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Recent posts by Brian Depew

From the desk of the executive director: looking forward to the new year

By Brian Depew on January 15, 2019 - 1:04pm

As we look forward to 2019, I am amazed what you—our staff, our board, and our supporters—have achieved. 

The past year marked the Center’s 45th anniversary. I am proud that the Center remains vibrant and relevant. That was true in 1973 at our founding, and it is true today. 

Challenges—and we saw a few the last year—can test our patience and resolve. We persevere because we are guided by our pragmatic commitment to change and our clear and consistent values. 

Consider a few highlights from the last year.

From the executive director: immigration in focus for rural America

By Brian Depew on December 3, 2018 - 2:08pm

An immigration raid in very rural north central Nebraska put a spotlight on the immigration debate in rural America.

The raid targeted alleged labor practice exploitation by a local employment agency. It also swept up more than 100 community members and employees of local businesses in its net.

The businesses included a tomato greenhouse, potato processing facility, and cattle operation among others. The communities affected ranged in population from 100 residents to 3,600 residents.

To me, the raid highlighted how deeply immigration is reshaping rural America.

From the desk of the executive director: strategic plan guides our work

By Brian Depew on October 8, 2018 - 2:33pm

At their most recent meeting, the Board of Directors of the Center for Rural Affairs adopted a new five-year strategic plan.

Before adopting the new plan, the board reviewed Center accomplishments and changes over the last 15 years. The new strategic plan builds on past wins, leverages the growing reach of the Center, and provides guidance for the next five years. 

Key elements of the plan are: 

From the desk of the executive director: Growing reach, growing impact

By Brian Depew on August 9, 2018 - 3:21pm

The Center for Rural Affairs makes its home office in Lyons, Nebraska. We built a new office in this northeast Nebraska community of 851 people in 2004.

Since our founding in 1973, putting down roots in a small town in the middle of the country has always been a radical demonstration of our commitment to rural America. Then – and now – rural places face profound challenges. Being part of rural America, and confronting these challenges in our daily life, is truly part of the makeup of the Center.

Where have all the bankers gone?

By Brian Depew on July 5, 2018 - 10:00am

The Center for Rural Affairs first examined consolidation in the banking industry in “Where Have All the Bankers Gone?”, a 1978 report. We have long understood the critical link between credit, who has access, who doesn’t, and how it shapes communities.

That’s why a recent report in the Wall Street Journal caught my eye. It detailed how banking in rural communities has fared in the years since the financial crisis. Small business lending in rural areas has dropped by half since 2004, accounting for less than 10 percent of total small business lending.

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