2000 Rural Impact Awards
During the National Rural Development Partnership's 2000 Spring conference, the Idaho, Connecticut, Iowa and Wisconsin State Rural Development Council's (SRDCs) received Rural Impact Awards. Each of the winners was recognized for specific work that is significantly improving the quality of life in rural America.
Connecticut Rural Development Council (CRDC)
CRDC brought together a cross-section of key institutions to foster a common understanding about the benefits of a coordinated approach to farmland/open space preservation and economic development. The participants in CRDC's nine statewide and regional forums included stakeholders and potential partners from state agencies, chambers of commerce, community action agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Through these forums, CRDC helped to create a common ground to nurture future collaborative projects and partnerships among key stakeholders.
Idaho Rural Partnership (IRP)
IRP has been extensively involved in helping Idaho farmers and ranchers meet the government's farm conservation requirements by consolidating all the relevant information from over a dozen agencies and presenting it in a farmer-friendly way on an Internet site. Along with meeting facilitation, development of a concept paper, seed funding, brokering partners and funding and marketing, IRP was able to gain local and national support for One Plan. The EPA, USDA's National Resources Conservation Service, and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture formally recognized One Plan as a leader. In 1999, after IRP and its lead partners met with USDA officials, OnePlan became 1 of 25 USDA business process reengineering projects nationwide.
Iowa Rural Development Council
The IRDC and their Business Development Work Group was recognized for their sponsorship of the All-Iowa Home Based business conference in March 1999. The conference, which served as the springboard for the establishment of the Iowa Home-based Business Association came on the heels of a series of home-based business forums around the state sponsored in cooperation with the Iowa Community Colleges and Small Business Development Centers.
Wisconsin Rural Partners, Inc. (WRP)
WRP was applauded for their annual presentation of the Top Rural Initiatives for 1999 in August. Fond du Lac County Gift of Wheels Programs, which provides safe, rehabilitated vehicles to low-income individuals to help them find and retain jobs, and the Trempealeau County Beginning Farmer Program, a three-year farming apprenticeship that provides 50 heifers with graduation from the program, received the highest ranking of all nominees. Ten awards for the Top 10 ranked initiatives and 15 framed certificates of recognition were presented on behalf of Governor Tommy Thompson by Phil Albert, Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department. This is the second year for this WRP program, which identifies, highlights, and shares innovative models, practices, and programs that have a positive impact on rural Wisconsin communities.
