Summit focusing on regionalism
RED OAK — Local community development leadership, business leaders and individuals are invited to attend the 2010 Rural Summit hosted by the Southwest Iowa Coalition (SWICO) on June 17in Red Oak at the Red Coach Inn.
The topic for the day is all about regional collaborations that have a proven track-record for revitalizing rural communities and is addressed by actual practitioners working in the field with decades of experience in the United States and abroad.
State Director, Bill Menner, USDA-Rural Development will open the day with an address about how regional priorities at the state and Federal levels are setting new priorities for the agency. The day then flows into information dissemination and discussion about: What successful practices across county and state lines can be modeled, How to target regional assets that can be marketed globally, What local governments need to be doing now to be responsive to opportunities and a look at local food product development as a possible regional asset to increase business and industry growth locally.
Don Macke, Rural Policy Research Institute (RuPRI), who is working around the U.S. and Canada, will give examples of what is working and analyze what is already in progress in our region. Paul Coates, Director of State and Local Government Programs and associate professor at Iowa State University has worked with county and city officials throughout 99 Iowa Counties and will facilitate an open discussion on the issue on practical governance and regionalism. Sandra Morar, Esq., with the law firm of McGrath North will address legal issues of local food production and how to work with policy makers. SWICO, through a generous donation, will also distribute bound copies the newest study by Dr. Mark Drabenstott, Past Silos and Smokestacks: Transforming the economy in the Midwest. Don Macke will also provide a social and economic analysis on our region with datasets purchased by RuPRI.
The Southwest Iowa Coalition is a grassroots, regional, rural advocacy nonprofit organization with membership throughout 16 counties in southwest Iowa. Members coalesce to advocate for policy and resources which are mutually beneficial and regionally appropriate. Members host summits when there is a sense of urgency to get information to rural communities. This is the first opportunity for the region to actively participate interactively with specialists about using regional approaches to sustain local communities, analyze what is already in progress and vision about broader partnerships.
The summit is open to the public. Details on the event and registration forms can be accessed at www.swico.org or by contacting the office at 712.623.5521 or swico@swico.org.