LINCOLN, NEB. (January 7, 2005)--The Rural Development Commission met in Lincoln yesterday to approve and unveil three priority bills they are supporting this legislative session with the help of Senator Elaine Stuhr of Bradshaw and Senator Doug Cunningham of Wausa. Listed in order of priority are:

• The Agricultural Opportunities and Value-Added Partnerships Act--First introduced by Senator Elaine Stuhr, the reintroduction of this act calls for appropriation of $1 milllion annually to be allocated to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), for the provision of grants up to $75,000 each to cooperatives and other groups to enhance agricultural income and opportunities within rural communities. The act, to be managed as a joint venture between DED and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, will require matching funds from grantees. It will sunset in 2009.
• Building Entrepreneurial Communities Act--Introduced by Senator Doug Cunningham, this act calls for appropriation of $2 million annually for entrepreneruial development in depressed rural communities. Grants of up to $75,000 would be awarded for education and technical assistance to energize small business development and entrepreneurship, to facilitate small business transfer, and to build community capacity, leadership programs, and other similar programs.Grantees will provide matching funds, and qualifying communities must meet criteria of "chronic distress" and/or "severe historical population loss."
• Revise the Nebraska Community Development Assistance Act--The term "entrepreneurial development" would be added to the act, thereby providing small communities with another way in which they might use and/or qualify for assistance, and the amount of available tax credits would be increased from $250,000 to $500,000 annually.

The Rural Development Commission also is supporting legislation involving LB 608; the Microenterprise Partnership Fund; the EDGE Program; funding for the Rural Development Commission; and the Local Investment Fund Tax Credit (LIFT).

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lisa Dominisse at 308-535-8018, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it