development Program,

Brent Hales

Agritourism, Lisa Chase and Ben Amsden

A Web Portal for Rural Business Success, Ginger Myers

Small Cities Coalition, Gloria Casas

Using IMPLAN to Identify Entrepreneurial Opportunities through Gap Analysis, Daniel Eades

Entrepreneurial Opportunity Recognition, Mark Gagnon

Lessons from Network Science for Connecting Entrepreneurs,

Stephan Goetz

Presentations are available on the conference website.

NIFA Request for Applications

Opportunities for Social Sciences

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program

Approximately $19 million will be available to support training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers or ranchers in fiscal year 2012. Applications are requested for two types of projects: (a) Standard Projects: to new and established local and regional training, education, outreach and technical assistance initiatives that address the needs of beginning farmers and ranchers in selected areas; and (b) Educational Enhancement Projects: To help develop seamless beginning farmer and rancher education programs by conducting evaluation, coordination and enhancement activities for Standard Projects and other non-funded beginning farmer programs. The deadline for submitting applications is November 22, 2011. More information about the program and the grants writing webinar can be found on the BFRDP website.

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Challenge Areas: (1) Sustainable Bioenergy; (2) Climate Variability and Change; and (3) Fellowships Grant Program.

Get the details and RFAs by clicking here.

Food Environment Conference

Food Environment: The Effects of Context on Food Conference

NIFA's FY 2011 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational Program funding is supporting the "Food Environment: The Effects of Context on Food," conference, May 30-31, 2012, at Tufts University in Boston, MA. This is a joint conference of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) and European Association of Agricultural Economists (EAAE) and is sponsored by USDA's Economic Research Service and the AFRI Markets and Trade program.

More information about the conference can be found on the conference page.

e-Communities in a Digital Divide Workshop

e-Communities in a Digital Age workshop will be held November 19 at Lyndon State College, Lyndonville, VT. Join community leaders from around the state to share ideas and best practices for using online tools to create jobs, reinvent schools, attract visitors, improve civic involvement, and enliven Vermont communities.

Click here for registration and more information about the day and the e-Vermont program. To register by phone dial: 802-859-3090, or by e-mail

Foundations of Practice Class

Sustainable Communities: Online course explores community systems

Sustainable Communities is an offering of the Foundations of Practice Program. It is appropriate for individuals who regularly work with community groups in any subject area and have a basic understanding of community development principles.

Click here for registration and more information on the conference.

The Northeast Regional Center provides support to the experiment stations and extension services of sixteen land grant institutions in twelve northeastern states and the District of Columbia. The Center receives core funds from USDA-NIFA and the Northeastern Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors. Any opinions expressed in Center publications are strictly those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the funder.