By CYNTHIA HILL

Staff Writer

Gov. Kathleen Blanco invited staff from the department of agricultural sciences to attend the Rural Economic Development Conference in Natchitoches.

“This year’s theme is ‘A Rural Revival,’ and I feel the theme is timely as we enter into this new and exciting time of rejuvenation for our state,” Blanco said in her invitation.

The event is co-hosted by Blanco’s Office of Rural Development, The Louisiana Department of Education and Department of Economic Development.

A $540,000 grant received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Fund for Rural America allowed Dr. John Nwoha and Dr. Susan Watson to travel Monday through Wednesday, to Northwestern University in Natchitoches to participate in this seminar.

Nwoha, project director of Delta E-Commerce Connection, and Watson, an assistant professor of agricultural science, shared information with nationally recognized experts in the fields of rural entrepreneurship, Internet connectivity, education and community planning.

Nwoha said he and Watson handed out compact discs with information on Tech’s E-Commerce program which contain details on how to capitalize on rural business and how to establish a Web site for a rural business.

“We also displayed on computer screen actual Web sites we have helped rural business to set up,” Nwoha said.

Nwoha said he and Watson handed out pamphlets encouraging people in the rural business community to participate in future E-Commerce events.

Dr. Gary Kennedy, head of the department of agricultural sciences and an associate professor of agricultural sciences, said this is a chance for his department to continue to interact with experts in this field and learn from other entities how to keep rural development alive in this area.

Hilari French, a sophomore animal science major, has been working with E-Commerce for the past two years and said businesses are receiving a lot of information from these seminars.

“For example, this helps farmers publicize their business and helps them recognize they are not limited to opportunities just within their local community,” French said.

In an effort to compare notes with other rural development interest groups and get involved in peer review, Nwoha said the E-commerce group participates in conferences when the chance is available.

In her invitation, Blanco said, “Rural communities are vital to the survival of our state and together we can revive the state’s rural economy.”