managing short term Thinking long term, Connecting Your Community Presented By: Dana Baker Bruce Nuzum Deb Lucht

managing short term Thinking long term, Connecting in Your Community Dana Baker –Collaborative effort for connecting your community –Introduction of speakers Bruce Nuzum –Financial Opportunities Deb Lucht –Case Study of Collaborative Efforts Postal and Telephone

managing short term Thinking long term, What Creates Connections in Your Community?

managing short term Thinking long term, What Creates Connections in Your Community? (Cont.) High-capacity broadband networks only one tool Where you live and how you get around Your Communities team of collaborative leaders –Manufacturers, application developers, telecom providers –Users who utilize broadband services and other smart energy efficient technologies and resources –Rural focused National and State Associations –Federal and State Agencies (USPS, HHS, and many others) Continuous development and evolution Incorporating applications and services across various platforms throughout your community ??????

managing short term Thinking long term, Economic and Community Development Connections Economic development is about wealth creation for all. Economic development is a process and it is occurring all the time. Economic diversity sustains communities and regions throughout economic cycles. Economic development is where public policy and free enterprise intersect. Positive economic development creates an environment in which communities and citizens prosper and improve their quality of life.

managing short term Thinking long term, Practical Application and Collaboration Public Safety Network Education

managing short term Thinking long term, Baby Steps to Begin Connecting the Dots Meet with: –Utilities Electric/Water Cooperative, etc. –School District –Local/Regional Economic Developer –Federal & State Government agencies –Local Chamber of Commerce Strategic plan participation/development Follow the money

managing short term Thinking long term, Build on the Character and Preserve When you’ve seen one rural community…. you’ve seen one rural community! Develop Economic development strategies that use your community’s best assets. Youth/Entrepreneur initiatives Protect valuable farm land Enhance the existing community Build new neighborhoods

managing short term Thinking long term, NTCA- SRC Initiative NTCA held meetings with key national associations and government agencies to listen, share, and create common long and short term initiatives and goals. Advisory Committee Members and Participants –Discovery Education –National Rural Electric Cooperative Association –Rural School and Community Trust –Veterans Health Administration’s Office and Rural Health –National Rural Economic Developers Association –And many others

managing short term Thinking long term, NTCA- SRC Initiative As a result NTCA has developed the Smart Rural Communities Initiative and has highlighted 3 main areas of focus. –Healthcare –Public Safety –Education The Goal is to Provide a road-map and resources to rural communities And to help identify and reward collaborative efforts

managing short term Thinking long term, How to Connect - Advanced Medical Care The focus will be on leveraging Rural Development programs particularly Community Facilities REDL&G and Business programs. –Expand access to affordable healthcare to rural Critical Access Hospitals and clinics through telemedicine and health IT services. – Implementation of the Affordable Care Act will be the main driving force.

managing short term Thinking long term, How to Connect - Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure Educate first Responders, state agencies, and rural infrastructure leaders on how Rural Development can support emergency communications and promote public safety goals. –State and County officials are currently developing strategic plans in accordance with First Net (federal nationwide public safety broadband network) –Rural stakeholders (telecom, electric, water) must be involved –Potential new revenue stream –Potential new expense with no revenue

managing short term Thinking long term, How to Connect - Education Supporting the growth of youth and the mentoring of these next generation rural stakeholders. –Work with organizations such as local school districts, colleges and universities, nonprofits, and youth leadership organizations to promote youth retention. –Scholarship programs –Internship programs –Business Incubation –City Council –Community Boards and committees Make Smart schools an initiative priority

managing short term Thinking long term, Tools to help you Connect Your Community Rural Guidebooks –Putting Smart Growth to work in Rural Communities –Essential Smart Growth Fixes for Rural Planning, Zoning, and development mmunity.pdfhttp:// mmunity.pdf NTCA white papers by Jesse Ward – Broadband/TheSmartRuralCommunity.pdfhttp:// Broadband/TheSmartRuralCommunity.pdf Jesse Ward NTCA explanatory presentation – dede7822f dhttp://prezi.com/gvolppxxk9rz/src/?auth_key=356bbf861a0fcf7b dede7822f d

managing short term Thinking long term, Tools - Associations NREDA- NADO- NACo- NTCA- community/smart-rural-community.htmlhttp:// community/smart-rural-community.html NRECA- NRTC- CFC/RTFC – CoBank-

managing short term Thinking long term, Tools- Federal/State Agency Federal: –USDA- –HUD- –EPA- –DOT- –DOC EDA- NTIA - State: –Iowa Area Development Group - –Renew Rural Iowa- –Iowa USDA RD - –Iowa Farm Bureau, Rural Vitality - vitality vitality –Iowa Network Services -

managing short term Thinking long term, USDA Support There are MANY ways to leverage the resources of Rural Development Funding in order to accomplish the program goals and facilitate partnerships Main Goals of USDA Smart Development Funding –Identify and fund specific opportunities for growth –Education and supporting the Next Generation of Stakeholders –Healthcare and Public Safety sustainable-rural-communities.pdfHttp:// sustainable-rural-communities.pdf adoption-toolkit-shares-best-practices-across-ushttp:// adoption-toolkit-shares-best-practices-across-us

managing short term Thinking long term, Bruce Nuzum Involved with the Iowa Area Development Group for over 16 years and in the Vice President of Finance He handles Economic Development / Financial Packaging on behalf of IADG member Rural Electric Cooperatives, Municipal Electric Companies, and Independent Telephone Companies throughout the state of Iowa. He has authored 146 successful USDA REDLG applications securing $52 million for Iowa's Rural Electric Coops, their communities and businesses.

CONNECTING THE FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES IN YOUR COMMUNITIES

Discussion Topics Planning for the Future What are the Financial Tools? Who do I need to know and support? Collaboration Example

Planning for the Future Economic Development is a Long Term Effort Many Ways to Define Success Local Effort Planning and Preparation are Key!

IADG Values  We believe RESEARCH and PLANNING should drive economic development.  We provide and support EDUCATION and TRAINING for our economic development partners and staff.  We invest in MARKETING and PROMOTION to create awareness, understanding, and opportunity.  We share our knowledge and experience by providing timely TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE and PROJECT FACILITATION.  We foster COLLABORATION and PARTNERSHIPS and encourage community-based philanthropy.  We serve as a catalyst for INNOVATION and ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

Financial Opportunities Dispel a Myth: There is no “Free Money” Good News: Lots of Financial Tools in the Toolbox

Local Financial Tools Ripple Effect USDA Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant (REDL&G) Revolving Loan Funds Tax Increment Financing Angel Investors Small Business Administration (SBA) State Programs

INS Matching Grant / Loan Programs – 25 INS Grants totaling $242,850 – 4 INS Loans totaling $80,000 Leveraging $1,196,618 in pre-construction funds $4,381,000 in construction financing

REDL&G – FY 2014 Applications Anticipated FY 2014 Funding:  $10 million in grant funding  $33 million in loan funding (plus $29 million carry-over)

USDA Rural Economic Development Loan REC/TELCO/Muni Borrows from RUS at 0% interest REC/TELCO/Muni Loans to recipient at 0% interest REC/TELCO/MUNI $2,000,000 Max

IADG Member REDL Success  67 Awards  $31 million  $357 million project investment  5,405 jobs created/retained

USDA Grant for Revolving Loan Fund (REDG) RUS grants to RLF $300,000 Max REC/TELCO/MUNI Administered RLF $360,000 REC/ TELCO / MUNI matches 20% with own funds $60,000 max REC/TELCO/MUNI

IADG REDG (RLF) Awards 104 IADG REDG Awards totaling $27.8M $12.5M (45%) Education and Health Care $9.7M (35%) Industrial Parks & Shell Buildings

IADG REDG (RLF) Awards 36 REDG Revolving Loan Funds Capitalized at $37.5M Range from $240,000 to $3,360,000

IADG RLF Partnership Report Combined Subsequent Loans 440 Loans Totaling $45.7M Leveraging $507M in Project Investment Creating / Retaining over 8,200 jobs

IADG RLF Partnership Report Average RLF Loan – $101,000 loan – $1.1M project – Creates / Retains 18 jobs

Other Sources of RLF Funding Ripple Effect (non-RUS Borrowers) – INS Forgivable Loan—Grant to seed RLF USDA RD – Intermediary Relending Program – Rural Business Enterprise Grants Economic Development Administration U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) – Microloan RLF Program

Tax Increment Financing “TIF” Defined— – The ability for a City or County to capture NEW Property Taxes within the Urban Renewal Area or “TIF District” for the benefit of the district.

Tax Increment Financing

Angel Investors Group of Potential Investors – Invest in a Business – Lease a Building to a Business Investment Organizations – CMA Investors

Small Business Administration – Reduce Risk / May Increase Bank Involvement 7a Guarantee 504 Program State Incentive Programs – Wage Thresholds – More Tax Credits than Grant $ – Some programs are geographic – Not Every Project Qualifies

Community Partners I Need to Know Iowa Area Development Group Local / Regional Development Organizations Councils of Government Iowa Economic Development Authority City Council Board of Supervisors Local Angel Investors

Example of Collaboration Country Maid, West Bend REDL—Northwest Communications SBA 504 Financing RLFs—3 RECs REDG—Corn Belt Power to City of West Bend

managing short term Thinking long term, Deb Lucht General Manager of Minburn Communications, –manages 4 telecommunication companies serving the communities of Minburn, Woodward and Perry, Iowa Deb has worked in the telecommunication industry for 15 years. –She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Rural Iowa Independent Telecommunications Association as past President –Serves as a representative for RIITA on the Iowa Linked-Up Coalition, advocating to policymakers and legislators to understand the importance of robust broadband deployment in rural Iowa –As well as serving on various other boards for Rural Economic Development groups and associations

U.S. Postal Service-Village Post Office April 11, 2013 Minburn Telephone Company became the second VPO in Iowa Currently there are only 3 VPOs in the state and 360 in the U.S. VPOs are located within existing businesses under contract to the Postal Service Value added service for Rural Independent Telephone Company’s

U.S. Postal Service-Village Post Office Benefits Increased foot traffic Convenient location Expanded retail access to postal products Provides stability for retention of the town’s ZIP code Maintains postal presence

U.S. Postal Service-Village Post Office Products Sold & Duties Performed Forever stamps (booklets & rolls), Priority Flat Rate Boxes & Envelopes Ask Hazmat/Aviation Security questions and stamp mailing with personalized security stamp Provided to the VPO Exterior signage Window decal Aviation security stamp Display for Flat rate boxes and envelopes

U.S. Postal Service-Village Post Office Local and National Attention Local media covered the April Grand Opening in Minburn Onsite visit from John Padalino, Administrator for the RUS in May 2013 Wallaces Farmer Magazine June 2013 Issue Rural Telecom Magazine July-August 2013 Issue

U.S. Postal Service-Village Post Office More Information: press-kits/expandedaccess/about-vpo.htm Mary Berardi, Manager, Retail Ph: Ken Hron, Retail Specialist Hawkeye District Ph: