A center for ideas and strategies to strengthen small communities   Program Events Exhibit Studio Outreach Art & Design Links Contact       Conferences Symposia Roundtables events > biofuels and the rural economy roundtable BIOFUELS AND THE RURAL ECONOMY ROUNDTABLE May 14, 2008, TownCraft Center, Perry, Iowa The purpose of this roundtable was to bring together knowledgable experts to examine and better understand various community impacts from the developing biofuels economy on Iowa's small communities. Impacts examined included the local and regional economy, community infrastructure issues, social and environmental impacts, and identifying areas where more research is needed to better address these topics. Roundtable participants from Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Missouri were involved in the one-day discussion. Overview Sessions Welcome and Introductions — Tim Borich, Director, Iowa State University Extension Community and Economic Development Overview of Ethanol in the Ag Economy [View Video] Chad Hart, Scientist — Center for Agricultural and Rural Development The Environmental Sustainability of Ethanol and Biofuels [View Video] Silvia Secchi, Associate Scientist — Center for Agricultural and Rural Development Community Impacts Impacts to Community and Regional Economy Cost Benefit Framework to Evaluate Economic Impacts of Ethanol Plants to the Community [View Video] Tom Johnson, Director — Community Policy Analysis Center, University of Missouri Representative Plant Impacts Dave Swenson, Associate Scientist — Iowa State University Spatial Impacts and Changing Efficiencies Over Time John Miranowski, Professor — Department of Economics, Iowa State University Plant Locational Factors – Ethanol Plants in the Midwest  Gary Taylor, Assistant Professor — Department of Economics, Iowa State University – Biodiesel Plants  Steve Deller, Professor — Department of Economics, University of Wisconsin Community Infrastructure Issues Resource Requirements of Ethanol and the Next Generation of Biofuels Doug Tiffany, Research Fellow — Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota Infrastructure Impacts Co-ops, Pipeline Roger Ginder, Professor — Department of Economics, Iowa State University Roads and Community Infrastructure Duane Smith, Program Manager — Center for Transportation Research and Education, Iowa State University Social and Environmental Impacts Environmental Concerns Matt Helmers, Assistant Professor — Biosystems, Iowa State University Land Ownership Patterns and Intergenerational Land Transfer J. Arbuckle, Assistant Professor — Department of Sociology, Iowa State University Plant Ownership Issues Carmen Bain, Assistant Professor — Department of Sociology, Iowa State University Summary and Wrap Up Gap Analysis between Research and Extension Facilitator — Arne Hallam, Professor and Chair — Economics, Iowa State University