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

For More Information, Contact: January 28, 2004

Alan Vandehaar

Iowa State University Extension

4301 Sergeant Road, Room 213

Sioux City, IA 51106

\(712\) 276-2157

**[MIDSTATES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE PROVIDES SOLUTIONS FOR
RURAL COMMUNITIES]{.underline}**

Sioux City - The Midstates Community Development Conference, a joint
project of Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota will be held on March 23,
2004 at the Marina Inn in South Sioux City, Nebraska. The purpose of the
annual conference is to offer strategies and case studies in innovative
rural community development throughout the tri-state region. The
conference will provide opportunities for business and community
leaders, city and county officials, Chamber representatives and
community volunteers to learn and share ideas on what is working for
other rural communities.

The one-day conference begins with registration at 8:30 a.m. and
features special presentations and breakout sessions throughout the day,
with adjournment scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Morning guest speaker will be
Debi Durham, President of the Siouxland Chamber and Siouxland
Initiative. Afternoon keynote speaker will be Dave Landis, college
instructor and consultant.

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 -- Starting from scratch for business or community
development

Fundraising -- Identifying and obtaining private funds for public good

Citizen Involvement - Community, county and regional strategies

Technology - Maximizing the value of the internet with or without a
website

Media Strategies - Getting effective news coverage for your community or
project

News Release (cont'd) Page Two

Midstates Community Development Conference

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 R C
& D, Sioux Rivers R C & D, SIMPCO Council of Governments, City of South
Sioux City, Nebraska, Center for Rural Affairs, Plymouth County, Iowa
Economic Development, South Dakota Rural Enterprise, Inc., Siouxland
Community Foundation, Planning and Development District III Yankton,
South Dakota 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.

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>