**[FOR]{.underline} [IMMEDIATE]{.underline} [RELEASE]{.underline}**

For More Information, Contact:

Alan Vandehaar

Iowa State University Extension

4301 Sergeant Road, Room 213

Sioux City, IA 51106

\(712\) 276-2157

**[MIDSTATES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES KEYNOTE
SPEAKERS]{.underline}**

Nebraska State Senator David Landis and Debi Durham, President of the
Siouxland Chamber and Siouxland Initiative will be guest speakers for
The Midstates Community Development Conference to be held on March 23,
2004 at the Marina Inn in South Sioux City, Nebraska. The annual
conference will provide community and economic development strategies
for rural community, business and governmental leaders.

The one-day conference will run from 8:30 to 3:30 p.m. Morning guest
speaker will be Debi Durham. Durham is a native of Joplin, Missouri and
past executive director of the Miami, Okla., Chamber of Commerce. She
joined the Siouxland Chamber in February 1994 as director of
governmental and public affairs. She was named president of the
Siouxland Chamber in July 1995. Durham's conference presentation will
provide practical and effective strategies for "Partnering Without
Borders For Economic Development".

Afternoon keynote speaker will be Nebraska State Senator Dave Landis of
Lincoln. Landis first was elected to the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature
in 1978. A native of Lincoln, he received his bachelor\'s and juris
doctorate degrees from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Currently,
he teaches lawyers and graduate public administrators how to negotiate
at the University of Nebraska College of Law and the Department of
Public Administration. Landis will present a

special workshop "Finding Yes" to help local groups work together
effectively to maximize development opportunities. Strategies will be
offered on team-building and effective negotiation skills for working
with multiple entities to benefit the local community. Landis is also a
community development consultant and has presented this workshop
throughout the country to corporations, state and federal governments.

News Release (cont'd) Page Two

Midstates Community Development Conference

The conference also features eight breakout sessions presented by
regional community and business leaders directly involved in successful
community programs. The sessions will offer timely strategies in
community development including: Entrepreneurship, Fundraising, Citizen
Involvement, Technology and Media Strategies.

Reservations for the March 23^rd^ event can be made by contacting the
Iowa State University

Extension Office, 4301 Sergeant Road, Suite 213, Sioux City, Iowa 51106
(712) 276-2157. Early registration prior to March 15^th^ is \$25 per
person; after March 15^th^ \$35 per person. Fee (payable to Woodbury
County Extension) includes lunch and all conference materials. A
conference program and registration form can be downloaded from
<http://www.extension.iastate.edu/communities/Midstates.pdf>

The conference is an annual project of University of Nebraska
Cooperative Extension, Iowa State University Extension, USDA Rural
Development of Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota, Nebraska Loess Hills
RC&D, Sioux Rivers RC&D, SIMPCO Council of Governments, city of South
Sioux City, Center for Rural Affairs, Plymouth County (Iowa) Economic
Development, South Dakota Rural Enterprise Inc., Siouxland Community
Foundation, Planning and

Development District III Yankton, S.D. and the Siouxland Initiative.

Sponsors of the 2004 conference are Nebraska Public Power District,
Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative, Security National Bank, Iowa
Department of Economic Development, Lance Ehmcke, Midwest Equipment, the
Warner Group, Northwestern State Bank, Plymouth County

Economic Development, Wells Fargo Bank \-- Sioux City, Iowa-Nebraska
State Bank, Siouxland Community Foundation, Siouxland Initiative, Great
Plains Communication, Woodbury County Farm Bureau, East River Electric
Power Cooperative, Nebraska Department of Economic Development and the
Sioux City Journal.