When people think of international trade, rarely does Kearney, Nebraska come to mind. However congressman Adrian smith and the University of Nebraska - Kearney are trying to build the Central Nebraska World Trade Center.
  "This would be a way to enhance out capability in this region to provide resources, training, connections, ideals, all kinds of things to help entrepreneurs develop markets overseas," said Vice-Chancellor Curt Carlson.
  Congressman Smith requested $1.4 million of appropriation money to fund the project in 2009, saying it will "provide specific support for growth oriented small businesses needing access to larger markets, a challenge for non-metropolitan cities." Congress gave only $100,000.
   "This $100,000 will be sufficient enough to build and equip a laboratory for students so that they can do research, focus groups, online work to do marketing research, and outreach," said Carlson.
    Based on a model from the University of Montana, the center would help small businesses enter international markets.
    "I think more than that this is building on the commitment to internationalization of this
institution that's been going on for a long time."
     Although the market research laboratory is only a small portion of the larger vision of the university, the dreams of the full center continue on.
    "The idea is not dead, its a good idea, where it goes from here, is subject to the vagaries of politics," Carlson said.
    Many rural universities get financing through federal appropriations. And although Congressman Smith did not request the money this fiscal year, UNK officials hope for more financing.