Crapo Plans Housing Announcement, Hearings On Small Business & Ag Trade

Washington, DC - Amidst market changes and trade agreements that could affect Idaho business and agriculture, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will hold U.S. Senate subcommittee hearings and regional meetings on business and trade in Idaho this month. Crapo is a member of both the Senate Banking Committee, which oversees international trade issues, and the Senate Small Business Committee.During his travel across much of the state this month, Crapo will also honor Idahoans with his Sprit of Idaho Award and join with Congressman C.L. â??Butchâ?? Otter and representatives from mortgage lender Fannie Mae to announce an Idaho-based housing initiative in Coeur dâ??Alene that could aid up to 40,000 Idahoans. Friday, February 13th:Weiser6:00 p.m. Crapo is guest speaker at the Washington County Lincoln Day Banquet at the Elks LodgeSaturday, February 14th:Cascade8:30 a.m. Crapo is keynote speaker at the Valley County Lincoln Day Breakfast at the American Legion Hall.Grangeville11:30 a.m. Crapo is keynote speaker at the Idaho County Lincoln Day Luncheon at the Grangeville Senior Citizens Center.Lewiston3:00 - 4:45 p.m. Crapo chairs Agriculture Trade Forum at the Lewiston Community Center, 1424 Main Street. Idaho farm and trade groups, local producers and business leaders expected to attend. Information gathered at the trade forums will be presented to U.S. trade negotiators and Senators and staff in Washington, DC. 6:30 p.m. Crapo is keynote speaker at the Nez Perce County Lincoln Day Dinner at the Red Lion Hotel.Sunday, February 15th:MoscowNoon Crapo is keynote speaker at the Latah County Lincoln Day Luncheon at the 1912 Building.Coeur dâ??Alene7:00 p.m. Crapo is keynote speaker at the Kootenai County Lincoln Day Dinner at the Coeur dâ??Alene Resort.Monday, February 16th:Coeur dâ??Alene8:00 a.m. - Noon Crapo will chair a U.S. Small Business Committee field hearing on funding and federal programs at the Coeur dâ??Alene Resort, Bay 3 Conference Area.The hearing entitled â??Accessing Capital and Business Assistance: Are Current Programs Meeting the Needs of Rural Small Business?â?? comes at a time when Idaho businesses have registered concern that loans offered through SBA programs could run out.Noon Crapo joins Congressman C.L. â??Butchâ?? Otter and Fannie Mae Deputy Regional Administrator Craige Naylor to announce a new housing initiative for Idaho. Press conference scheduled at the Greenbrier Inn, Downtown Coeur dâ??Alene.Emmett6:00 p.m. Crapo speaks at the Gem County Lincoln Day Dinner at the Cloverleaf Restaurant.Tuesday, February 17th:Boise7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Crapo joins Senator Larry Craig at a breakfast event opening the Health Care Conference on Medicare at the Boise Centre on the GroveJerome11:30 a.m. Crapo is keynote speaker for the Jerome/Lincoln/Gooding County Lincoln Day Luncheon, at the Sawtooth Inn in Jerome.Twin Falls3:00 p.m. Crapo will present his Spirit of Idaho Award to local Vietnam veterans Lloyd DeWitt and Boyd Nelson, Project Kids 2 Kids volunteer coordinator Jacquie Law, and Buhl resident Ray Gill for his heroics in a local rescue effort. The awards will be given at the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce offices.4:30 p.m. Crapo speaks at and participates in the Congressional Awards program honoring local students. The program will be held at Oâ??Leary Junior High School in Twin Falls.6:30 p.m. Crapo will speak at the Twin Falls County Lincoln Day Dinner at the Turf Club.Wednesday, February 18th:Hagerman8:00 a.m. Crapo will join with local administrators and researchers for a tour of the University of Idaho Hagerman Fish Culture Experiment Station. Idaho leads the nation in trout production and much of the research on trout and hatchery production is centered here at the Hagerman aquaculture facility. Crapo will discuss federal appropriations and agriculture research during the visit.Mountain HomeNoon Crapo will speak at the Elmore County Lincoln Day Luncheon at the American Legion Hall.Nampa4:30 p.m. Crapo joins U.S. Small Business Administration and Hispanic Business Association leaders to sign a Memorandum of Understanding opening new opportunities for Hispanic business training in Idaho. Announcement is scheduled for the Hispanic Cultural Center of Idaho (HCCI).6:30 p.m. Crapo is keynote speaker at the Canyon County Lincoln Day Banquet held at the Nampa Civic Center.Thursday, February 19th:Nampa9:00 a.m. Crapo joins with the Hispanic Financial Education Coalition and local banking and credit union lending professionals to update efforts at statewide financial training and homeownership for Idahoâ??s minority population. The â??Train the Trainerâ?? event is scheduled for the Hispanic Cultural Center of Idaho.Boise10:30 a.m. Crapo makes an official announcement concerning his campaign for the United States Senate on the steps of the Idaho Statehouse.Emmett2:30 p.m. Crapo joins Governor Dirk Kempthorne, U.S. Economic Development Administration Chief of Staff Sandy Baruah, Idaho Representative Kathy Skippen, Gem County Commissioners, and others to announce federal and local grants totaling nearly $3 million aimed at creating jobs and a business park in Emmett. Announcement will take place on the steps of the Gem County Courthouse.Boise5:30 p.m. Crapo attends the Ada County Lincoln Day Banquet at the Boise Centre on the Grove.Friday, February 20th:Soda SpringsNoon Crapo speaks at the Caribou County Lincoln Day Luncheon at the Senior Citizens Center.Idaho Falls6:00 p.m. Crapo speaks at the Region 7 Lincoln Day Dinner at the Shilo Inn.Saturday, February 21st:Montpelier11:30 a.m. Crapo speaks at the Bear Lake County Lincoln Day Luncheon at the Ranch Hand Truck Stop.Pocatello6:00 p.m. Crapo speaks at the Bannock County Lincoln Day Dinner at the Red Lion Hotel.# # #