DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 10, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Emmy Award winners Ben Stein and Bill Kurtis headline a roster of nationally acclaimed experts who will weigh in on the future and fortunes of Minnesota at a major conference in Minneapolis, November 1 - 2, 2006.
"Capitalizing on Rural America -- Minnesota" is sponsored by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines and continues a three-year series of dynamic dialogues about energizing and revitalizing rural America. The November conference is designed to introduce Minnesota's community leaders and bankers to new models for everything from economic development to capital formation.
Stein, best known for his nerdy role in the movie, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and as host of Comedy Central's Win Ben Stein's Money, applies his law and economics background to issues facing rural America. Stein will keynote the Minnesota conference.
A centerpiece of the conference is this year's version of the dialogue -- a town meeting moderated by Bill Kurtis, distinguished journalist and Emmy Award-winning producer of A&E's Cold Case Files and Investigative Reports. As an angel investor in the small town of Sedan, Kans., Kurtis is especially suited to his role in the dialogue.
The town meeting features a discussion among a panel of Minnesota experts and the audience. Kurtis guides the dialogue which is expected to cover issues such as entrepreneurship, jobs, capital resources and quality of life.
Minnesota panelists are Doug Grow, columnist at the Minneapolis Star-Tribune; Sandy Layman, commissioner of Iron Range Resources in Eveleth, Minn.; Brian Nicklason, president of Woodland Bank in Remer, Minn; Marty Shukert, partner in RDG Planning & Design, specialists in small-town revitalization, and Andy Wells, president and CEO, Wells Technology, Bemidji, Minn.
The dual themed conference offers educational forums for community bankers alongside special sessions for community leaders that focus on innovative ways to grow rural Minnesota.
Tom Walker, creator of the national model to develop an entrepreneurial economy, will lead a session on how to turn innovation into a business. He is CEO of i2E, Inc. in Tulsa, Okla. Jack Schultz, author of "Boomtown USA: The 7 1/2 Keys to Big Success in Small Towns," will share his wisdom on building thriving communities. Schultz is CEO of Agracel, Inc. in Effingham, Ill. Andrew Skadberg, chief knowledge officer of AdventGX in College Station, Tex. will focus on tourism as an economic development strategy.
Also on tap at the conference: Minnesota's four towns that have received the Bank's Capital Community Award each year since the dialogues on rural America began. They are Detroit Lakes, Wells, New York Mills, and this year's winner, Milan. Community representatives will "exhibit" their town, share success stories and interact with conference attendees.
The conference will be held at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, Minneapolis South in Minneapolis. For more information, contact Angie Richards at 800.544.3452, ext. 1014 or arichards@fhlbdm.com.
Editor's note: There is no charge to attend the conference, but registration is required by calling 800.544.3452, ext. 1159 or online at www.fhlbdm.com.
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines is a wholesale cooperative bank that provides low-cost short and long-term funding and community lending to more than 1,200 members, including commercial banks, saving institutions, credit unions and insurance companies. The Bank is wholly owned by its members and receives no taxpayer funding. The Des Moines Bank serves Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota and is one of twelve regional Banks that make up the Federal Home Loan Bank System.