The Rural Enterprise Reporter is an annual publication describing program activities for the Center for Rural Affairs’ Rural Enterprise Assistance Project, known as REAP. Last year was an exceptional one for REAP.

Over 700 loans totaling close to six million dollars have been distributed to entrepreneurs through the innovative REAP program, which began in 1990.

The Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP) was started by the Center for Rural Affairs in January 1990 and is celebrating a 20th anniversary this year. REAP is respected nationally as an outstanding microenterprise development program and is one of the largest rural microenterprise development programs in the US. REAP was the first microenterprise development program founded in Nebraska and set a tone for excellence in the state that continues today.

The REAP Hispanic Business Center (HBC) has changed a little in the last few months. Adriana Dungan, our first HBC Director, worked her last day on June 1, 2010, and a new replacement, Juan E. Sandoval from Norfolk, is the new director, and his phone is ringing!

The REAP Women’s Business Center (WBC) entered its ninth year of funding and its fourth year of sustainability funding in October 2009. To date, REAP business specialists have provided 1,973 hours of counseling to 340 clients and 111 trainings to 1,492 people. Sixty-four percent of those trained were women. Approximately 54 start-up businesses have received assistance.

The REAP program strives to be on the cutting edge of microenterprise. REAP staff are very proud of the new initiatives that were offered this past year and new initiatives that are currently in the research and development mode.

We had an exceptional year for REAP lending in the 7/1/09-6/30/10 time period. REAP placed 60 loans totaling $762,000 during this time frame. Historically, REAP has placed loans totaling $5,567,946.

Small business activity in Western Nebraska has been very brisk for the REAP Program over the past year. It seems that maybe things might start to slow down, but the telephone rings with small business owners, banks, economic development administrators, and chamber executives wanting to know more about the REAP program that is offered through the Center for Rural Affairs. They are seeking help or have been contacted by existing business owners wanting to know where to go for help with business plans, financing, or bookkeeping and accounting questions.

In the past year, REAP group formation activities have taken place in several communities. A REAP Hispanic Roundtable was formed in Lexington. A REAP Roundtable has also been formed at Columbus. And that's not all.