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          <title>
           Rural community development resources via the Rural Assistance Center
          </title>
          <description>
    Rural community development resources related to rural health and human services, with information provided by the Rural Assistance Center
        </description>
		<copyright>Copyright 2009 Rural Assistance Center</copyright>
        <link>
        http://www.raconline.org/info_guides/communities/        </link>
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  <title>News: Green Energy Agenda Favors Rural Denmark</title>
  <description>Daily Yonder article tells how green energy is not only powering Denmarks homes and appliances, it is powering Denmarks rural economy.   </description>
  <link>
  http://www.dailyyonder.com/green-energy-agenda-favors-rural-denmark/2009/11/05/2410 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:41:47 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.dailyyonder.com/green-energy-agenda-favors-rural-denmark/2009/11/05/2410 
  </guid>
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  <title>News: Secretary Vilsack Announces Initiative to Boost Food Commodity Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses and Cooperatives in Rural America</title>
  <description>Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the USDA will hold a series of small business conferences to launch the Food Commodity Contracting Opportunities for Rural America initiative, designed to enable rural economic growth by increasing small business contracting participation in rural areas of the country.   </description>
  <link>
  http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=12479 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:05:51 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=12479 
  </guid>
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  <title>News: Rural Broadband: Let's Talk About Cost</title>
  <description>Daily Yonder article tells the story of how the federal government helped bring electricity to rural America and how it teaches an important lesson to those who are now deciding how to spend $7 billion on extending broadband to the countryside.   </description>
  <link>
  http://www.dailyyonder.com/rural-broadband-lets-talk-about-cost/2009/11/03/2429 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:16:25 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.dailyyonder.com/rural-broadband-lets-talk-about-cost/2009/11/03/2429 
  </guid>
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  <title>News: New Report Highlights How Health Insurance Reform Will Reduce Costs for Small Businesses</title>
  <description>HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today released a new report, Lower Premiums, Stronger Businesses: How Health Insurance Reform Will Bring Down Costs for Small Businesses, that outlines the many ways health insurance reform will lower health care costs for small businesses.   </description>
  <link>
  http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=12457 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:18:58 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=12457 
  </guid>
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  <title>News: Melstone Drug, Hardware Store Hopes to Survive with Help from the Community</title>
  <description>Billings Gazette article via the Center for Rural Affairs tells how during the last three years area residents have come up with a plan to transform the Melstone store, in a rural California town, and turn it into a cooperative to keep it operating after the current owner retires.   </description>
  <link>
  http://www.cfra.org/ruralmonitor/2009/10/28/melstone-drug-hardware-store-hopes-survive-help-community 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:15:27 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.cfra.org/ruralmonitor/2009/10/28/melstone-drug-hardware-store-hopes-survive-help-community 
  </guid>
                            </item>
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  <title>Publication: Rural Renewal  As Near as Your Own Young People</title>
  <description>An executive summary of detailed surveys completed by high school and middle school youth in 39 rural communities in Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas highlighting how broadly communities are missing out on their very best asset - youth.  -- RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship  </description>
  <link>
  http://www.ruraleship.org/content/cr_11/2_000309.pdf 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:45:41 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.ruraleship.org/content/cr_11/2_000309.pdf 
  </guid>
                            </item>
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  <title>Tool/Web Site: The Rural Renewal Monitor</title>
  <description>Collects news articles about innovative rural development efforts, challenges faced by rural communities, and rural policy developments.   -- Center for Rural Affairs  </description>
  <link>
  http://www.cfra.org/ruralmonitor 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:38:30 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.cfra.org/ruralmonitor 
  </guid>
                            </item>
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  <title>News: Rural Health Providers Improve Health of Economy, not Just Patients</title>
  <description>Iowa Independent article tells how the steady decline in rural health care access can take a toll on patients health, but it can also impact the economic well-being of rural communities.   </description>
  <link>
  http://iowaindependent.com/21196/rural-health-providers-improve-health-of-economy-not-just-patients 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:25:50 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://iowaindependent.com/21196/rural-health-providers-improve-health-of-economy-not-just-patients 
  </guid>
                            </item>
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  <title>News: The Pink Ladies Revive Halstad</title>
  <description>Daily Yonder article tells how women have been starting businesses like crazy in the small Minnesota town of Halstad.   </description>
  <link>
  http://www.dailyyonder.com/pink-ladies-revive-halstad/2009/10/26/2417 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:48:42 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.dailyyonder.com/pink-ladies-revive-halstad/2009/10/26/2417 
  </guid>
                            </item>
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  <title>News: Stay or Go? The Quandary for Rural Youth</title>
  <description>Daily Yonder article reviews a book that asks, if staying in a rural community mean young people must sacrifice economic and educational opportunity? A new study looks at an old dilemma.   </description>
  <link>
  http://www.dailyyonder.com/stay-or-go-quandary-rural-youth/2009/10/26/2415 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:09:42 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.dailyyonder.com/stay-or-go-quandary-rural-youth/2009/10/26/2415 
  </guid>
                            </item>
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  <title>News: Congressional Negotiators Agree on 2010 USDA Funding</title>
  <description>Housing Assistance Council article reports that House-Senate conferees agreed on a final compromise version of H.R. 2997, including funding for rural housing programs in the fiscal year that began October 1.   </description>
  <link>
  http://www.ruralhome.org/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=273:fy10-appropusda&amp;catid=45:announcements 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:06:11 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.ruralhome.org/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=273:fy10-appropusda&amp;catid=45:announcements 
  </guid>
                            </item>
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  <title>News: HUD's Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 NOFA for the HOPE VI Revitalization Grants Program; Technical Correction</title>
  <description>The technical corrections to the NOFA are available   on the HUD Web site at http://www.hud.gov/hopevi and http://  www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa09/grphopevirevi.cfm, and on the Grants.gov Web site at http://www.grants.gov, CFDA Number 14.866.   </description>
  <link>
  http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-25219.htm 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:01:18 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-25219.htm 
  </guid>
                            </item>
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  <title>Funding opportunity: Do Something Community Action Projects</title>
  <description>Grants to help young people implement or expand a community action project, program, or organization.  -- Do Something  </description>
  <link>
  http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=2069 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:22:05 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=2069 
  </guid>
                            </item>
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  <title>News: Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Highlights Recovery Act Efforts to Bolster Healthcare Infrastructure in Rural America</title>
  <description>Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced USDA is providing $30 million for 36 community facilities projects through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, many of which are for healthcare facilities.   </description>
  <link>
  http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=12353 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:02:40 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=12353 
  </guid>
                            </item>
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  <title>News: Speak Your Piece: Rural Economies Must Change or Die</title>
  <description>Daily Yonder editorial by Karl Stauber discusses how rural America has been the battleground between the Old Economy, the New Economy, and No Economy,  and many rural people face a choice between moving out or becoming part of the growing rural ghetto.   </description>
  <link>
  http://www.dailyyonder.com/speak-your-piece-rural-economies-must-change-or-die/2009/10/14/2335 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:27:40 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.dailyyonder.com/speak-your-piece-rural-economies-must-change-or-die/2009/10/14/2335 
  </guid>
                            </item>
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  <title>News: Rural Business-Cooperative Service; Inviting Applications for the Rural Economic Development Loan and  Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2010</title>
  <description>This Notice is to invite applications for loans and grants under the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program for fiscal year (FY) 2010, to assist in economically developing rural areas.   </description>
  <link>
  http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-24612.htm 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:12:21 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-24612.htm 
  </guid>
                            </item>
                  		            <item>
  <title>Tool/Web Site: Renewing the Countryside</title>
  <description>Success stories about rural entrepreneurs and communities. Features stories of everyday people making a difference in their rural communities. Organized by state and topic.    </description>
  <link>
  http://www.renewingthecountryside.org/ 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:34:06 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.renewingthecountryside.org/ 
  </guid>
                            </item>
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  <title>News: America's Coolest Small Towns</title>
  <description>Center for Rural Affairs article tells how every now and then, you stumble upon a town that's gotten everything rightgreat coffee, food with character, shop owners with purpose. These 10 spots have it all, in perfectly small doses.   </description>
  <link>
  http://www.cfra.org/ruralmonitor/2009/10/11/americas-coolest-small-towns 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:52:07 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.cfra.org/ruralmonitor/2009/10/11/americas-coolest-small-towns 
  </guid>
                            </item>
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  <title>News: USDA's Farm Service Agency Announces New $1.1 Million Maximum Guaranteed Loan Amount</title>
  <description>The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced the loan limit for its Guaranteed Loan Program has been increased to $1,112,000, effective Oct. 1.   </description>
  <link>
  http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=12309 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:01:08 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=12309 
  </guid>
                            </item>
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  <title>News: Rural Restaurants Serve Online Appetizers</title>
  <description>Daily Yonder article tells how small town restaurants are finding that social media sites spur customers to the door.   </description>
  <link>
  http://www.dailyyonder.com/rural-restaurants-serve-online-appetizers/2009/10/02/2381 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:27:32 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.dailyyonder.com/rural-restaurants-serve-online-appetizers/2009/10/02/2381 
  </guid>
                            </item>
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  <title>Tool/Web Site: Rural Development: Implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)</title>
  <description>Describes grant and loan programs available through USDA Rural Development as part of the ARRA. Programs support community facilities, broadband initiatives, business and industry, and 502 home loans. Includes information on application procedures, eligibility requirements, and how to contact your State Rural Development Office.  -- USDA Rural Development  </description>
  <link>
  http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/arra/recovery-program.htm 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:02:07 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/arra/recovery-program.htm 
  </guid>
                            </item>
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  <title>Tool/Web Site: Community Development Resource Guide</title>
  <description>A reference document that contains key resources - grants, foundation and low interest loans - that may assist with your community's projects. Emphasis is on Nebraska but also includes information for other locations.  -- Center for Rural Affairs  </description>
  <link>
  http://www.cfra.org/files/Community-Development-Resource-Guide.pdf 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:44:17 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.cfra.org/files/Community-Development-Resource-Guide.pdf 
  </guid>
                            </item>
                  		            <item>
  <title>Publication: Collaboration Is Key For Rural Challenges</title>
  <description>Discusses how collaborative efforts can help mitigate the significant challenges rural communities face when providing health and human services with fewer and different kinds of resources than their urban counterparts.  -- American Public Human Services Association  </description>
  <link>
  http://www.aphsa.org/Publications/Doc/PP/1009PART3.pdf 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:36:58 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.aphsa.org/Publications/Doc/PP/1009PART3.pdf 
  </guid>
                            </item>
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  <title>Publication: Burden of Poverty in Rural America</title>
  <description>Discusses how poverty impacts health. Identifies key rural economic development areas and how they may strengthen the health and wellness of rural communities.  -- American Public Human Services Association  </description>
  <link>
  http://www.aphsa.org/Publications/Doc/PP/1009PART2.pdf 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:18:21 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.aphsa.org/Publications/Doc/PP/1009PART2.pdf 
  </guid>
                            </item>
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  <title>Publication: A Compass for Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data: What Users of Data for Rural Areas Need to Know</title>
  <description>An introduction to the American Community Survey for those who use rural social, economic, and housing data.  -- U.S. Census Bureau  </description>
  <link>
  http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/ACSRuralAreaHandbook.pdf 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:35:04 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/ACSRuralAreaHandbook.pdf 
  </guid>
                            </item>
                  		            <item>
  <title>Funding opportunity: 2009 National e-Commerce Extension Initiative: Program Implementation Mini-Grants</title>
  <description>Funding to expand the adoption of e-commerce strategies by communities, small/micro businesses, and entrepreneurs across the country.  -- Southern Rural Development Center  </description>
  <link>
  http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=2245 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:31:59 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=2245 
  </guid>
                            </item>
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  <title>Publication: Baby Boom Migration and Its Impact on Rural America (Executive Summary)</title>
  <description>An analysis of the migration shift of baby boomers that indicates a propensity to migrate to nonmetro counties as people reach their fifties and sixties and projects a shift in migration among boomers toward moreisolated settings, especially those with high natural and urban amenities and lower housingcosts.  -- USDA Economic Research Service  </description>
  <link>
  http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR79/ERR79_ReportSummary.pdf 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:16:37 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR79/ERR79_ReportSummary.pdf 
  </guid>
                            </item>
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  <title>Tool/Web Site: Local Community Action Agency Directory</title>
  <description>A directory of local community action agencies (CAAs) developed by VirtualCAP.org that provides contact information by either state or agency name.   -- Virginia Community Action Partnership  </description>
  <link>
  http://www.virtualcap.org/caalisting.cfm 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:17:05 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.virtualcap.org/caalisting.cfm 
  </guid>
                            </item>
                  		            <item>
  <title>Event: Nebraska MarketPlace 2010</title>
  <description>Kearney NE February 23, 2010  -- Center for Rural Affairs  </description>
  <link>
  http://www.cfra.org/marketplace/home 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:19:47 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.cfra.org/marketplace/home 
  </guid>
                            </item>
                  		            <item>
  <title>Event: Kansas MarketPlace: Opening Doors to Success</title>
  <description>Hays KS November 9, 2009  -- Center for Rural Affairs  </description>
  <link>
  http://www.cfra.org/marketplace/home 
  </link>
	                <pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:18:38 CST</pubDate>
					<guid isPermaLink="false">
  http://www.cfra.org/marketplace/home 
  </guid>
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