Resources from USDA-RD… Of particular interest might be the Fed’s newsletter article on the food vs. fuel debate, or the Daily Yonder article highlighting that unemployment rates are lower than the US average for 2/3 of rural counties. Also, there’s materials on wind and solar energy. Enjoy!
From: Agans, Suzette - RD, Washington, DC [mailto:Suzette.Agans@wdc.usda.gov]
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2012 2:08 PM
Subject: Publications, Learning and Funding
PUBLICATIONS
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's newsletter - The 2012 drought has reignited the food versus fuel debate. After an examination of ethanol mandates as well as market-based demand for ethanol, the latest issue of the Main Street Economist concludes that it is markets, not mandates, that ultimately determine the scale of ethanol production and its use of scarce corn.
Please visit the website at: http://www.kansascityfed.org/publications/research/mse/index.cfm?ealert=mse1212
New Resource Directory Launches at cfed.org - We’re excited to announce the launch of our brand-new Resource Directory. As the newest feature of CFED’s Knowledge Center, the Resource Directory compiles publications, online toolkits, webinar recordings, comment letters, policy briefs and more into one easy-to-use location. Most importantly, the Resource Directory isn’t just for CFED’s publications; if your organization has resources it would like to share, you can submit them for possible publication to the Resource Directory today! CFED stands for Corporation for Enterprise Development which focuses on “empowering low- and moderate-income households to build and preserve assets by advancing policies and programs that help them achieve the American Dream, including buying a home, pursuing higher education, starting a business and saving for the future.”
Rural Unemployment: Daily Yonder | READ STORY - This report, compiled by Daily Yonder, shows that two-thirds of rural and exurban counties in the United States record unemployment rates lower than or equal to the national average, a four-year low in rural joblessness.
The Ford Foundation’s Wealth Creation in Rural Communities initiative has published a report documenting the fourth year of the initiative that captures lessons learned so far. You can download this report as well as other documents relating to the Wealth Creation in Rural Communities initiative here.
“Fear of Affordable Housing: Perception Vs. Reality” is an article in Shelterforce, published by The National Housing Institute. When a housing development containing affordable units is proposed, neighbors, other town residents and public officials often oppose it, claiming that a series of negative outcomes will result. But, the article asks, once affordable units are built, does anyone even realize they are there? Read the article here.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta recently published an article in its journal titled “Wanted: Jobs 2.0 in the Rural Southeast”. The authors state that rural communities have long lagged behind their city cousins in jobs and income, and some small towns still rely on attracting a single industry or factory, yet with manufacturing jobs disappearing, many face an uncertain future. Read the article here.
ARC Announces New Study on Best Practices for Economic and Community Development - http://www.arc.gov/assets/research_reports/StrategiesforEconomicImprovementinAppalachiasDistressedRuralCounties21.pdf
On November 27, researchers from the University of Tennessee held a webinar to review the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)-sponsored research study Strategies for Economic Improvement in Appalachia's Distressed Rural Counties. Based on the experiences of ten representative counties, the study examines the challenges to economic and community development efforts in rural Appalachian communities and highlights ways in which local governments, agencies, and community organizations are responding to various development issues. An online recording of the webinar will be available soon at www.arc.gov. For additional information contact Dr. Tim Ezzel, tezzell@utk.edu.
Solar Companies Seek Ways to Build an Oasis of Electricity
Renewable sources of energy are increasingly prevalent in providing power to single homes or neighborhoods. But what happens when the power is knocked out in a storm? This article from the New York Times discusses that, and more in explaining the role of renewable energy after storms. The article also brings up various ways that electrical power systems can be decentralized, with the psychological importance of having electrical power after a natural disaster bring brought up.
LEARNING
“Wind Energy: Rural People Hold the Power” is an article from the Center for Rural Affairs that shows how two rural communities made wind power work for them. Read the article here.
WEBINAR: Fundraising Resources for IDA Programs, Friday, December 14, 3:30-4:30 pm EDT / 12:30-1:30 pm PDT
Does it seem easier for your program’s IDA participants to meet their savings goals than it is to find the required non-federal contributions to match your AFI awards? We have help! We’ve added three “Tools for Success” fundraising resources to help you identify, cultivate and secure sustainable financial resources for your IDA program. During this half-hour webinar, you will learn:
- How to use the three new “Tools for Success” fundraising resources for IDA practitioners.
- What the diversity of fundraising options are and how to capitalize on them.
- What a “stellar” fundraiser looks like and the keys to their success.
Presenter:
- Devin J. Thompson, Deputy Director of Development, CFED
As the Deputy Director of Development, Devin oversees key functions and creates systems to ensure the smooth operation of the resource development office. As the manager of CFED’s grant-writing staff, he ensures that the organization is responsive to the needs and interests of funders and maintains strong and productive relationships between those funders and CFED’s program departments.
Click here to register now! The webinar is free to all interested participants. In advance of the webinar, please send any questions you would like our panelist to address during the session to Jimmy Crowell at jimmy.crowell@idaresources.org.
WEBINAR: NADO Webinar Addressing the Fiscal Cliff, December 11 at 2:00 p.m. (EST) Register here
Do you and your local elected officials know what the fiscal cliff is and how it could impact regional development organizations and local government? If not, join NADO for a free webinar.
The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO), in partnership with the Bipartisan Policy Center, will host a free webinar on the topic of the fiscal cliff and the potential impact on regional development organizations and local governments. Shai Akabas, senior policy analyst from the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington, DC-based think tank that promotes bipartisanship and works to address key challenges facing the nation, will provide an in-depth look at the fiscal cliff and the impact that it could have on the economy as a whole, and federal government spending and programs. Questions that will be addressed during the webinar include:
- What is the fiscal cliff?
- How did we get here?
- When will it occur?
- How will the fiscal cliff impact regional development organizations and local governments?
- How would the fiscal cliff affect programs like EDA and HUD-CDBG?
- What are the politics surrounding the fiscal cliff and the likelihood of it being replaced or avoided?
Spaces for the webinar are limited. RSVP today by clicking here. It will be posted to www.nado.org shortly after it occurs for those unable to attend.
WEBINAR: December 13, 2012 from 1-2:30 pm ET for Healthy Food in Health Care - How Hospitals as Anchor Institutions can help Advance Regional Food Systems, a webinar featuring Jamie Harvie, Institute for a Sustainable Future; Michelle Gottlieb, Healthy Food in Health Care; Marydale DeBor, Fresh Advantage, LLC; Leslie Schaller, ACEnet; Bob Fedyski, Rural Action. To register, click here.
WEBINAR on Wednesday, December 19th at 12:00 noon Central (1:00 Eastern): SoapBox Soaps co-founder and CEO David Simnick will share how his company went from producing soap in basement bathtubs to stocking its products at Whole Foods and other retailers. Attendees will learn strategies for initiating, securing, and growing retailer relationships, as well as how to leverage their social missions for maximum consumer impact. The live session will take place on Registration is free for SEA members and just $10 for non-members. Click here for details and registration. All registrants will receive a full video recording and printable slides, so you can sign up today and watch whenever it's convenient. If you have any questions or need assistance, please email us at webinars@se-alliance.org.
FUNDING
Central Appalachia Network’s small grants program is designed to increase the capacity of our partner organizations across Central Appalachia to strengthen and connect food-based value chains in their sub-regions, as well as to connect these partners across the region for mutual learning and support. Over the past three years, we've supported 15 non-profit organizations, social enterprises, and groups of entrepreneurs with 19 one-year grants of $5,000 to $15,000. Among other projects, these grants have:
- Funded the purchase of processing, aggregation, and distribution equipment for meat, grain, and produce value chains
- Supported trainings and workshops for vegetable producers
- Allowed CAN partners to serve as anchors for sub-regional local food networks
Learn more about last year's grantees here.
We are now accepting applications for the 2013 Small Grants Program. We expect to award 7-10 grants ranging from $5000 to $15,000 each. Due to the generous support of the One Foundation, West Virginia applicants only may request up to $20,000 each. Organizations located in the Appalachian counties of Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and throughout West Virginia are welcome to apply. Organizations without non-profit 501(c)3 status will need to apply in conjunction with a fiscal sponsor.
In order to apply, please download the complete request for proposals here: CAN Small Grants RFP
All applications should be submitted by email to can@cannetwork.org no later than 5:00 pm Eastern on Friday, December 21st, 2012.
Native Agriculture & Food Systems Initiative (NAFSI) - Deadline: December 21, 2012. Funder: First Nations Development Institute
Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Grants-Deadline: January 18, 2013. Funder: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Sparks! Ignition Grants for Libraries and Museums - Deadline: February 1, 2013. Funder: Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
THE HOME DEPOT FOUNDATION is accepting applications for its Community Impact Grants Program. Grants of up to $5,000 in the form of Home Depot gift cards are available for projects by community volunteers to improve the physical health of their communities, with an emphasis on housing and services for veterans. Deadline to apply: 12/12/2012. Learn more about this program and get an application here.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE is offering grants to support technical assistance or training to identify and evaluate solutions to water problems relating to source, storage, treatment and distribution, and to waste disposal problems relating to collection, treatment and disposal. Deadline to apply: 12/31/2012. Click here to learn more about these grants.
THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES is offering grants for projects in the formats of interactive digital media such as websites, games, mobile applications, virtual environments, streaming video or podcasts; film and television projects intended for national distribution; and radio projects intended for regional or national distribution. Deadline to apply: 1/9/2013. Learn more about this opportunity by clicking here.
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN (AAUW) EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION is offering community education grants to nonprofit organizations for projects that promote education and equity for women and girls. Special consideration is given to projects focused on K-12 and community college girls' and women's achievements in science, technology, engineering or math. Deadline to apply: 1/15/2013. Visit the AAUW website here to submit an online application.
THE NATIVE ARTS AND CULTURES FOUNDATION is offering funding through The Bridge Initiative: Arts + Health grant program that supports tribal entities, nonprofit organizations and Native programs in California that propose projects impacting health and vitality in communities throughout the state, with a focus on youth. Letters of inquiry will be accepted through 1/18/2013. Visit the Foundation’s website here for more information.
THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS will award grants to private nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives who can provide supportive services to very low-income veteran families living in or transitioning to permanent housing. Deadline to apply: 2/1/2013. For more information on these grants, click here.
THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS is offering grants through its Big Read program for community-wide reading programs. Seventy-five grants of up to $20,000 will be awarded to nonprofit organizations for community-wide reading programs that encourage reading and participation by diverse audiences. Deadline to apply: 2/5/2013. Get an application and more details about the program here.
Youth Service America and Sodexo Foundation Offer Grants for Youth-Led Hunger Service Projects - Grants of $500 will support service projects let by youth (5 to 25 years of age) that bring together community members to address childhood hunger.... Deadline: January 31, 2013
TD Bank and Arbor Day Foundation Announce Program to Support Urban Forestry Initiatives in Underserved Communities - Ten grants of $20,000 will support tree planting in current Tree City USA-designated communities within TD Bank's United States footprint....Deadline: January 31, 2013
New National Competition Launches to Reduce Affordable Housing Costs Through Innovation - Up to $250,000 in program-related investments and an additional $50,000 in grant funds will be awarded to the top entrants in a national affordable housing design competition.... Deadline: January 15, 2013
National Forest Foundation Accepting Applications for 2013 Matching Awards Program - Matching grants will be awarded for direct on-the-ground and citizen-based monitoring projects designed to benefit America's national forests and grasslands....Deadline: January 9, 2013, and July 17, 2013
Suzette M. Agans
Rural Development | Community and Economic Development
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., S.W. Stop 3254 | Washington, D.C. 20250
Phone: 202.401.1922 | Fax: 202.401.7311
www.rurdev.usda.gov
"Committed to the future of rural communities"
"Estamos dedicados al futuro de las comunidades rurales"
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