The Center is again hosting MarketPlace to provide rural and small town Nebraska with a premier entrepreneurship event that energizes and connects people with others like themselves and with service providers and other professionals who can help them make their businesses and communities thrive.

“West Point is pleased to welcome MarketPlace to our city and the Nielsen Community Center for a second year.  This type of seminar is a valuable tool for existing businesses and for entrepreneurs to find help to expand or start a new business.  Our communities depend on small start-up companies to create jobs and bring new residents to our communities as well as compliment the current business and industries that are here.” Marlene Johnson, Mayor of West Point, Nebraska.

“The Center for Rural Affairs has a passion for helping rural entrepreneurs succeed, and Marketplace is just one of many examples of their efforts that are directly targeted to providing the tools and tactics needed for rural small business success,” said David Buchholz, President and Creative Director ofDavid & Associates of Hastings. “Marketplace and the Center for Rural Affairs provide great resources for people looking to start or grow a small business.”

According to John Crabtree, Center for Rural Affairs Media Director, Buchholz and the other specialists at Marketplace provide a level of marketing expertise that most entrepreneurs could never hope to access individually. At previous conferences, Buchholz has presented to standing-room-only crowds and received rave reviews.

“The expertise on display at MarketPlace truly makes it a one-of-a-kind entrepreneurship event,” Crabtree added.

Prior to his opening keynote address, Rep. Fortenberry was also acknowledged as the recipient of the Center for Rural Affairs’ inaugural George Norris Policymaker Award by the Center’s Executive Director, Brian Depew.

“I am honored to accept the inaugural George Norris Policymaker Award.  It has been a privilege to work with fellow Nebraskans on policies important to the future of our state and rural America.  I’m particularly grateful for the Center for Rural Affairs’ focus on expanding economic opportunity in rural communities, renewable energy production, and help for beginning farmers and ranchers.  I greatly appreciate the Center’s commitment to the values of rural America which make our country strong.”

Representative Jeff Fortenberry.

“George Norris fought for common people,” said Depew. “His public career was made fighting corporate power and standing up for small town America. He believed in everyday people and their ability to shape their destiny.”

We decided to give our inaugural George Norris Policymaker Award to Representative Fortenberry for his tireless work to champion policies that echo the values of the Center for Rural Affairs, of George Norris, and of rural Nebraskans, Depew explained.

According to Depew, Representative Fortenberry’s commitment stands out most clearly in the recent farm bill debate. Over the course of the farm bill debate, he championed provisions to close the egregious loopholes that allow the largest farmers in the country to run away with unlimited subsidies. He also backed new and innovative programs to help beginning farmers and rural small businesses get started. And he helped to win a critical conservation provision that protects our most vulnerable agricultural landscapes.

“Representative Fortenberry stood out among his colleagues in DC on these issues. On some, he bucked the conventional stand of those in his own party. That takes courage. And it is just such political courage that this award was created to recognize,” Depew concluded.