PUBLICATIONS
Comment sought on: Federal Transit Administration Publishes Proposed Formula Grants for Rural Areas
On September 26 the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) published the proposed Formula Grants for Rural Areas: Guidance and Application Instructions for Notice and Comment. The purpose of this proposed circular is to provide recipients of FTA financial assistance with updated instructions and guidance on program administration and the grant application process. The proposed revisions to the existing circular are a result of changes made to the Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). Public comments will be accepted through November 25. Click here to view the proposed circular
EPA Report Covers Stormwater Management Practices for Vacant Lots and Brownfields
This EPA report presents information to assist communities, developers, and other stakeholders in determining the appropriateness of implementing stormwater management practices that promote infiltration at vacant parcels and brownfield sites. The new guide walks decision-makers through a series of questions to determine whether infiltration or other stormwater management approaches are appropriate for a specific brownfield property. Strategies for reducing or eliminating these risks can include removing contaminated soil or waste materials, treating soils on site, placing a cap or barrier over contaminated areas, bioremediation, or monitored natural attenuation. Click here to download the report.
Compendium of Rural Best Practices/Models Innovations to Strengthen Rural Health Care: Technology, Quality Improvement, Collaboration, and Training - Summaries of innovative programs occurring in rural areas, featuring a medical home model, a Lean/Six Sigma hospital program, a community health center telehealth program, and a statewide behavioral health network. Organization: National Rural Health Association. Date: 2013
GME in the United States: A Review of State Initiatives
Reports results from a study examining what states are doing to address issues affecting the physician workforce, including shortages in rural areas. Report introduces maps and charts showing demographics and health care workforce data by state. Organization: Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research. Date: 09 / 2013
Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2012
Report presents data on income, poverty, and health insurance coverage in the United States in both rural and urban areas based on information collected in the 2013 and earlier Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements (CPS ASEC). Includes metropolitan and outside metropolitan comparisons. Organization: U.S. Census Bureau. Date: 09 / 2013
Mobilizing Community Partnerships in Rural Communities: Strategies and Techniques
Describes how rural communities can develop and maintain organizational and community partnerships with local health departments, community health centers, healthcare organizations, offices of rural health, hospitals, and non-profit organizations. Includes stories from ORHP grantees.
Organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials. Date: 07 / 2013
TOOLS
Directory of Veterans and Military Service Organizations and State Directors of Veterans Affairs
A list of chartered and non-chartered organizations representing the needs and interests of veterans. Information provided includes the organization's status, address, phone number, fax number, website, e-mail address, and key officers. Organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
FastStats: Health of American Indian or Alaska Native Population
Contains health-related statistics for the American Indian or Alaska Native population. Statistics include: population, live births, health status, health risk factors, access to health care, mortality rates, and more. Organization: National Center for Health Statistics
New NACo Report: Digital Coast: Tools to Promote County Resilience
The National Association of Counties’ new report, Digital Coast: Tools to Promote County Resilience, provides an overview of Digital Coast, a suite of tools that can be used to analyze and communicate about coastal natural resource management issues. Digital Coast, developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal Services Center, offers powerful tools to assist users in accessing data on coastal vulnerability, simulating projections of impacts, creating visualizations of potential future scenarios, and more. The report goes in-depth on specific Digital Coast tools that address needs related to natural resource management and habitat restoration, land use and planning, and outreach and communication. It closes with an exploration of emerging trends and public policy initiatives in coastal communities and next steps for counties interested in putting Digital Coast tools into action. Click here to download the report.
WEBINAR
Webinar to Discuss the Impact of Downtown on Economic Development, October 23, from 2-3pm ET
Downtown is the heart of any community, and public spaces can provide fun, safe, gathering areas in any city center. But when these spaces are not well-maintained, they can fall into disrepair, becoming less welcoming to visitors and residents. In this webinar hosted by Community Builders, Lisa Harmon, Executive Director of the Billings Downtown Association in Billings, Montana will share her experience in public space management. She will discuss success stories and lessons learned, covering topics including: the role of Business Improvement Districts; Public Space Beautification; Cooperative safety programs; Creating grassroots committees for lasting impact; and more. . Click here to register.
FUNDING
Rural Veterans Coordination Pilot - Application deadline: Oct 4, 2013 [check the veterans site to see if extended]
Funding for organizations that will assist veterans and their families who are transitioning from military service to civilian life in rural or underserved communities. Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas - Application deadline: Oct 9, 2013 [check the veterans site to see if extended]
Awards grants to organizations that assist veterans in rural areas with transportation to VA medical centers and other VA and non-VA facilities for medical care. Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust Innovations in Rural Health Award - Application deadline: Oct 31, 2013
Award for original, innovative solutions to drive health improvement in rural communities. Source: Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust
Perlman Foundation Announces Second Annual Bridging The Gap Awards
One-time matching grants of up to $20,000 will be awarded to smaller organizations working to positively impact individuals in low-income communities in Alabama, California, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Texas.... Deadline: October 31, 2013
Foundation for Rural Education and Development Revises Eligibility Guidelines for Fall Technology Grants - Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to rural public schools for projects that enhance learning by increasing the use of technology in the classroom.... Deadline: November 15, 2013
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Invites Entries From Creative Teens
Scholarships of up to $10,000 are available to talented teen artists and writers in the United States and Canada in twenty-eight art and writing categories, including film and animation, video game design, sculpture, photography, fashion design, poetry, journalism, humor, dramatic script, and science fiction.... Deadline: Various
Arthur Vining Davis Foundations Seeks Proposals to Strengthen Secondary Education -Grants of up to $200,000 will be awarded to support innovative professional development programs that strengthen teachers, and their teaching, in grades 9-12.... Deadline: Ongoing
New Music USA Invites Submissions for New Music Project Grants
Grants of up to $20,000 are available to musicians or organizations with music projects that involve premieres of new music through a live performance or recording.... Deadline: November 4, 2013
National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Students to Service Loan Repayment Program (S2S LRP) - Application deadline: Nov 14, 2013
Provides loan repayment assistance to medical students (MD and DO) who agree to provide primary care health services in eligible Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) of greatest need. Source: National Health Service Corps
Rural Health Network Development Grant Program (RHND) - Application deadline: Nov 22, 2013. Grants for health care networks in rural areas to assist with increasing access to and maintaining the quality of health care services. Source: Office of Rural Health Policy
E3 — Effectiveness, Efficiency and Excellence in Healthcare - Application deadline: Dec 6, 2014
Supports programs that help healthcare providers implement best practices that can transform patient care. Sponsor: Cardinal Health Foundation
Fiskars' Project Orange Thumb Seeks Applications for Community Garden Grants and Makeovers - Ten organizations in the United States and Canada will receive $5,000 in cash and tools for neighborhood beautification projects, while one applicant will receive a complete garden makeover.... Deadline: December 31, 2013
Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries Accepting School Library Grant Applications - Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to help school libraries in disadvantaged communities expand, update, and diversify their book collections.... Deadline: December 2, 2013
National Forest Foundation Accepting Applications for 2014 Matching Awards Program
Matching grants ranging from $500 to more than $100,000 will be awarded for direct on-the-ground and citizen-based monitoring projects benefiting America's national forests and grasslands....Deadline: January 14, 2014
National Endowment for the Arts Releases Funding Guidelines for Our Town program
Now available on the National Endowment for the Arts website are the guidelines and application materials for Our Town, the agency's primary creative placemaking grants program. Pending availability of funding, grants will range from $25,000 to $200,000. Our Town will invest in creative and innovative projects in which communities, together with arts and/or design organizations and artists, seek to: improve their quality of life; encourage greater creative activity; foster stronger community identity and a sense of place; and revitalize economic development. Click here to learn more about the types of arts engagement, cultural planning, and design activities will be considered. The application deadline is January 13, 2014 at 11:59 PM ET. A webinar will be held on November 4 2013, 2:00pm EST to provide more information. Click here for Q&A’s about Our Town. E-mail any inquiries to OT@arts.gov.
IBM Smarter Cities Challenge Open for Applications
The IBM Smarter Cities Challenge 2014 is open for applications now through November 8. The Smarter Cities Challenge brings the skills and expertise of teams of top-talent IBMers to address the key challenges facing cities around the world. Over the past 3 years, 100 cities have been selected to receive grants. For the 2014 cycle, the Smarter Cities Challenge is open to local and regional general-purpose governing bodies, including cities, counties, prefectures, boroughs, and districts. Special districts, such as port authorities, school districts or utility districts, are not eligible for the program at this time.
Cities and regions apply to the Smarter Cities Challenge by identifying a top strategic challenge that they propose to address with IBM's support. Winning cities and regions receive a team of 5-6 IBM experts to work closely with them for a 3-week period on their proposed challenge. During the project, the IBM team gathers and analyzes all available data; meets with dozens of stakeholders in government, businesses, not-for-profits, and other organizations to gather diverse perspectives about root causes and potential solutions to the challenge at hand; and assesses success stories from other cities that might be applicable. At the end of the engagement, the IBM team delivers strategic recommendations and an implementation plan in a presentation and a written report that draw upon the technical experience and strategic insight of the IBM team, city staff, and community members.
The application consists of essay questions and a brief letter signed by the mayor or equivalent executive officer certifying the submission and designating the project as a high priority. The applicant must describe an important challenge whose solution will tangibly improve residents’ lives and is implementable by local and regional authorities, and demonstrate local commitment and capacity to engage in the Smarter Cities Challenge. Click here for more information on the program, past projects, and sample applications.
New Grants and Scholarships Available from the Foundation for Rural Education and Development
The Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED) has launched its new year of programs that benefit rural communities. Three programs are offered with up to $5K available for individual grants and scholarships. Total funding available for the upcoming year will be $125K. The Technology Grants for Rural Schools program helps meet the growing need for innovative technology in the classroom. The grants strive to help rural, public schools connect to high speed broadband, bring modern computers to every classroom, and ensure effective, engaging software and online resources are an integral part of the curriculum. Grants range from $1K - $5K. The deadline to apply is November 15. The Ethyl Grant program provides matching grants to fund projects aimed at bettering the educational and community development efforts of rural communities. The grants, ranging from $500 - $2,500, are awarded on a rolling basis throughout the year and must be matched by the community. $16K in funding is available. Bennet & Bennet, PLLC and Ericsson are the sponsors of the 2014 Ethyl Grant Program. The FRED Scholarship program, now in its 22nd year, awards $75K in scholarships to rural America's most accomplished and intelligent students. Scholarships range from $1K - $5K and are available to high school seniors and college students who are from rural communities. The deadline to apply is February 14, 2014. For more information about the FRED programs and how to apply, visit www.fred.org or contact Melissa Korzuch, Executive Director, at 202.660.2899 or melissa@fred.org.
A Blade of Grass Invites Letters of Interest for Fellowship for Socially Engaged Art - ABOG fellowships support individual artists and artists collectives working on projects that promote art as a catalyst for social change.... Deadline: December 2, 2013 (Letters of Interest)
U.S. Soccer Foundation Invites Letters of Interest for Safe Places to Play Grants - Grants of up to $200,000 will be awarded to organizations interested in building or enhancing a field space for children in underserved communities.... Deadline: Rolling
Needmor Fund Offers Support for Community Organizing Efforts
Core operating support ranging up to $40,000 is available to community organizing groups in the United States working to address social, economic, or political conditions that bar or restrict participation in democratic society.... Deadline: January 10, 2014
Suzette M. Agans
Community and Economic Development
Rural Development | U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., S.W. | Washington, D.C. 20250-3253
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"
