Panelists discuss a ground-breaking study of new Pennsylvania firms; examine patterns/needs of small businesses during phases of start-up, growth, maturity, and decline; describe untapped markets in the federal government and through export trade; and review how states can support small business growth by legislative and regulatory change. (NEC)

Four small business development experts examine ways of encouraging/helping entrepreneurs: market identification; management education; improved capital access; emphasis on business and producer services; import substitution; local purchasing; local business expansion; adaptation of good ideas; response to problems/trends in lifestyle changes,…

The Southern Region Information Exchange Group-53 consists of 20 institutional members seeking a better understanding of the relationship between community infrastructure and economic development. This document contains four papers prepared for the group's working meeting in October 1990. "The Contribution of Four Lane Highway Investments to…

Plenary session opening remarks by Appalachian Regional Commission Co-Chairman Winnifred Pizzano inform participants that the Region's future success depends on their ability to meet the challenge of change. Excerpts from four panelists' speeches address rapid social and economic changes in economic development activities at state and local…

West Virginia Governor Arch Moore discusses past and present changes in the Appalachian Region and in West Virginia spurred by the Appalachian Regional Commission. Changes in West Virginia's tax structure, job creation, economic diversification, and public energy facilities are noted as efforts to prepare for the future. (NEC)

Five panelists discuss how small businesses can acquire seed capital by considering venture; capital's role in the financing of business start-ups, using local banks as sources of advice and community support as well as funds for new entrepreneurs in rural areas, and investigating states' roles in supporting new ventures. (NEC)

Five panelists discuss alternatives to venture capital sources for Appalachian business expansion, new institutions created or supported by state and local governments to provide capital, and how businesses can best position themselves to take advantage of all capital sources. (NEC)

Case studies on recreation, tourism, retirement homes, and information processing and distribution centers illustrate service industries subject to deliberate economic stimulation. The panel concludes that Appalachian communities may be missing major opportunities for development due to misunderstandings and "myths" about the economic…

Case studies demonstrate four capital packaging approaches: a comprehensive statewide enterprise program for Pennsylvania; a county-based industrial development fund in Chautauqua County, New York; an employee buyout in Saratoga Springs, New York; and establishment of a small venture capital company in the Kentucky Highlands with Office of…

Some 280 industry, education, labor, and state and local government leaders exchanged information about how Appalachian programs can harness technology to make traditional industries more competitive, package capital for job-creating industries and business, launch service industries, match education with jobs, and fit displaced workers into the…

This booklet contains summaries of workshop presentations at the conference on community development. This conference brought local community officials and leaders together with interested citizens to learn about successful rural community development activities occurring in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Sessions covered four main…

This volume contains summaries of presentations and excerpts from workshops at a conference organized by the Cooperative Extension Services of Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri. The conference brought together community officials and leaders from the four-state area to share experiences and gain new ideas about community development. Topics…

A panel on technology transfer considered ways in which educational instructions and industry could share attempts to innovate. Examples of technology transfer in action included Pennsylvania's Ben Franklin Partnership, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's program, and NASA's Technology Utilization Division. Results of an Appalachian Regional study…

The lower Mississippi River delta region comprises 214 counties in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Illinois. The region is heavily dependent on agriculture and contains unusually high proportions of small farms, poor farmers, and black farmers. A conference planned by the region's 13 land-grant institutions and…

Based on four regional conferences organized by the Action Agenda Project on the theme of "Serving the Rural Adult," these proceedings examine the similarities and differences the diverse participants contributed to the discussion of rural adult education; the successes and concerns expressed in finances and funding, policy, models, and…