State Director Bill Menner holds USDA Roundtable discussion

by Lissa Blake

When it comes to working together, northeast Iowa is a great example for others to follow.
That was the message from Bill Menner, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director, during a rural-issues roundtable session at Upper Explorerland in Postville last week. “I think you provide a great template for other regions,” said Menner, during a meeting attended by about a dozen people Thursday afternoon, September 12.
Each year, USDA Rural Development provides millions of dollars to help Iowans with housing and community facilities. Since 2009, USDA has invested more than $2.5 billion across Iowa, for programs ranging from public facilities and businesses to public infrastructure and housing.
Menner’s stop in Postville was one of 120 roundtables that have been conducted statewide over the past three years. “We’re trying to get a sense of what types of projects communities are working on, what their roadblocks are and how we might be able to help,” said Menner. “Even if we don’t have the money, sometimes we know people who have the money. And over time I’ve found those connections and networking help as much as anything else.”

MORE WITH LESS
Menner lamented that since he started his job four years ago, his department has seen a 25 percent decrease in staffing. “We’ve had early retirements and departures and we’ve had to figure out ways to use our staff better and to try to be more efficient with our time,” said Menner, adding cuts are happening nationwide.
He said following sequestration, his organization saw an eight-percent cut. “It gives us less money to spend on things like staffing, travel, training and technology,” said Menner.
Menner added that while he assumes each year the government will have less to spend on local programs, he hopes they will still be able to help with housing and community facilities. “We’re also being told to be more active in local foods. Everyone in Washington is aware of NIFF,” he said, referring to the Northeast Iowa Food and Farm Coalition (NIFF).

ABOUT NIFF
In 2006, the NIFF Coalition was the first pilot community selected by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture’s Regional Food System Working Group. NIFF has 30 active members and over 60 producer members. The NIFF Coalition completed a strategic planning process with a diverse group of stakeholders where the assets, strengths and opportunities of the area were identified as well as the barriers and challenges that would need to be addressed.
The roundtable conversations quickly narrowed to food production as a strength of northeast Iowa. Farms in the area lead the state in direct food sales with $1.3 million dollars in sales. Yet, local food sales only account for about one percent of the total food purchased.
Since its creation, the work of the NIFF Coalition has been integrated into the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative (FFI), a partner of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Food and Community program and one of nine initiatives in the U.S. The goals of the FFI are to promote opportunities for existing and new producers to engage in the local food system and regionally advance planning and policy change to support processing, distribution and storage opportunities in the local food system.

WORKING REGIONALLY
Menner noted this week he will be attending a roundtable at the White House focusing on regional innovation. “The roundtable will celebrate and emphasize the benefits that come from working regionally,” said Menner, adding he is often approached in Washington D.C. by people who have heard about the regional collaborations happening in Iowa. “We have functioning regions here that play well together. People understand the benefits of looking beyond their own neighborhood,” said Menner.
“I think you provide a great template for other regions, with the NIFF piece, the local food-specific piece (FFI), the trails piece and the Northeast Iowa Business Network (NIBN)… I don’t know if you can work with us any better than you already work with us” said Menner.

CHALLENGES
When Menner asked about some of the challenges facing northeast Iowa, Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) Program Manager Lori Brockway said the biggest challenge was housing. “Eighty percent of all homes in this area were built before 1970. That’s a challenge in every one of our communities,” added UERPC Executive Director Rachelle Howe.
Brockway said with regard to housing, sometimes the available grants are “cost prohibitive” and the application process can be daunting. “There can be a lot of paperwork that hinders the process,” added Howe.
Menner said he realizes that many of the USDA’s programs are “hit and miss and stop and go,” but said he is always seeking input on how to streamline those processes. “Last year we actually returned grant money (to the federal government) that went unused… Don’t let us finish another fiscal year with unfinished grant money,” said Menner.

EXISTING BUSINESS
Rod Marlatt, Executive Director of Fayette County Conservation, told Menner he thinks it's important for the USDA to come up with ways to not only encourage the development of new businesses, but to retain existing businesses. He cited the opening of Dotzy’s, a new restaurant in Elgin.
“That one new core business is helping other businesses in town,” said Marlatt. “Now you have to look both ways before you cross the street.”

MOVING FORWARD
Menner said his organization is always working to refine their procedures to make funding more accessible. With regard to local housing incentives, Menner said, “The people you are influencing are people who are getting a chance to buy a home… We are trying to reduce paperwork and making a concerted effort to make sure we are spending money in places that really need our help.”
For more information about housing and small business loan and grant opportunities, contact Upper Explorerland at 563-864-7551.