Investing for Change:

NeighborWorks Training Institute
New Orleans, LA • Wednesday, March 3, 2010
8:30am – 4:00pm

Read the opening plenary speech from the Rural Symposium and view a special video of the Symposium.

Online Registration Ends February 8!

Unprecedented financial resources are being directed to restart the nation’s economic engines. Billions of new dollars are flowing through familiar channels such as the Department of Treasury’s CDFI fund, USDA Rural Development and the banking system, among others — but are the resources reaching all the markets and communities they are intended to serve?

What capacity do rural and small cities have to both absorb and make the most of these precious resources? While much of the nation’s Recovery efforts have focused on getting capital to flow again, there are those who maintain that credit flows have always lagged in rural and small cities. Even the Community Reinvestment Act and related regulatory efforts have seemed most effective in densely populated areas. Broad-based economic recovery needs to address the full range of markets and diverse communities. Fortunately, America’s rural and small cities have increasingly sophisticated networks of local partnerships ready to step up to the challenges of the day.

Join us in New Orleans on March 3 to actively participate in a day-long event alongside policy makers, practitioners, regulators and funders. The symposium is designed to highlight how the most promising innovations in three sectors — public, private and community-based nonprofit — have seasoned and disciplined community-based channels to quickly and effectively move capital into high value production. The symposium will begin by providing a framework of where we are in the disbursement of Recovery funds along with a snap shot of the diverse economic conditions across the nation’s rural and small cities. The agenda will move to interactive, small group discussions designed to drill down into key investment strategies such as tax incentives, regulatory reform, block grants and related program investments.

We anticipate a series of provocative discussions led by leaders in rural policy, key Administration officials and innovative practitioners. Our objective is to generate discussion as well as develop thoughtful recommendations for effective community investment strategies.

With each discussion, the symposium will look to address the same fundamental questions:

• Does the program, in its current form, increase the flow of capital into the targeted communities?
• If not, what steps can be taken to increase effectiveness and efficiency?
• Does the program enhance individual and/or community assets?
• What are suggested improvements and why?

Check back later for more updates!

Monday, March 1, 4:30 – 6:00 PM

Tuesday, March 2, 4:30 – 6:00 PM

MORNING

Welcome
Ken Wade, CEO, NeighborWorks America

Moderator: David Dangler, Director, Rural Initiative, NeighborWorks America

Testimonial — Voices of Transformation
Hear stories throughout the day of how young people are experiencing transformation in their life and community.

Opening Plenary
Follow the Money
Featured Speaker: Michael Swack, Professor, University of New Hampshire with appointments at the Carsey Institute and at the Whittemore School of Business and Economics

Panel
Rural Recovery Perspectives

Testimonial — Voices of Transformation

Plenary
Excellence in the Third Sector
Community-based organizations, on their own and in robust networks, are breaking new ground and offering innovative solutions to persistent challenges. Come hear two extraordinary examples!

Special message from HUD Secretary, Shaun Donovan

Stacey Epperson, CEO of Frontier Housing
Ever wonder what it would take to replace a significant percentage of pre-1976 manufactured housing? This innovator has a plan you have to hear!

Lorna Bourg, CEO of Southern Mutual Help Association
Rebuilding the Gulf continues to challenge the best and the brightest. Come learn about a group that has worked miracles!

The 2010 NeighborWorks & USDA Rural Development Partnership Award

SYMPOSIUM LUNCHEON
Luncheon Keynote Speaker: Dee Davis, President and Founder, Center for Rural Strategies

AFTERNOON

Small Group Discussions:
These sessions, led by leaders in rural policy, key Administration officials and innovative practitioners, are designed to delve into critical investment strategies such as tax incentives, regulatory reform, block grants and related program investments.

Changes in the Field — Innovations in Factory Built Housing
Learn more and contribute to a conversation focused primarily on development issues, including a national effort to replace older manufactured housing with new, green factory-built units — the new national initiative for converting mobile home parks into Resident Owned Communities (ROC’s).

Back to Basics — Rural Housing Rehab Strategies
Even with the current housing crisis, two thirds of rural Americans still own their homes;  learn more and contribute to a conversation focused primarily on preservation issues, including programs and credits to encourage and support green rehab.

Down the Money Trail — CDFIs Extend their Reach
Learn more and contribute to a dialogue on a range of community development lending issues including innovative regional strategies, lending on Native American trust and other deed restricted lands and how together we can open new channels for preferred financing.

Testimonial — Voices of Transformation

Closing Plenary — Summary & Challenges

Awards Presentations

Rural Assets Photo Contest
Raffle/Door Prizes

Networking Reception (5:30 – 7:00 pm)

Presented by NeighborWorks America.

Symposium cost: $235 (includes materials, plenary session, workshops, keynote luncheon and networking reception)

Check out the New Orleans Training Institute and the NeighborWorks Training Institute site!

Click here for the complete list of courses
being offered at the New Orleans Training Institute.