RENEW RURAL IOWA FOCUSES ON INNOVATION WITH NEW SUMMER SERIES FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, ENTREPRENEURS

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - June 8, 2011 - One of the keys to success for a new business is the ability to be innovative and stand out from the crowd. Renew Rural Iowa, an Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) initiative that supports new and existing businesses through education, mentoring and financial resources, is focusing on the power of innovation with a new series of seminars this summer.

The interactive seminars are designed to connect entrepreneurs and economic developers with the newest economic development tools.  At each free seminar, participants will learn about growth strategies from leading Iowa visionaries, discover how new relationships can strengthen economic development efforts and more. Adam Steen, president of the business development firm 25Connections (www.25connections.com), will discuss how partnership and collaboration can grow enterprise value.

"Renew Rural Iowa is based on the principle of innovation and encouraging the innovative use of new and existing tools to help make new connections for business growth," said Sandy Ehrig, IFBF Renew Rural Iowa economic development administrator.

The seminars will be offered at community colleges across the state and run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The sessions are free, but registration is encouraged. For more information and to register, visit www.renewruraliowa.com.

The workshops will be held

• June 15, Iowa Central Community College, Fort Dodge.
• June 21, Northeast Iowa Community College, Dubuque.
• June 23, Eastern Iowa Community College, Clinton.
• June 28, Iowa Western Community College, Council Bluffs.
• June 30, Iowa Lakes Community College, Spencer.

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