<b>By DOUG SCHMITZ<br>
Iowa Correspondent</b> </p><p>

DYERSVILLE, Iowa — After only one year, Nu-World founder Larry Walters has already discovered just how much the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF)’s Renew Rural Iowa (RRI) program has benefited his small rural Dyersville, Iowa company, which supplies amaranth products to gluten-sensitive consumers.</p><p>
“I thank Farm Bureau for seeing the potential of this company and giving us the kind of guidance we needed to grow through their Renew Rural Iowa program,” Walters said. </p><p>
“Nu-World Amaranth has benefited Dyersville as well as a growing global need for healthy food,” he said. “We needed assistance to take this company to the next generation, both in product line, and in business succession.”</p><p>
Assisted by the IFBF’s RRI and Rural Vitality Fund, Nu-World Amaranth packages, mixes and bakes the special ancient grain in a variety of foods. </p><p>
According to Walters, amaranth contains high fiber, amino acids, iron, calcium and a host of other minerals, providing crucial alternatives for persons with food allergies, which include dairy, casein, eggs, wheat, corn, rice, soy, oats and nuts.</p><p>
Launched in September 2006 as the IFBF’s rural Iowa business growth initiative, RRI was created as an innovative model which combines mentoring and networking with access to rural vitality investment funds. With the goal of not just focusing primarily on jobs, the program focuses on expanding the number and size of small, rural businesses.</p><p>
“Farm Bureau has always been interested in the sustainability of rural Iowa; those communities, the families and schools are an integral part of Iowa’s character,” said Dave Sengpiel, IFBF senior investment manager, of RRI’s several milestones this year. </p><p>
“We mentored several businesses in those towns that faced a variety of challenges to not only maintain their current employment base, but to grow as well,” he said. “They only needed to walk through the doors of our Renew Rural Iowa seminars to find those solutions.”</p><p>
According to the IFBF, more than 500 companies have been educated and trained – and nearly 40 companies have received mentoring as a result of the RRI program.  Most recently, four rural Iowa companies, which include Nu-World, have qualified for funding through the RRI’s Rural Vitality Fund. </p><p>
“Some of those businesses are family-owned businesses who need help to bring in the next generation; some are existing businesses that have stalled out and need a fresh start; some are leaders with access to great technology,” said Curt Nelson, RRI seminar facilitator. </p><p>
“But they need help to get started or relocate to gain access to a technology transfer employee base,” he added. “They all found benefit through the unique mentoring, networking and now funding options available through Renew Rural Iowa.”</p><p>
NewTech Ceramics, a new company which received RRIA funding to develop a ceramic compound that could greatly reduce wear, tear and expense for auto manufacturers of such products as brake pads and snowplows, wanted to locate in rural Iowa to capture that ‘technology transfer’ employee access. </p><p>
“We are relocating to Boone because it’s a healthy community with close proximity to Iowa State University, where this product was developed in the ISU engineering lab,” said George Wilson, NewTech Ceramics chief operating officer. </p><p>
“Boone is also close to the highly-skilled workforce required for our product development,” he said. “But even a great idea wouldn’t have been realized without the expertise of the Renew Rural Iowa staff. It has been an absolute delight working with them.” </p><p>
Precision Metal Works</p><p>

Another company that RRI funded to help revitalize rural Maquoketa, Iowa, is Precision Metal Works (PMW), a manufacturer of high-quality parts washers that has been operating in Iowa for nearly a quarter century, which previously distributed their products under private label names.</p><p>
“Precision Metal Works is very pleased to have the opportunity to partner with the Renew Rural Iowa initiative,” said Jesse Cram, PMW co-founder. “We have been operating in this community for almost 25 years and this investment will be a vital part of the continued growth and success of our business, and will allow us to expand in ways that would not be possible without this kind of assistance. </p><p>
“We are looking forward to becoming a stronger member of the local community and providing both continued and additional employment for local workers, many with ties to the family farm,” he said.</p><p>
Elkader, Iowa-based Reference, LLC is the fourth company that RRI funded. A 10-year-old, early-stage engineering company that designs technical products, Reference designs and manufactures monitoring instruments that measure and record acceleration, motion, vibration and tilt.  </p><p>
“I am looking to grow my business and help my community grow, as well,” said Chris Kavars, chief executive officer for Reference. “We are strongly committed to staying in this area, and we are thankful that there’s this kind of funding to help us meet our needs. </p><p>
“As a non-traditional and innovative employer, we look forward to keeping this kind of talent and these resources here in Iowa,” Kavars added.
Over the last year, Sandy Ehrig, Iowa Farm Bureau economic development administrator, said the IFBF learned a lot about what it really takes to help rural entrepreneurs grow their businesses.