Creating Jobs and Self Sufficiency Through Self-Employment

April 17, 2015 Leave a comment


By Jeff Reynolds, jeffr@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs 

Microenterprise and microfinance have the power to empower people and transform lives. The concept was pioneered in 1976 by Muhammad Yunus, founder of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh and Nobel Peace Prize winner. The bank was established for the purpose of making small loans to the poor − predominantly women – to help them obtain economic self-sufficiency.
The fundamental principle behind the Grameen Bank is that credit is a human right. This strategy was highly effective as the bank grew from 15,000 borrowers in 1980 to 7.67 million at the end of 2008. An astounding 97% of the 9.4 million Grameen Bank members today are women.
A Center for Rural Affairs’ study in the 1980s demonstrated high rates of self-employment in rural areas, but no economic development strategies to help in this area. Influenced by Yunus and Grameen, the Center created the Rural Enterprise Assistance Project in 1990 to fulfill the need uncovered by that research (www.cfra.org/reap).
Microenterprise development recognizes the fundamental ability of people to apply individual talents, creativity and hard work to better their lives. Microenterprise programs build on the unique ideas and skills of entrepreneurs by providing business assistance through micro-credit, one-on-one counseling, and specialized training to small businesses employing 10 people or fewer.
Microenterprises often struggle to qualify for traditional lending services. Microenterprise Development Organizations like the Rural Enterprise Assistance Project create jobs, build assets and overcome barriers of income and discrimination, all through small business development.

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Small Business Survey

March 8, 2014 Leave a comment


Lyons, NE – The Center for Rural Affairs’ Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP), is once again circulating a statewide small business needs assessment survey, to explore how Nebraska small businesses are faring. This survey is the 4th biennial survey conducted by the organization.The survey, which only takes about 6 minutes to complete, is for business owners and those that serve them (including lenders and resource providers). Individuals are asked to complete the survey by March 31, 2014.

“The small business climate in Nebraska is constantly changing. Meeting the needs of startup and existing small businesses is extremely important to all the organizations and entities that provide small business services,” commented Jeff Reynolds, REAP Program Director. “As with previous surveys, the Center for Rural Affairs REAP program will be using the results of this ‘needs’ based survey to help shape future programming with the ultimate goal of enhancing programming to best serve the critical needs of today’s entrepreneurs.”

REAP is Nebraska’s largest microenterprise program and is committed to meeting the needs of startup and existing entrepreneurs in rural Nebraska. REAP provides lending, loan packaging, training, networking, and technical assistance opportunities for startup and existing small businesses.

For more information about REAP and its services and to access the survey, visit: http://www.cfra.org/reap . The survey can also be found at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2014SBNAlink. If you have any questions about the survey, would like to read the results of previous surveys, or would like the 2014 results brought to your organization, please contact Dena R. Beck, REAP Business Specialist & Senior Project Leader at denab@cfra.org or 308-528-0060.

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Business Plan Basics Begins

February 20, 2014 Leave a comment


Lyons, NE – The Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP) Women’s Business Center in collaboration with the Cuming County Economic Development will host a five-week Business Plan Basics course beginning Thursday, February 20, 2014 and continuing through Thursday, March 20, 2014. Each session will run from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Sessions will be held at the Nielsen Center, 200 Anna Stalp Avenue, West Point,  NE.  The instructor for the class is Diann Ballard, owner of db Consulting, LLC.

The business planning workshop series will include the following main topics: Marketing, Promotion/Advertising, Financial Management, Customer Relations and Goal Setting. REAP collaborates with the University of Nebraska EDGE Program in utilizing the NxLevel Micro-Entrepreneurs curriculum called “Business Plan Basics.”

“Planning is a key to success in business, and these five hands-on exploratory sessions are designed for those thinking of starting a business and small business owners. Sessions will cover important information to complete a business plan,” commented Monica Braun, REAP Women’s Business Center Director.

Registration for the course is $79 and includes the course materials and a one-year REAP membership. To register, please contact Garry Clark,  Cuming County Economic Development Executive Director,  at garry@cumingcountyed.com, or (402) 372-6001 or you may contact Monica Braun, REAP WBC Director, atmonicab@cfra.org, or (402) 643-2673.

The Rural Enterprise Assistance Project provides lending, training, networking, and technical assistance opportunities for start-up and existing small businesses.


More information about REAP and its services can be found at www.cfra.org/reap.  REAP receives funding from the Nebraska Business and Innovation Act, Community Development Block Grants through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Small Business Administration, United States Department of Agriculture and other sources. The REAP WBC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

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