Guest Opinion - Preserving History, Preserving Community

Preserving History, Preserving Community

By Elisha Greeley Smith, elishas@cfra.org

... editor's note, remember, on April 9th we will finalize moving the Blog for Rural America to the Center for Rural Affairs website - www.cfra.org

The Center for Rural Affairs often emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurship in rural communities. For one rural community, entrepreneurship has kept the small town alive.

St. James, Nebraska was once a thriving farm community, but like many rural towns, found itself quickly dwindling. The town was struggling, and after the church was closed and the remaining building burned to the ground in 2000, the old school house and a few other establishments were about the only signs that a town existed.

Fearing that the loss of the church would destroy the community, five entrepreneurs -- Mary Rose Pinkelman, Vicky Koch, Jeanette Pinkelman, Violet Pinkelman and Louise Guy -- came together and purchased the old school house. With entrepreneurial spirit, hard work and determination the ladies renovated the school house and created St. James Marketplace. The marketplace now houses a farmer’s market, craft room, tea room, and a historical room.

The Marketplace provides a place for local vendors to sell their products and draws hundreds of visitors each year. Guests get a taste of local goods and learn about the history of early pioneers.

Not only did the ladies preserve the school house, but they preserved the rich history of that area, and they preserved their community.

Recently Readers Digest recognized the success of St. James and chose to do a piece featuring the marketplace.

The Marketplace will open its doors for the season on May 5. For more information on St. James and a schedule of events visit: http://www.stjamesmarketplace.com/ .

Agree? Disagree? Post a comment here or contact John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org

Center for Rural Affairs
Values. Worth. Action.

Nebraskans - Stand Up for Rural Entrepreneurship

You have an opportunity to make a difference on a bill to strengthen rural Nebraska through support for small business and beginning farmers.

LB 177 would improve the Nebraska Micro Enterprise Investment Tax Credit (see details below). It provides a 20 percent investment tax credit up to $10,000 for owner-operated businesses with five or fewer employees. But one critical element was eliminated in committee.

The total tax credits for all microenterprises in the state would continue to be limited to $2 million per year, on a first come first serve basis. Once $2 million in tax credits are claimed, all subsequent applications are denied. Meanwhile, tax credits for big businesses are uncapped at a cost 50 - 60 times that amount.

Please call or write your Senator today using the contact information provided at -
http://www.cfra.org/take_action/alerts/ne_micro. Urge them to support LB 177 to improve microenterprise tax credits. Most importantly, urge them to amend LB 177 to remove the $2 million cap on total credits.

If we can afford over $100 million annually for big business, surely we can afford more than 1/50th of that amount for small businesses that have been the backbone and true economic engine of Nebraska's economy, especially in rural communities.

Under current law, the microenterprise tax credit applies only to new investment in plant, equipment and employees. Under LB 177, the credit would also apply to health insurance, legal services, advertising and professional fees. In agriculture, the credit would be targeted to beginning farmers and ranchers. It would also be available for diversification into nontraditional enterprises such as agritourism and specialty crops.

Please find your Senator's contact information at the links above and under the title of this post and then write or call your Senator today!

Post a comment here or contact John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org

Center for Rural Affairs
Values. Worth. Action.