HOLBROOK, NEB. (April 1, 2005)--Janell Anderson Ehrke, representing GROW Nebraska, participated in the national Cross- Sector Summit on Rural Microenterprise Development, March 30- 31, in Athens, Ohio, along with representatives from food, artisan and sustainable tourism sector organizations from across the U.S.

Summit participants were invited by the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) to come together and compare challenges and explore innovative practices related to rural microenterprise development.

"This learning cluster focused on what microenterprise development programs around the country are doing to help rural communities develop successful, sustainable businesses, and access markets, such as those that GROW Nebraska is reaching in the artisan sector," said Janell Anderson Ehrke, GROW Nebraska director. " We discussed issues, such as connecting urban and rural markets, and the ideas we shared will be compiled and distributed to the AEO's national members numbering more than 450 organizations across the U.S."

Entrepreneurship in rural regions of the U.S. is becoming more important as an economic development strategy. Thousands of low- income people, including women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are achieving the American dream of owning their own businesses through assistance from microenterprise development programs and services.

"Microenterprise development programs are a highly effective approach to fighting poverty and empowering communities," said Bill Edwards, AEO executive director. "Approximately 2-3 million people nationwide are improving their economic prospects through microenterprise businesses. Whether the business is the sole source of family income, or a crucial supplement to family earnings, microenterprise development has put many low-income families on the road to self sufficiency."

Facts About Microenterprise:

* A microenterprise is defined as a business with five or fewer employees that requires less than $35,000 in start-up capital and does not have access to traditional business development services.

* Microenterprise development programs provide valuable business training, technical assistance, access to credit, access to markets, economic literacy, and asset development for these very small businesses.

* An estimated 700 microenterprise development programs in the U.S. are creating jobs, generating income, building assets, and enhancing skills.

* Studies show that more than 70% of low-income entrepreneurs experience gains in their household incomes with an average increase of nearly $8,500 annually over five years. In addition, more than half of low-income microentrepreneurs have household income gains large enough to move above the poverty lines.

GROW Nebraska's mission is to maximize the state's entrepreneurial spirit, create an economically viable and sustainable environment for entrepreneurs, and generate social awareness through promotion, marketing, and education.

For more information about GROW Nebraska and local microenterprise development efforts, or to schedule an interview, contact Janell Anderson Ehrke at 888-GROWNEB (476-9632).

AEO's mission is to support the development of strong, effective U.S. microenterprise programs to assist underserved entrepreneurs in starting, stabilizing, and expanding businesses. To learn more about AEO or microenterprise, visit their website: www.microenterpriseworks.org

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Janell Anderson Ehrke at 888-GROWNEB (476-9632),
or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it