Throwing Small Town Iowa a Lifeline
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
As this session of the Iowa legislature and Congress gets fully underway, this may be the best opportunity in years for real economic development in rural Iowa. With both the Iowa legislature and Congress under new management, Dan Owens with the Center for Rural Affairs says this a ripe opportunity for needed changes, including caps on subsidies for mega-farms and investments in rural development.
"Programs like micro-enterprise, value-added producer grants and other rural development issues that could really help rural America and rural Iowa."
Owens says the migration from rural Iowa to urban communities is not a good economic development strategy. He points out that rural Iowans do not have to leave their hometowns to find economic opportunities.
"There are really proven strategies out there in rural economic development that keep people in rural communities and help them thrive."
Owens believes limiting subsidies to huge farming operations is the key, as it would keep them from squeezing small operations out. He explains that has a domino effect, with smaller farms boosting demand for goods and services, which would allow rural businesses to create more jobs.
get more stories like this via email
Social Issues
By Lane Wendell Fischer for the Shasta Scout via The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service for the Public News …
Environment
By Naoki Nitta for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public Ne…
Social Issues
Concerns about potential voter intimidation have spurred several states to consider banning firearms at polling sites but so far, New Hampshire is …
Environment
The construction of more solar farms in the U.S. has been contentious but a new survey shows their size makes a difference in whether solar projects …
Minnesota lawmakers are considering a measure which would force employers to properly classify certain trade union workers and others as employees rat…
Health and Wellness
By Mary Anne Franks for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Northern Rockies News Service reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …