After months of waiting, rules for the new Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) have been released for comments. While we’re excited the process is moving forward, we see lots of ways the rules should be improved.

As the health reform debate moves on in Congress, we have participated in the release of several new reports showing the need for reform for rural people and rural communities. We analyzed provisions in the House bill, medical debt among farmers and ranchers, and re-examined the top 10 issues for rural health reform.

Last month we wrote about the importance of a grocery store to a small town’s economic base, ability to attract new residents and meet the needs of current residents. We also highlighted strategies communities are using to keep grocery stores operating in their towns. This month we discuss challenges rural grocery stores face and ways to meet those challenges.

There are many promising strategies to create a better future for rural communities and genuine opportunity for rural people. Members of each community must identify approaches that fit them and then provide the grassroots leadership to make them happen. We identify 7 activities to help.

Tennessee: The American chestnut was a dominant species in eastern United States forests before a blight wiped out the species in the early 1900s. The chestnut was once used for building, tanning leather, as an important source of food for humans and wildlife, and as fodder for hogs.

Is better agricultural antitrust enforcement on the horizon? Attorney General Eric Holder and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will hold public workshops on agricultural competition issues in early 2010 to examine opportunities for better enforcement of antitrust and competition policy relating to agriculture.

Last month the House and Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill, which includes increased funding for two important rural development programs and two important credit programs. These are the Value Added Producer Grant Program and the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program.

Now is the time to submit applications for the Nebraska Advantage Microenterprise Tax Credit Act. The Nebraska Department of Revenue began accepting applications for the 2010 tax year on Nov. 1, 2009. Only two million is available each year, and experience tells us it is allocated very quickly.

Our July 2009 newsletter spoke of the merits of entrepreneurship in rural schools. This month we expand on that topic with the stories of three small schools at work building future entrepreneurs: Cody-Kilgore, Leeton, KS and Bancroft-Rosalie (in our backyard).

Maria Alvarado opened Alvarado’s Tax Services in 2006. Driven by the need for a more flexible schedule, Alvarado has built a successful business and won the Women and Company Microenterprise Boost Program award from the Center’s REAP program.

If you are anything like me, the end of the year comes very quickly. Farmers are struggling to finish harvest. Ranchers are preparing for a long winter. Here comes the holiday season with Thanksgiving and Christmas, and before I know it the year is over. Preparing for year-end financial work comes upon us all too quickly.