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Friday, July 18, 2008

Indiana and New Mexico officials seek rural ideas; focus in N.M. is on renewable energy

Officials in New Mexico and Indiana are holding town meetings to collect information on rural community needs. Perhaps local and state leaders in your rural community should partner with rural-serving organizations to determine the greatest needs of rural citizens.

In New Mexico, the sessions will focus on renewable energy and partner state and non-governmental groups with New Mexico State University's Rural Agricultural Improvement and Public Affairs Project. Sponsors will discuss the concept of "rural stewardship institutes," as a way to coordinate work in small towns and rural areas. Other topics will include previously identified sources, renewable technology, regulatory issues and local needs regarding economic development and costs offsets for utility-scale power. Information gathered will add to a plan of action for future education efforts, Web sites and research demonstrations.

Gerald Chacon, associate vice president for outreach services at NMSU, told New Mexico Business Weekly that rural communities will be included in decision-making on policy issues, economic development and appropriate technologies for homes, ranches and small communities. "There are economic opportunities, approaches to conservation and appropriate technologies that can be shared through collaborative efforts with our many partners," he said. "There may also be concerns surrounding renewable energy affecting rural New Mexico that we are interested in hearing about." Read more here.

The Indiana meetings will be similar meetings to a series conducted in 2005 that allowed the state Office of Community and Rural Affairs to determine its priorities after rural residents identified issues to a diverse array of rural-serving organizations, an OCRA press release said. Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman said she and Gov. Mitch Daniels, who is running this year for a second term, are committed to making all parts of the state share in an economic comeback. Read more here.

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