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January 19, 2001

TDA to host economic development workshops

Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs announced that the Texas Department of Agriculture is hosting two rural economic development workshops—one in Childress County and the other in Brewster County. The open forums will provide farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses, manufacturers, small businesses, commodity groups and communities a chance to learn about the opportunities available in rural economic development, incubators and community development, tourism and expansion of existing business.

The "Lender-Borrower" conference in Childress County will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 22 at the Fair Park Auditorium in Childress. This meeting is free and open to the public, but attendees are asked to pre-register by calling 806/799-8555 or 940/937-8629.

The West Texas Economic Development workshop in Brewster County will begin with a reception at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at the Reata Restaurant in Alpine. The conference begins at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1, in the University Center at Sul Ross State University. The meeting is $35 per person. (To pre-register, call Jana Hunter at 915/837-8694 or TDA Rural and Agribusiness Development Specialist Jack Stallings at 915/859-3942.)

Both workshops will feature business development specialists presenting the latest in business planning, marketing and financing programs that can assist in rural development in Texas.

TDA marketing specialists will present information on new markets and promotional opportunities available through the department's GO TEXAN program and on rural economic development and financing programs available through the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority.