Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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REGULAR PROCEEDINGS VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER BOARD OF TRUSTEES May 13, 2024 The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met for a regular meeting Monday, May 13, at 7 p.m., in the fire hall meeting room. Meeting opened at 7 p.m. Notice of meeting was given in advance by publication in Summerland Advocate-Messenger, was posted at US Post Office in Clearwater, Clearwater Market and Cornerstone Bank-Clearwater and was given to board members prior to meeting. Public was informed of location of Open Meeting Act poster. Present: Kelly Kerkman, Co...
As work begins on the 2025 federal budget, the Center for Rural Affairs and 26 partner organizations from across the country are asking Congress for continued support of rural small businesses through the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program. Their letter, sent April 16 to the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations subcommittees, requests $8 million in funding for the program. Supporters said RMAP provides much-needed support for the small businesses that strengthen our nation’s rural c...
REGULAR PROCEEDINGS VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER BOARD OF TRUSTEES November 13, 2023 The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met for a regular meeting Monday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m., in the fire hall meeting room. Meeting opened at 7 p.m. Notice of meeting was given in advance by publication in “Summerland Advocate-Messenger,” was posted at US Post Office in Clearwater, Clearwater Market and Cornerstone Bank-Clearwater and was given to board members prior to meeting. Public was informed of location of Open Meeting Act poster. Present: Kel...
Wind, solar and other renewable energy projects offer a significant opportunity to revitalize rural communities and diversify the local economy. Increased tax revenue from renewable energy projects enables school districts, cities and other entities to address local emergency services and infrastructure improvement needs while reducing the local tax burden. Additionally, farmers and landowners can earn additional income through land-lease payments from project developers and new job...
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING VILLAGE OF EWING BOARD OF TRUSTEES May 22, 2023 The Ewing Village Board of Trustees convened for a special session on May 22, 2023, at 7 p.m., at the city hall. Notice of the meeting was published May 10, 2023, and May 17, 2023, in the “Summerland Advocate-Messenger.” The purpose of the meeting is to provide the opportunity for the public to comment on the Village of Ewing application to USDA Rural Development for financial assistance in the amount of a $50,000.00 grant for the purchase of a payloader. An agenda was...
PUBLIC NOTICE USDA APPLICATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Village of Ewing intends to file an application to USDA Rural Development for financial assistance in the amount of $50,000 for assistance with the purchase of a payloader. A meeting will be held on May 22, 2023, at Ewing City Hall, at 7 p.m., regarding the proposed project and to provide the opportunity for public comment. Sharon Swails, CMC Ewing Village Clerk Published May 11, 2023 and May 18, 2023 ZNEZ...
Transitioning from military to civilian life can be challenging for veterans. As they contemplate what's next on their career path, the answer may lie in a rural community. Returning veterans are a perfect fit for the next generation of rural small business owners, farmers or ranchers. Some, however, face challenges, including difficulty accessing capital and acquiring training. But with the help of programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, veterans can access financial and educati...
As the demand for local foods grows, small- and mid-sized meat and poultry processors are looking to make investments to expand their capacity, create new markets for their product and train the next generation of workers. These efforts, which come as many in the industry work to regain their footing after a tumultuous two years, are not going unnoticed and continue to receive support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service. Through its Meat and Poultry I...
For two years, processors and producers across rural Nebraska have fought hard to get a program to improve and expand Nebraska's meat processing capabilities approved and established. Their work, along with that of the Nebraska Legislature and staff at Nebraska Department of Agriculture, has paid off as grant applications for the Independent Processor Assistance Program are now being accepted. This development is not only good news to processors who've spent the last two years doing everything...
On March 1, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced the availability of $19.75 million in total funding for projects as part of the Value-Added Producer Grants program. Individual farmers and ranchers, as well as agricultural businesses and producer groups, may apply for the grants, which must be used to develop new products or expand existing markets for value-added products. The applicant must produce at least 50% of the raw agricultural product to which value is being added...
A new federal program is offering grant funding for rural communities to develop community renewable energy projects. The Rural Energy Pilot Program, launched by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will provide up to $10 million in grant funding to connect underserved rural communities to the benefits of community-scale renewable energy. The program aims to help communities cut energy costs, reduce pollution, and address climate change. Funds will be awarded in the form of cost-share grants for...
PROCEEDINGS VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER BOARD OF TRUSTEES Sept. 13, 2021 The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met in regular session Monday, Sept. 13, at 7:30 p.m., in the fire hall meeting room. Meeting opened at 7:28 p.m. Notice of meeting was given in advance by publication in Summerland Advocate-Messenger and notice was given to board members prior to meeting. Public was informed of location of Open Meeting Act poster. Present: Kelly Kerkman, Steve Hankla, Steve Stearns, Kevin Filsinger, Mike Klabenes. Others present: Lauren...
Representatives moved forward the $1 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act, which includes investments in roads, bridges, other major public infrastructure projects and broadband. One of the most significant funding allotments in the bill is in the realm of digital infrastructure. Some 30 million Americans, mostly rural, are still without the infrastructure for standard internet access speeds. In Nebraska, for example, 26% of residents do not have adequate access to high speed...
This summer, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has begun accepting applications for two important programs for rural development. The first is the Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge, which has seen a $2 million increase in funding after its initial set of grants met with a great deal of enthusiasm. This program is available to tribal entities, non-profits, local governments, universities and small businesses for the purpose of rural placemaking, which is a collaborative process to...
JOHNATHAN HLADIK Policy director Center for Rural Affairs Small business entrepreneurship is a key source of job creation for rural counties. These businesses generate economic activity that can multiply throughout the community. But, they also face many challenges, including difficulty in accessing capital and acquiring training for business planning and financial management. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program aims to address these challenges. R...
Despite bipartisan support, rural small businesses and communities with loans through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program will not be included in the latest stimulus package for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The updated Heroes Act, introduced Monday in the U.S. House of Representatives, does not include provisions outlined in the Rural Equal Aid Act. “Rural small businesses continue to feel the effects of the pandemic and, while they are doing their best to keep the doors open, they are hurting,” said...
Small businesses continue to feel the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. While they are doing their best to keep the doors open, they are hurting. That is especially true in our rural towns. Congress has acted to provide businesses with loans through the Small Business Administration six months of payment forgiveness. This is a lifeline for big city enterprises, but it doesn’t help rural entrepreneurs. That is because many rural businesses do not have access to an SBA lender and must borrow f...
The Trump administration announced Monday that the United States Department of Agriculture is investing $462 million to modernize critical drinking water and wastewater infrastructure across rural America. According to the USDA, 161 projects will benefit 467,000 individuals across the U.S., including Clearwater and Page residents. "Upgrading the infrastructure that delivers safe drinking water and modern wastewater management facilities will improve public health and drive economic development...
CENTER FOR RURAL AFFAIRS As lawmakers consider legislation to address the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, a group of 64 small business lenders across 32 states are calling on Congress to treat rural and urban businesses equally when it comes to providing relief. While the recently-passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act created a program that provides immediate relief to small businesses with loans from the Small Business Administration, there was no such provision for those who have loans from the U.S. Department...
Ewing voters will determine if a one-half cent sales tax increase earmarked for economic development will be approved. During Monday's board meeting, village trustees approved Resolution 399 and 400, which will place the issue on the ballot. Per Resolution 399, the purpose of the increase is to create an LB 840 fund for economic development. According to Chairman James Ramold, passage of the resolution will "create an economic development plan that will create jobs, generate employment opportuni...
