Expanding the rural economy is the theme of a conference tomorrow (Tuesday) and Wednesday in Ames. Helen Mirza, spokeswoman for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, says it’s the latest in a series of gatherings on rural and agricultural issues.
On Tuesday the participants will go to Nevada, and tour the new LincolnWay Ethanol Plant, and the Iowa Energy Center, which has half-a-dozen different experiments underway on alternative energy. Wednesday’s events are all at the Gateway Center in Ames. Panels will focus on alternative energy and business development.
The audience is composed of bankers, community groups, regulatory people, academics, and a lot of different people brought together to look at the issues. She says they’ll get valuable insights from all the experts brought to the conference, including people who’ve actually done the things that are part of developing alternative energy.
People, for example, who’ve actually started an ethanol plant — found financing, went to a field and built a plant and started producing ethanol. “We also like to have people who have impressive degrees,” she says, people who can talk about what the future looks like for alternative energy.
The luncheon and keynote speaker, who’s familiar from appearances at Iowa business and economic-development events, is Jack Schultz, CEO of Agracel and author of the book “Boomtown U-S-A – The Seven and-a-Half Keys to Big Success in Small Towns.” He’ll talk about entrepreneurship.
Mirza says the Federal Reserve Bank has a strong interest in entrepreneurship, rural communities, and alternative energy development. There are still a few openings for people who want to attend the conference. Find the program materials on-line at “Chicago -fed-dot-Org” under “news and Conferences.”
Related web sites:
¥Expanding the Rural Economy¥ conference