Business and International Education program at UNK: Offers advice and tools for community business people, university students and faculty to grow-their-own economic development through university, community, and global partnerships; helps develop, improve and disseminate best practices of international business, training programs, teaching and curriculum development to increase rural American competitiveness. Contact: http://www.unk.edu/acad/internationalbusiness/index.php.

Food Processing Center: Provides assistance to new and existing agricultural producers and value-added food processors on product and process development, business planning and funding opportunities, including state and federal grant and loan opportunities. Assistance in applying for grants is available. Contact: http://fpc.unl.edu.

Nebraska Center for Rural Health Research: Housed in the College of Public Health, maintains a health information project that provides information useful in any analysis or program development in rural Nebraska (including census, vital statistics, hospital discharge data, program data); also includes various reports that describe the availability of health care services throughout rural Nebraska. Contact: www.unmc.edu/rural.

NebraskaEDGE, Center for Applied Rural Innovation, a part of UNL Extension: Community-based entrepreneurial educational training program encourages start-up and expansion of small businesses, including value-added agricultural operations, with comprehensive business planning training; small business and management skill education. Contact: http://nebraskaedge.unl.edu/.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Provides research-based education and information on a broad variety of subjects; found throughout the state in 83 county offices that serve all 93 counties; research and extension centers at Scottsbluff, North Platte, Norfolk, and on the UNL campus. Contact: http://www.extension.unl.edu/.

University Rural Initiative: Housed at the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources on the UNL East Campus, connects university resources with the needs of rural residents, including a variety of research and outreach. Contact: http://ruralinitiative.nebraska.edu/.

100 Beef Cow Ownership Advantage program: Graduates receive a low interest loan to purchase 100 beef cows and return to rural Nebraska as partners in existing beef cattle enterprises; coordinated by the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in partnership with the USDA Farm Service Agency, Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Nebraska Cattlemen and the Farm Bureau (in developmental stages). Contact: http://ncta.unl.edu/index.html.