The Center for Rural Affairs applauds U.S. Reps. Zach Nunn (IA-3) and Angie Craig (MN-2), who on Friday introduced the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Act of 2023. The legislation proposes changes to the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) and would expand opportunities for rural small businesses for years to come.

RMAP benefits rural entrepreneurs who are unable to access credit from traditional lenders by providing loans and technical assistance through intermediary organizations, such as the Center. The program, which was established in the 2008 farm bill, has provided critical support to small businesses in at least 45 states.

“Rural entrepreneurship continues to evolve, and it is important that programs like RMAP do the same,” said Johnathan Hladik, policy director for the Center. “Reps. Nunn and Craig understand how important small businesses are for rural communities and recognize what it takes to succeed.”

Rep. Nunn introduced the legislation alongside three small business owners and the Center in Ottumwa, Iowa.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our rural areas, providing needed services and a sense of community that drive the economy,” Rep. Nunn said. “As costs climb for businesses, we need to adapt to ensure additional support to these job creators throughout the areas that need it most.”

With language developed alongside stakeholders across the country, the legislation includes key program changes that would provide direct benefits to entrepreneurs. These updates increase the maximum loan amount from $50,000 to $75,000 and allow small businesses to use loan funds for construction and renovation projects.

“Raising the loan cap is a direct response to the increased cost of doing business since 2008,” Hladik said. “In addition, the legislation will make it easier for entrepreneurs to update and revitalize rural main street storefronts.”

If successful, the legislation will be included in the nation’s next farm bill.

“We commend Reps. Nunn and Craig for their leadership on behalf of rural small businesses, and encourage congressional leaders to include provisions of the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Act in the final farm bill package,” Hladik said.

The Fairfield Police Department would like to recognize the excellent performance of our area Emergency Services working as one team in an emergency response.

On July 11, 2023, our Dispatch Center received a 911 call involving a serious medical emergency in a vehicle on Highway 34 as it bypasses Fairfield. Two Fairfield Police Department’s Communications Specialists (CS), Dispatch Supervisor Shannon Pester and CS Kate Waller, gave pre-arrival, lifesaving instructions to the 911 caller. The two Communications Specialists simultaneously dispatched the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) unit with the Fairfield Fire Department (FFD), Care Ambulance, two Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) Deputies, and a Fairfield Police Department (FPD) Officer to assist in the high-risk traffic area.

JCSO Deputy Tyler Rysdam, JCSO Deputy Nelson Torres Rodriguez, and FPD Sergeant William Riegel arrived at the scene before Emergency Medical Services. The medical emergency patient was removed from the vehicle to assess. The patient did not have a pulse and CPR was initiated. An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) was also applied to the patient and utilized. The patient was transported to the Jefferson County Health Center’s (JCHC) Emergency Room by Care Ambulance. The family of the patient later advised Emergency Services that the patient survived.

On August 21, 2023, Sgt. Riegel, Deputy Rysdam, and Deputy Torres Rodriquez were recognized and thanked by the American Heart Association for these efforts. The training for CPR and the AED were through this great organization.

The Fairfield Police Department would like to recognize and thank the Emergency Services teams who respond every time with this professionalism. This happens every day in Fairfield and Jefferson County. We worry about only recognizing this one incident.

Thank you to the Fairfield Police Department’s Communications Specialists who answer the other end of 911 calls and coordinate/supervise each response. The dedication to Emergency Services and your monthly advanced training courses are greatly appreciated.  The professional voice over the radio is truly the calm in the storm.

Thank you to all the Emergency Medical Service agencies in our area. This includes all the great First Responder Services who respond from their homes in emergencies, the Fairfield Fire Department who assist with all medical calls, the Care Ambulance Service who provides advanced medical care, and the JCHC professional staff who are always there for our entire community.

Finally, thank you to all area Law Enforcement who still train in several areas of the medical field after all the other training we ask them to take every year. We acknowledge that they take monthly training for criminal/case laws, investigations, de-escalation, child/dependent adult abuse, defensive tactics, implicit bias, driving, cultural sensitivity, firearms, mental health crisis response, general liability concerns, and the list goes on and on. We also ask them to attend a week of medical training for Law Enforcement First Responder certification, additional trauma/stroke/heart emergency responses, CPR, AED, and Narcan administration. Thank you for your time spent training for all these emergencies.

Lowell Hill is now completely reopen to the public, the Henry County Engineer office has confirmed today. After a good week of work with limited effects from the weather, the road is clear and all work is done.

Community Action of Southeast Iowa is currently looking for donations to their food pantry. As of right now, they are requesting pancake mix that is ready made so that all you need to do is add water. This is a very versatile food as you can add strawberries and bananas for a healthy breakfast, a scoop of protein, or just classic syrup. Pancake mix is perfect for those with limited resources.

You can drop off your donation to any of the locations in Burlington, Keokuk, Mt. Pleasant, and Ft. Madison 8am-4pm M-F, and Tuesday and Wednesday for our friends in Columbus Junction.