For Immediate Release
Contact: Carl Dahlen, Director of Rural Development, NCED, 775-687-4325
Karen Rajala, White Pine County Economic Diversification Council 775-289-3065 Procurement Outreach Office
State of Nevada

White Pine County Wins AOL Rural Telecommunications Leadership Award
The Home Grown Jobs Initiative Generates Entrepreneurial Activity for Ely, Nevada

The Home Grown Jobs Initiative in Ely, Nevada has won $10,000 in the AOL Rural Telecommunications Leadership Awards `00 competition for its White Pine County Country Store web site. The competition is sponsored by the National Center for Small Communities (NCSC) and AOL.

The Home Grown Jobs Initiative was started by the White Pine Economic Diversification Council, one of Nevada�s Commission on Economic Development 10 rural development authorities, in late 1998 to generate entrepreneurial activity in a community heavily impacted by mine closures. The web site was funded with a Nevada Bell Community Enrichment Grant and donations from the private sector. The site offers entrepreneurs with product from bottled water to landscape rock, artwork, and homemade soaps to market their products worldwide.

"The Home Grown Jobs Initiative is indicative of the true entrepreneurial spirit in rural Nevada," said Lt. Governor Lorraine Hunt, chair of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development. "The White Pine Country Store web site has created 54 full-time jobs and this award presents an opportunity to at least double the job generation and provide assistance in entrepreneurial education, micro-loan financing, and collective marketing."

A panel of eight rural telecommunications experts reviewed 102 online applications received by NCSC. Applications were evaluated on the basis of six criteria: impact, innovativeness, sustainability, degree of community involvement, obstacles to success, and proposed use of award funds. The judges selected one winner ($10,000 grant) and two finalists ($2,000 grant) in four categories. Ely won in the Community/Economic Development Category, Job Creation.

Karen Rajala, coordinator for the White Pine Economic Diversification Council attended the RuralTeleCon`00, the national rural telecommunications conference held in Aspen, Colorado, October 1st, to receive the $10,000 award.

To buy handcrafted items made in White Pine County, visit the Home Grown Jobs Initiative�s web site at www.whitepinecountrystore.com.