Hubler, Foursha to selected as 'capital community' for multistate symposium

A lot of things are happening in Nevada and people from around the country want to know what Nevada is doing to bring new businesses to town.

On April 15 and 16, Craig Hubler and Sam Foursha will be in Des Moines, Iowa to share this story with people from Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota at the first ever Capitalizing on Rural America symposium sponsored by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines and hosted by Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley and Senator Tom Harkin.

The total cost of this trip, including travel expenses, meals and rooms, will be paid for by the Home Loan Bank.

The Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, with 1,200 members, has the largest membership of the 12 banks that make up the federal home loan banking system.

This banking system, which provides loans to member financial institutions, was formed in 1932 with the goal of improving the safety and stability of the savings and loan industry.

"There are many communities doing wonderful things throughout the state of Missouri and Nevada is one of them," according to Curt Heidt, vice president Community Investment, Home Loan Bank. "The Bank selected Nevada as one of our Capital Communities based on their numerous achievements and demonstrated accomplishments. We are excited that they will have the opportunity to showcase their community at the symposium in April." Nikki Schissel, a vice president at the bank, said that they are expecting around 500 people from member banks to attend the conference.

Area member banks include: Heritage State Bank, Farmers State Bank, Hume Bank, Security Bank and Community Bank of El Dorado Springs.

Sam Foursha said that getting selected to be one of the communities required that the city submit a package showing what is going on here and how it was accomplished.

"The bank is always looking for communities with outstanding ideas," Schissel said.

Schissel said that the bank defines a capital community as those towns that have done a capital or superb job of growing their community.

The towns selected from each state have a population less than 10,000 and have an organized planning effort. They have undertaken unique projects and involved local banks in the development efforts.

And they must have positive results.

In Nevada's case, Schissel said that they were impressed with the efforts to bring broadband Internet to town using Wi-Fi technology as well as the large number of new jobs.

This conference will give Foursha and Hubler an opportunity to not only share the successes that Nevada has experienced with people from other communities, but also, to network with people from other communities around the area that are involved in economic development.

Foursha said that he can talk about these good things happening but it is nice to have other people recognize the same things.

"This is an outside source that is looking at us as an exceptional community," he said.

This exposure may have some long-term benefits to Nevada.

"You're representing six other states as being outstanding. That word will travel to other places that Nevada is a pretty neat place," Foursha said.

The main event of the symposium will be a Socratic Dialogue led by Harvard Law Professor, Arthur Miller, who is best know for moderating the Emmy Award-winning PBS Media and Society series.

Miller will pose questions to a distinguished panel of policy makers, business leaders and bankers, community leaders and rural development experts and lead a discussion of issues and ideas for rural America.

Schissel said that the discussion would be taped by Iowa Public Television for broadcast that evening.

She said that they hope to have it carried on Public Television stations around the country.