In this issue you can read about many of the funding opportunities available in the federal stimulus bill. Tapping these programs at the local and regional level can provide new opportunities for rural community revitalization, but the key to unlocking the full potential of the stimulus bill is creative and innovative uses of the available funds.

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the stimulus bill, on February 17, 2009. It is intended to jumpstart the nation’s economy, create or save jobs, and address other economic challenges. We discuss the most promising programs for rural communities and farmers and ranchers in this article.

Family farmers will need to carefully evaluate their interests in the growing debate over antibiotics in livestock feed and the findings of antibiotic resistant staph bacteria in hogs. The new finding has led to renewed calls for a ban on routine feeding of some antibiotics, which would impose some costs on livestock farmers. But there could also be significant benefits.

Last year it was Agriprocessors in Postville, Iowa, and stories of exploitation of immigrant labor, child labor violations and myriad other issues. This year it was worse. In February we all learned that for over 34 years a shadowy Texas company called Henry’s Turkey Service had “employed” mentally disabled men to work at the West Liberty Foods’ turkey processing plant in Atalissa, Iowa. They were paid as little as 44 cents per hour for their work at the turkey plant.

If your email box is like ours, you've been receiving lots of action alerts and other information about several bills pending in Congress regarding food safety. We received one from the Cornucopia Institute that provides a good, balanced view of the complex issues involved and what is at stake. You can access the information on their website at: www.cornucopia.org/2009/03/action-alert-critical-pending-food safety-legislation.
 

Most rural American communities have a shortage of practicing physicians, dentists, pharmacists, registered nurses, and other medical personnel. Nearly 82 percent of rural counties are classified as medically underserved areas.

Midwest and Plains: Though the economic climate is tough, rural bankers in 11 Midwest and Plains states report some good news to the monthly Rural “Mainstreet” survey in March. This good news included, increases in farmland prices, new hiring and banking activity. The survey overall index rose in March to 18.7 from February’s 16.9 low. The survey covers Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

So many communities are creating websites and marketing plans with the sole intent of attracting new people to come live, work and thrive in their town. What draws someone to a community, and, more importantly, what makes them stay? Is it as simple as a website or is there more?

Can small businesses find opportunity from challenge? Even though the news these days can be downright depressing -- people laid off in record numbers, a faltering economy -- could this be the opportune time for you to re-invent your business? Or at least look closely at how you are doing business?

Ah, the joys of technology. In March we published a list that should have included all our 2008 donors. In January, we queried our database, asking for everyone whose last gift occurred between January 1 and December 31, 2008. The software kicked out a list, and we published it.

Also retiring this spring is Barbara Chamness, director of the Administration and Organizational Development Program. Barbara came to us in 2005 from her native Texas. In addition to pulling together a tight administrative services and support team, Barbara took charge of making the Center stronger by building unity, cohesion, and morale within the Center.

Longtime Sustainable Agriculture specialist Martin Kleinschmit has retired from the Center for Rural Affairs after 16 years. He began his work with us as a cooperator in the Small Farm Energy Project in the 1970s, and successfully helped gain recent legislation to improve wind energy benefits for rural communities.