Friday, May 31, 2013

Entreprenuerial Communities Webinar - June 6 POSTPONED

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the June 6 Entrepreneurial Communities webinar on Program Evaluation has been postponed until Thursday, June 27 @ 10 am. Sorry for the inconvenience this may cause you. Please let others that are interested in this series know!

 

Dave Shideler

 

Assistant Professor and Community Development Specialist

Department of Agricultural Economics

Oklahoma State University

323 Ag Hall

Stillwater, OK 74078

405-744-6170

http://rd.okstate.edu

Follow my blog Oklahoma Extension Development Resources

 

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Stronger Economies Together (SET) Intro Video

Local Investment Strategies webinar series

Sorry to bombard your inboxes this morning!! I've been out of the office for 2 weeks, and I'm just now cleaning out my mailbox. This should be one of the final emails I send to the listserve.

Wealth Creation and Rural Livelihoods (WCRL) formed out of a national conference held in the fall of 2011. It currently serves as a social network platform for sharing information and resources about and related to wealth creation in rural America. To access the site, you will need to register – which is free and painless! (Your contact information will not be sold or shared.) I would encourage you to check out the opportunities mentioned below, specifically, regarding local investment strategies.

WCRL WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE

Greetings WCRL Members!

Welcome to the Wealth Creation and Rural Livelihoods News Update. This weekly email update will alert you to new opportunities and recent activities on www.ruralwealth.org. Just a quick note - the links below will take you directly to new posts on the website as long as you are already logged in. If you aren't logged in, you'll be asked to do so first when you click on the links below.

  • Register now for the June WCRL webinar - Thursday, June 20, 1-2 pm ET - Community Capital Raising - Tools for Investing Local. Jenny Kassan, Cutting Edge Capital, and Dan Rosenberg, Real Pickles, will share information and real experience with raising local dollars. To register, click here. Please share the link with your networks!
  • And, we'll continue the investment theme with the September 26th webinar on crowdsourcing, presented by Drew Tulchin, Social Enterprise Associates. Please note that the WCRL webinar series will take a summer break in July and August. But, if you want to organize a webinar during those months, please email Deb@e2mail.org with your ideas.
  • Check out Carol Kline's post on an upcoming conference on Linking Rural and Urban Societies and Economies.
  • May's Place-Based Branding webinar was very interesting and well attended. Check out the Webinars page for a link to a pdf of the webinar slides and the webinar recording. If you'd like to read the full report on which the webinar was based, click here.

That's all for this week! Keep an eye on ruralwealth.org for more resources and opportunities in the coming weeks.

Visit Wealth Creation and Rural Livelihoods at: http://ruralwealth.org/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

 

To control which emails you receive on Wealth Creation and Rural Livelihoods, click here

Special Feature: Agritourism

Resources focused on assisting farmers and ranchers interested in Agritourism. Provided by our colleagues at USDA-RD in Washington, DC.

 

From: Agans, Suzette - RD, Washington, DC [mailto:Suzette.Agans@wdc.usda.gov]
Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2013 3:28 PM
Subject: Part 2: Special Feature: Agritourism

 

Special Feature this week: Agritourism Resources

 

Articles and How tos:

Creating and Hosting Events at Your Agribusiness, by Kathleen M. Kelley

Publisher: Penn State University, Publish Date: August 2009, Material Type: Article (3 pages)
Many consumers can remember spending time with their families visiting apple orchards for doughnuts and cider or a local farmer’s field to pick a pumpkin. These opportunities provide children and adults with an exciting and enjoyable day. This may have prompted a return trip for the family. Research indicates that consumers desire opportunities where they and their families can have an enjoyable day together, support a local business owner, and “get back to nature.” By inviting the public to help celebrate your business’s grand opening or anniversary, the season, a holiday, or other occasion, you may also be developing a relationship that will last well after the event is over.

Charting The Path Of Your Agritourism Business: The Components Of An Effective Business Plan, by Marsha Laux

Publisher: Iowa State University, Publish Date: March 2009, Material Type: Presentation (41 pages)
A business planning overview for agritourism operators who are contemplating or beginning the process of writing a business plan. The presentation was made to the Visit Iowa Farms conference participants in March 2009. The presentation provides direction and motivation for completing and using a written business plan as well as giving an overview of the necessary components in an effective plan.

New Program Helps Market Agritourism “Marketing Agritourism Online,” a program released by North Dakota State University and University of Nebraska-Lincoln. See another article here.  (The program is available at http://go.unl.edu/agritourism)

 

Grants:

o   Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR), Request for Application:

§  FY 2013 Phase II  Text Version | PDF Version

§  FY 2013 Phase I  Text Version | PDF Version

 

o   Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion - http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/FMPP

 

o   Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Request for Applications (RFA)

o   AFRI will solicit its core program through seven separate RFAs. Applicants are encouraged to review each RFA to explore all the opportunities available to them. Additional AFRI information is available on the AFRI More Information Page.
FY 2014 Foundational Program - Release date August 15, 2013

o   FY 2013 Foundational Program - Text Version | PDF Version

 

Other Ideas/Sources: 

1.       Connect up to www.discoveramerica.com a public/private effort to market the US to international visitors.  It is my understanding that one way to connect is through your state’s main tourism bureau.

2.       National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service - https://attra.ncat.org/index.php - type in Agritourism into the search box – comes up with 8 items.

 

 

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"

 





This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.

FW: Publications, Tools, Learning, and Funding, Part 1

Resources from our colleagues at USDA – special emphasis on rural health in the funding section, and other goodies!

 

From: Agans, Suzette - RD, Washington, DC [mailto:Suzette.Agans@wdc.usda.gov]
Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2013 3:27 PM
Subject: Publications, Tools, Learning, and Funding, Part 1

 

This is Part 1, Part 2 will arrive separately as a special feature – highlighting Agritourism resources, publications etc.

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

Manufacturing Day - http://www.mfgday.com/ - See manufacturing in action across America, October 4, 2013

Manufacturing Day has been designed to expand knowledge about and improve general public perception of manufacturing careers and manufacturing's value to the U.S. economy. Manufacturing Day is for students, parents, educators, media, customers, suppliers and the community at large. Visitors will learn about real career opportunities, training, and resources. In addition, manufacturers will learn about business improvement resources and services delivered through manufacturing extension partnerships.  Is Manufacturing day coming to your community or region?

 

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has a subscription to a variety of resources, including Inventors Eye which is for and about America’s independent and small entity inventor community. Inventors Eye comes out every other month. Each issue will feature information you can use, tips on working with the USPTO; events; organizations and meetings of interest to the community; issues that impact independent and small entity inventors; and stories about people like you who have become successful inventors.  Plus a bunch others related to the business of patients and trademarks.  Check it out - http://enews.uspto.gov/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1 

 

Is U.S. manufacturing making a comeback—or is it just hype? http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/05/01/is-u-s-manufacturing-set-for-a-comeback-or-is-it-all-hype/?tid=pm_business_pop. It’s hardly news when a U.S. firm moves its manufacturing operations abroad to China. But what about when a Chinese company sets up a factory in the United States? Back for good? Or still hurting? That actually happened in January, when Lenovo, a Beijing-based computer maker, opened a new manufacturing line in Whitsett, N.C., to handle assembly of PCs, tablets, workstations and servers. The rationale? The company is expanding into the U.S. market and needs the flexibility to assemble units for speedy delivery across the country, says Jay Parker, Lenovo’s president for North America. But also — and this was crucial — the math added up. While it’s still cheaper to build things in China, those famously low Chinese wages have risen in recent years. “We reached the point where we could offset a portion of those labor costs by saving on logistics,” Parker says.

 

Farm Bill – an explanation of this important authorizing law from the Congressional Research Service - http://www.nationalaglawcenter.org/assets/crs/RS22131.pdf  (only 7 pages)

 

U.S. Broadband Availability: June 2010 - June 2012: A Broadband Brief - Supplies information on broadband availability and speed and some differences in rural compared to urban areas.
Organization: National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Date: 05 / 2013

 

What Providers Need to Know About the Health Insurance Marketplace - Helps physicians and hospitals understand and prepare for the Affordable Care Act's health insurance marketplace that will help reduce the burden of uncompensated health care. Organization: Office of Rural Health Policy. Date: 04 / 2013

Simulating the interactions between climate adaptation and conservation program design - Farmers can adapt to their local climate in many ways, including through participation in USDA programs. In regions of the country that face higher levels of drought risk, farmers are more likely to offer eligible land for enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). As a consequence, CRP is both more competitive in these regions and drought-prone counties are more likely to face a binding CRP acreage enrollment cap. When counties are near their enrollment cap, farms are less likely to offer eligible land for CRP because those offers are less likely to be accepted for enrollment. In simulations of offer rates based on observed historical data, a national increase in the county CRP acreage enrollment cap to 35 percent of cropland in each county (from the current level of 25 percent), results in more offers from eligible farmers in drought prone regions of the Great Plains and the Intermountain West. A map is found in the ERS report, The Role of Conservation Programs in Drought Risk Adaptation, ERR-148, April 2013.

 

Board-Staff Roles and Responsibilities and Lines of Authority
Shared by Nonprofit Management Services, LLC (Free)

 

Board Role Descriptions Toolkit
Shared by Vantage Point (Free)

 

 

TOOLS

 

Curriculum & Resources: 10 Reasons Why Co-ops Rock 

 

2013 National Telecommunications and Information Administration Broadband Adoption Toolkit - Collection of best practices developed by grantees of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and designed to help other agencies and organizations enhance efforts toward offering broadband connections to their communities. Projects represent urban, rural and Native American communities. Organization: National Telecommunications and Information Administration

 

State of Aging and Health in America - Provides national data available on 15 key health indicators for older adults related to health status, health behaviors, preventive care and screening, and injuries. Searchable by state and region. Organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 

U.S. Nursing Workforce: Trends in Supply and Education – Results in Brief - Brief summary of a report that analyzes data from a variety of sources to present recent trends and the current status of the registered nurse (RN) and licensed practical nurse (LPN) workforces. Organization: National Center for Health Workforce Analysis. Date: 04 / 2013

 

Department of Transportation (DOT) Launched a Livable Communities Discussion Board - The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has launched a Livable Communities Discussion Board. It is an online public forum for users to participate in discussion threads and engage with colleagues on questions and ideas related to livable communities. The site is an online community of practitioners in public, private, and non-profit agencies and organizations at the local, State, and Federal levels, who are interested in helping communities provide more transportation choices, encourage access to good jobs and affordable housing, support quality schools, and promote safer streets and roads. Click here to view the website.  Note: This appears to be open to anyone.

 

EPA Guide to Help Tribes Redevelop Petroleum Brownfield Sites - EPA today released a step-by-step guide showing how tribes can apply smart growth and economic development principles to redevelop petroleum brownfields sites in ways that maximize community involvement and benefits. Equitable Redevelopment of Petroleum Brownfields for Zuni Pueblo and Other Tribal Communities focuses on three sites located on Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico, but also provides information useful to tribes nationwide. In thousands of communities across North America, former gas stations, auto repair shops, and other sites contaminated with oil and gas threaten the environment, potentially harm human health, blight neighborhoods, and block economic development. These sites are often abandoned because assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment can be expensive, time-consuming, and legally complicated. Innovative approaches in the guide can help tribes overcome policy and other barriers to redevelopment. The document provides useful insight on area-wide planning, land use policy, site cleanup, and funding, and emphasizes the importance of building partnerships and engaging the community to build a common vision with more sustainable and equitable outcomes for all community members.

 

 

LEARNING

 

Website: National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) - NC3 is a network of education providers and corporations that supports, advances and validates new and emerging technology skills in the transportation, aviation and energy industry sectors.  http://www.nc3.net/.  It was established to address the need for strong industry partnerships with educational institutions in order to develop, implement and sustain industry-recognized portable certifications that have strong validation and assessment standards.  Look under Partners, to find certification schools etc.

 

WEBINAR: 

Grow Your Co-op & Empower Staff through Community Development, Thursday, June 20, 2013 • 2 - 3 pm, Eastern Register for Free

All seven of the cooperative principles relate to community development - a process where members come together to take collective action and generate solutions to common problems. This webinar will change the way your staff use the cooperative principles to serve members, improve their own lives, contribute to the community, and grow the cooperative. Get an introduction to community development and how it relates to member service, the growth of the cooperative and cooperative partnership. Attendees will also learn about available specialized training, and how to get access to millions of dollars in grants and below market rate loans for their co-op.  Attendees will learn how to:

  • Engage, inspire and empower staff to increase the role and impact of the cooperative in the community, while also improving their own quality of life
  • Increase the profitability of the cooperative through cooperation, concern for their community and training staff
  • Powerfully impact members by improving their lives in a meaningful way that creates: a strong brand, organic growth of new members, and use of the cooperative by existing members

Presenters

  • Jamie Chase - Founder and Instigator of Goodness, CU Strategic Planning
  • Jeff Conrad - President & CEO, Pelican State Credit Union
  • Renee Gillard - Lead Advisor, Community Development Certified Financial Counseling

Who Should Participate?
Senior management, staff, and board members from all cooperative sectors; community development and outreach coordinators; any individuals interested in accessing tools and resources for expanding their community development efforts

 

Webinar: Rural Gateway Conference Call: Strengthening Small and Emerging CDFIs in Rural America: A Discussion of Best Practices - May 29, 2013 - 2 pm EDT

This call will offer participants the opportunity to learn about the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund’s (CDFI Fund) new Capacity Building Initiative training series focused on Strengthening Small and Emerging CDFIs and its relevance throughout Rural America. 

Format of the call: Call-in instructions and additional materials will be emailed to participants on May 28, 2013. The call will consist of a 60 minute presentation by our speakers, including a Q&A session.  Please RSVP by email to rhed@hud.gov no later than close of business on May 28, 2013. Please include your name and organization.  If you have any questions, please call 1-877-RURAL-26 (1-877-787-2526).

 

WEBINAR SERIES - DOT Holding Transportation, Climate Change, and Extreme Weather Vulnerability Assessment Webinar Series

The U.S Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is holding a series of webinars in May and June on assessing the vulnerability of transportation to climate change and extreme weather events. The webinars are open to staff, State DOTs, MPOs, and other interested organizations. The first webinar is scheduled for Thursday, May 16. Click here to register and to see the full list of upcoming webinars.

 

4Good Webinar Picks - Check out these free educational events from Nonprofit Webinars, another service of 4Good. (all times are Eastern)

·         Simplified Data Mining for Direct Mail - Ron and Sue Rescigno of Rescigno’s Marketing Connections, Tuesday, 5/28, 3:00 pm

·         What to Expect During an Audit - Paul Konigstein of Accounting Management Solutions, Wednesday 5/29, 1:00 pm

·         Campaigns: Leveraging Major, Planned and Student Giving - Megan Theiling Draper of The South Carolina College of Pharmacy and Toni Jernigan of The Medical University of South Carolina
Wednesday 5/29, 3:00 pm

 

 

 

FUNDING:

 

EDA: Planning Program and Local Technical Assistance Program - Application deadline: Accepted on a continuing basis and processed as received

 

Department of Labor open funding opportunities - http://www.dol.gov/dol/grants/funding-ops.htm

 

DOT Announces Availability of $21.9 Million to Help States Strengthen Transit Safety Oversight - On May 13, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the availability of $21.9 million to help strengthen public transportation safety for millions of riders and transit workers nationwide. In addition to the funds, the agency also announced a flexible new policy, known as Safety Management Systems (SMS), which DOT has officially adopted to help guide states and transit agencies alike in managing safety risks in a proactive, cost-effective way. Click here to view the Federal Register announcement. Click here to view the original press release.

 

DOL Seeks Applications for $1.5 million in Susan Harwood Safety and Health Training Grants

On May 15, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced applications for the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program. These grants will fund training and education for workers and employers in recognizing workplace safety and health hazards and prevention measures, and understanding their rights and responsibilities. Nonprofits are eligible to apply and there is a total of $1.5 million in funding. Click here to view the grant synopsis and application. Applicants must register prior to completing the application. They are encouraged to begin the process as soon as possible, as it takes multiple days to complete. Applications must be submitted and received electronically no later than 4:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, June 13. No extensions of the deadline will be granted. Click here to view the original press release. 

 

Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention Veterans to BSN Coordinating Center, Application deadline: Jun 7, 2013
Offers funding to operate a coordinating center to support the Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention Veterans to BSN grantees by providing technical assistance, data collection, and program assessment.

 

Rural Access to Emergency Devices Grant Program (RAED),Application deadline: Jun 17, 2013
Offers grants to rural community organizations for the purchase, placement, and training in the use of automated external defibrillators.

 

340B Peer-to-Peer Program, Application deadline: Jun 30, 2013. Applicants will join a network of 340B providers that will share knowledge and collaborate with peers to improve health care design and delivery.

 

Tribal Public Health Capacity Building and Quality Improvement, Letter of Intent (Optional): Jun 17, 2013. Application deadline: Jul 15, 2013
Provides funding to improve the infrastructure and build the capacity of tribal public health systems.

 

Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) Implementation Funds Program, Application deadline: Jul 31, 2013
Funding to support pediatricians in the initial and/or pilot stage of implementing a community-based child health projects related to medical home access, health services to uninsured/underinsured, secondhand smoke exposure, immunization programs, and Native American child health.

 

Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) Planning Funds Program, Application deadline: Jul 31, 2013
Grants for pediatricians to develop innovative, community-based initiatives that increase children's access to medical homes or to specific health services not otherwise available.

 

Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) Resident Funds Program, Application deadline: Jul 31, 2013
Grants to support pediatric residents in the planning of community-based child health initiatives.

 

Health Care Innovation Awards, Letter of Intent (Required): Jun 28, 2013. Application deadline: Aug 15, 2013
Funding to test new payment and service delivery models that will deliver better care and lower costs for Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollees.

 

Mass Mentoring Project Invites Proposals from Youth Groups for Capacity Building Projects - Through the Technical Assistance Project, MMP provides resources to help organizations improve their service delivery and serve as many young people as they can in the highest quality way possible.... Deadline: August 30, 2013

 

HASTAC Invites Applications for Project: Connect-Youth Summer Programs Competition, Grants of up to $10,000 each will be awarded to support hands-on summer learning opportunities for youth focused on making the Web more civil, safe, and empowering for all.... Deadline: June 10, 2013

 

National Center for Family Literacy Invites Applications for Family Learning Literacy Programs - Grants of $175,000 will be awarded to organizations for projects that engage families in literacy and provide mentoring.... Deadline: June 24, 2013

 

ASPB Education Foundation Invites Applications for Projects to Advance Knowledge of Plants - Grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded for projects designed to enrich and promote youth, student, and general public understanding of the importance of plants.... Deadline: June 6, 2013

 

United Methodist Women Invites Applications for Financial Literacy Initiatives - Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded to nonprofits working to empower and educate their constituents through the development of financial literacy knowledge and skills.... Deadline: June 3, 2013

 

Ribbons of Hope—Invest in Women Seeks Applications From Nonprofit Organizations That Benefit Women and Girls - One grant of $100,000 will be awarded to an organization that works to promote the well-being and future prospects of women and girls.... Deadline: August 1, 2013

 

Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) - The primary objective of the RCDG program is to improve the economic condition of rural areas by assisting individuals or entities in the startup, expansion or operational improvement of rural cooperatives and other business entities. Grants are awarded competitively on an annual basis to Rural Cooperative Development Centers who in turn provide technical assistance to individuals and entities.  Program Status: OPEN

Estimated Program Funding: $6.5 million
Maximum Grant Amount: $200,000
Cost Sharing Requirement: 25 percent of the total project cost; (5 percent for 1994 Institutions)

Approximately $6.5 million is available. Applications are limited to one per applicant for a maximum of $200,000 and matching funds are required. The grant period is limited to a one-year timeframe.  Nonprofit corporations and institutions of higher education may apply.   The application deadline is July 15.

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_RCDG.html

 

 

Newsletters and email from where I gather this information include:

 

v  Foundation Center RFP Service -  To subscribe or unsubscribe, or to change your e-mail address, visit: http://foundationcenter.org/newsletters/

v  To subscribe to the RAC Health Listserv - click here to go to the subscription form.

v  Electronic newsletter of the RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, Rural Entrepreneurship NewsTo subscribe, http://team.energizingentrepreneurs.org/news2/public_html/lists/?p=subscribe  

v  Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City newsletter: http://www.kansascityfed.org/alert/

v  The npEnterprise Forum (www.npEnterprise.net ) - 5000+ subscribers discuss practical ways that organizations can advance their social missions through entrepreneurial, earned-income strategies.  http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/npEnterprise/

v  Blue Avocado Nonprofit Magazine - They have a newsletter on boards and nonprofit management, down-to-earth and useful.  http://www.blueavocado.org/

v  Rural LISC e-newsletter - http://www.lisc.org/rural

v  National Association for Development Organizations (NADO) – www.nado.org

v  ERS - A notification service is provided by USDA's Economic Research Service for Charts of Note and other research to keep you informed of the latest and most relevant research on the topics that interest you. You can subscribe at http://www.ers.usda.gov/Updates/

v  Department of Labor – Email Subscription Service - https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOL/subscriber/new?topic_id=USDOL_167

v  Good Done Great - Knowledge Sites – webinars and websites geared to nonprofits – to subscribe - http://4good.us1.list-manage.com/profile?u=04c75b52bdc230f3f32ad149d&id=7dc46f4ba6&e=53110692a1

This is the bulk of them, a few others are random.

 

 

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"

 





This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.

REMINDER


Don’t forget next week’s SET meetings. Please make plans to attend one near you. Feel free to pass along the information and invite others from your communities.
The meetings are scheduled as follows:

June 3, 2013 Wagoner County Fair Board Room, Coweta 1:30pm
June 4, 2013 Northwestern Oklahoma State, Enid 10:00am
June 5, 2013 Red River Technology Center, Duncan 10:00am
June 7, 2013 Ada Jobs Foundation, Ada 10:00am

Each meeting will also be broadcast via a live webinar. See the attached flyer for more details.


Thursday, May 16, 2013

FW: OSU News Release: Applications available for rural development program

 

Applications available for rural development program

 

By Leilana McKindra

 

STILLWATER, Okla. – County and community leaders in Oklahoma are invited to apply now for the Stronger Economics Together (SET) program, a national initiative that could have a big impact across the state.

 

Offered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development and the Regional Rural Development Centers, SET is designed to help rural counties and communities work together to create a blueprint for enhanced economic development in their region.

 

SET assists communities in thinking beyond their city and county limits, and encourages them to build the relationships and working partnerships necessary to fuel regional projects, said Dave Shideler, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension community development specialist.

 

"In order for economic development to be successful, you need a critical mass of people, resources and sometimes land. If you're not willing to think about these issues in a regional context, you're going to miss out on some opportunities," Shideler said. "SET gives counties the framework and tools to successfully work through that process."

 

This is the second time Oklahoma will participate in the SET program. Currently, 10 counties are participating in Phase III of the program. Beckham, Custer, Washita and Caddo counties make up one region, while a second region includes LaFlore, McCurtain, Haskell, Latimer, Pushmataha and Choctaw counties.

 

"Community leaders are realizing a plan of action is essential to a regional economic development effort," said Ryan McMullen, Oklahoma Director of USDA Rural Development. "This initiative uses the expertise of USDA and Cooperative Extension to help communities bring together the knowledge, skills and resources necessary to put a plan into action."

 

The nine-month program includes nine coaching sessions covering an overview of the region and participating counties, team building exercises and an intensive study of the region's economic climate and potential resources.

 

The final two sessions focus on creating a strategic plan the region can put into action.

 

Regions successfully completing the program and a voluntary review process may qualify for a $5,000 grant to help seed part of their plans.

 

Additionally, participating regions will have access to 40 hours of technical assistance from the SET coaching team made up of professionals from state and federal agencies, OSU, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service and other public and private organizations.

 

Communities that go through SET and have a regional plan in place tend to be in a much better position to earn grants and other types of support to address needs they have identified. For instance, USDA Rural Development has funded a number of projects related to SET regions.

 

"As a result of participating in SET, we hope relationships are built across communities, counties and organizations that will create bridges to some new, exciting and powerful partnerships that have the potential to empower the region to take control of its future," Shideler said.

 

Eligible regions must include three or more rural counties that are adjacent to one another. Additional criteria for eligibility may be found in the application, which is available online at http://srdc.msstate.edu/set/phase4.html (scroll down to Oklahoma).

 

Completed applications should be emailed to McMullen (ryan.mcmullen@ok.usda.gov), by June 24. For more information, contact McMullen at 405-742-1000 or Shideler at 405-744-6170 or dave.shideler@okstate.edu.

 

###


Oklahoma State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local Governments Cooperating: The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or status as a veteran, and is an equal opportunity employer.

 

 

REPORTER/MEDIA CONTACT:
Leilana McKindra
Communications Specialist
Agricultural Communications Services
140 Agriculture North
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-6792
Fax: 405-744-5739
Email: 
leilana.mckindra@okstate.edu



Leilana McKindra

Communications Specialist

Agricultural Communications Services

140 Agriculture North

Oklahoma State University

Stillwater, OK 74078

Phone: 405-744-6792

Fax: 405-744-5739

E-Mail: leilana.mckindra@okstate.edu

Monday, May 6, 2013

Applications for Stronger Economies Together (Phase IV) Now Available!



About the Stronger Economies Together (SET) Program: In many counties--especially counties with smaller populations--finding ways to create, attract, and retain jobs is a challenging process. Pursuing economic development as a single rural county--in isolation from other nearby counties--is oftentimes unproductive. In today’s global marketplace, economic development improvements are more likely to be realized when rural and metro counties work together as a multi-county region to assess, design, and implement plans that build on their assets and comparative economic strengths. That is what the SET project is all about.

Purpose: The purpose of SET is to strengthen the capacity of communities/counties in rural America to work together to develop and implement an economic development blueprint for their multi-county region, one that strategically builds on the region’s current and emerging economic strengths. In short, SET is a High Quality regional economic development Plan (HQP) development process.

Sponsors: The Stronger Economies Together (SET) Program is sponsored by USDA Rural Development (USDA RD), in partnership with the nation’s four Regional Rural Development Centers, and their land-grant university colleagues.  One of the land-grant institutions playing a key coordinating role is the Purdue University Center for Rural Development (PCRD).  

Key Benefits of SET: Each selected region will receive a number of important benefits including:
·         Valuable coaching on the core building blocks that will serve as the foundation for developing and  launching your region’s HQP.
·         In-depth data that are tailored to your region, information that helps delineate the critical drivers of your economy (including the presence or emergence of regional clusters).
·         Tools that uncover local assets and resources that can be tapped to advance your region’s economic strategies and actions.
·         Coaching and a limited amount of technical assistance (up to 40 hours over a period of one year after completion of the SET planning process) from Extension educators, USDA RD State staff, and the Regional Rural Development Centers to guide your regional team as you begin to implement your HQP.
·         Opportunity to share information and gather ideas/insights from other regions across the nation involved in the SET program.

Applications: Applications are available here. (Please read the application materials carefully, as there are specific requirements which must be met, such as the number of counties and a rural requirement.) Applications are due electronically no later than June 24, 2013 to Ryan McMullen, USDA-RD State Director at ryan.mcmullen@ok.usda.gov. An announcement of participation is expected by August 30, 2013.

Questions? If you have questions about any aspects of the SET application or the training program, please contact:
Ryan McMullen
USDA-RD State Office
405-742-1000
ryan.mcmullen@ok.usda.gov
Dave Shideler
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
405-744-6170
dave.shideler@okstate.edu

Friday, May 3, 2013

Economic Development workshop cancelled, May 8

Due to low registration, the workshop scheduled for May 8 entitled, “Economic Development: What is Extension’s Role?” has been cancelled.

 

If you have any questions, let me know.

 

Dave Shideler

 

Assistant Professor and Community Development Specialist

Department of Agricultural Economics

Oklahoma State University

323 Ag Hall

Stillwater, OK 74078

405-744-6170

http://rd.okstate.edu

Follow my blog Oklahoma Extension Development Resources

 

FW: Publications, Tools, Learning, and Funding

From our friends at USDA-RD:

Several publications and grant opportunities focused on rural health. Rural housing also gets mentioned!

 

COMMENTS REQUESTED: DOT Announces Notice of Availability of Proposed Circular and Request for Comments for the Urbanized Area Formula Program

On April 22, the U.S Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the notice of availability of proposed circular and request for comments on the Urbanized Area Formula Program. FTA has placed in the docket and on its website proposed guidance in the form of a circular to assist recipients in their implementation of the section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Program. The purpose of this proposed circular is to provide recipients of FTA financial assistance with 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 Urbanized Area Formula Program by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). Comments are now being accepted and the deadline to comment is June 21, 2013. Click here to view the original announcement including instructions to submit comments.

 

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

2 Washington Post Articles on Manufacturing – a special section of the paper on Wednesday 5/1/13:

Back to ‘Made in America?’, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/05/01/is-u-s-manufacturing-set-for-a-comeback-or-is-it-all-hype/?tid=pm_business_pop

Innovations from the Factory Floor - http://www.washingtonpost.com/postlive/innovation-the-jackpot-for-american-manufacturers/2013/04/29/dacb0f56-acf9-11e2-a8b9-2a63d75b5459_story.html

 

Civic Engagement in the Digital Age - Social networking sites have grown more important in recent years as a venue for political involvement, learning, and debate. Can online engagement lead to offline action? The Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project explores how civic engagement has changed in the digital age.

 

The National Alliance to End Homelessness released its third annual assessment, “The State of Homelessness in America 2013." Click here to download a free copy.

Women-operated farms and ranches increased in all sales classes between 1982 and 2007 - The total number of women-operated farms—where the person most responsible for day-to-day business decisions is a woman—more than doubled between 1982 and 2007. In addition, each sales class (adjusted for price changes) experienced a gain. In contrast, the number of men-operated farms declined by 10 percent, and men-operated farms increased in only the largest and smallest sales classes. Since the number of women-operated farms grew more rapidly than that of men-oper­ated farms in each sales class, women principal operators increased their share of farms in every sales class during the past 25 years. Women operators accounted for 14 percent of all farms, but their share of farms with no or very low sales was even larger, at roughly 21 percent. For sales exceeding $100,000, however, women’s share of farms remained small, in the 4- to 5-percent range. A chart is found in the ERS report, Characteristics of Women Farm Operators and Their Farms, EIB-111, April 2013.

 

Colorado Beacon Consortium: Strengthening the Capacity for Health Care Delivery Transformation in Rural Communities - Describes how physicians, hospitals, and other care providers in seven predominantly rural counties managed to build the capacity needed to exchange health data and transform clinical care. Organization: Commonwealth Fund. Date: 04 / 2013

 

Essential Community Providers: Tips to Connect with Marketplace Plans - Provides information on essential community providers, which typically serve low-income, medically underserved populations and include: 340B eligible entities, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Ryan White providers, family planning providers, Indian providers, specified hospitals (e.g., Rural Referral Centers, Critical Access Hospitals) and others.  Organization: National Academy for State Health Policy. Date: 04 / 2013

 

Health Ownership in American Indigenous Communities - Examines the efficacy of both the Indian Health Service (IHS) and the relative few tribal healthcare systems respectively in their sociopolitical contexts, to determine their utility among a financially limited IHS. Date: 04 / 2013 Journal: Rural and Remote Health

 

Rural America's Oral Health Care Needs - Policy brief that provides an overview of Rural America's oral health care needs and lists recommendations for consideration for improving oral health in rural America. Organization: National Rural Health Association Date: 02 / 2013

 

Rural Women's Health - Policy paper that provides information and statistics on the state of women's health in rural America and how legislation and national trends can affect women's health.
Organization: National Rural Health Association. Date: 01 / 2013

 

The Carsey Institute has published a brief on “Rural Natives' Perceptions of Strengths and Challenges in Their Communities.” The brief shares insights about Native Americans and Alaska Natives using data from Community and Environment in Rural America surveys and focus groups with Native leaders in one rural state. Download the brief here.

 

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City: The Spring 2013 issue of Community Connections highlights new research by the Kansas City Fed on how the low- and moderate-income (LMI) community is still struggling in the recovery to find affordable housing, jobs and credit. The issue also explores workforce development and how nonprofits can enhance their banking relationships with a better understanding of the Community Reinvestment Act. In addition, readers are invited to take an online survey on ways to continue to improve the three-year-old Community Connections.  http://kcfed.org/publications/community/connections/index.cfm?ealert=ccs0430

 

Artists Revitalize Rural Manufacturing, By Janet Kagan and Jean Greer

The manufacturing base in many rural towns of the U.S. has dwindled, but in North Carolina, combined public and private support has spurred an innovative approach: combining the creative talents of seasoned artists with the skills of local workers.

 

Like many rural communities, Siler City, North Carolina (population 7,887), retells its stories, honoring its tradition of manufacturing and its history of agriculture in contemporary terms. The town’s residents also recognize the value and necessity of strong public-private leadership and initiative, enabling local prosperity. Located in Chatham County in the Central Piedmont of North Carolina, Siler City has since the late 1990s experienced a dramatic increase in its Hispanic population (now almost 50%). In this same period, the town has benefitted from the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center’s financial support and from partnerships with the Chatham County Economic Development Corporation.  

 

But setting it apart from most other rural communities its size, Siler City is in the midst of a turn-around, one propelled by the arts,.. for the rest of the story, visit here

 

 

TOOLS

 

AARP Public Policy Institute has released a report called “Weaving it Together: A Tapestry of Transportation Funding for Older Adults.” The report identifies major sources of federal funding that providers can tap to fund transportation projects geared toward older adults and adults with physical disabilities. It includes seven case studies (including four from small and rural communities) showing how they combine federal, state and local funding to support their projects. Download a copy of the report here.  

 

2013 Flex Coordinator Manual - Contains information on the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program and is a resource for current staff as well as an orientation manual for new staff.
Organization: Technical Assistance and Services Center. Date: 2013

 

The 2013 version of the National American Indian Housing Development Handbook has been released and includes information on funding sources, homeownership strategies and a summary of relevant Indian law. Download a copy here.  

 

A wealth of data and resources – USDA Economic Research Servcie (ERS) provides a wealth of data free, online, in various forms and formats to suit users’ needs—including tools to explore the data. The offerings range from chart collections to data files, queriable applications, and interactive mapping. ERS data products cover a variety of topics and issues—from animal products and crops to the farm economy, farm practices and management, food and nutrition assistance, food choices and health, food markets and prices, food safety, international markets and trade, natural resources and environment, and the rural economy and population.


See all ERS Charts of Note

 

 

LEARNING

 

TELECONFERENCE: Civic Infrastructure: Building Powerful, Vibrant Communities, Thursday, May 9, 2013, 4-5 PM EDT  Register now!

Civic infrastructure consists of the opportunities, activities and arenas—both online and face-to-face—that allow people to connect with each other, solve problems, make decisions and celebrate community. By strengthening civic infrastructure, a community can become a more prosperous, vibrant place to live.

But what does strong civic infrastructure look like on the ground? How do you know how much of it your town has? Or needs? How can you and your town start to build it? What are other communities doing that’s been successful? Learn how to strengthen civic infrastructure in your area on this month’s free CommunityMatters® conference call, Thursday, May 9th from 4-5pm Eastern.  Featuring:

  • Sandy Heierbacher, National Coalition on Dialogue and Deliberation (NCDD)
  • Patricia Sears, Newport City Renaissance Corporation
  • Janice Thomson, Public and Stakeholder Engagement Consultant

Sandy will introduce us to civic infrastructure. She’ll speak about what we mean by civic infrastructure and why NCDD is working to strengthen it in communities across the country.

We’ll also hear from Patricia Sears of Newport City Renaissance Corporation (NCRC) in Newport, Vermont. NCRC is working to promote community power in local decision-making processes by bringing together city residents and elected officials for monthly meetings.

Janice Thomson, a Public and Stakeholder Engagement Consultant in Chicago, will be on the line to share insights and strategies for creating a community of practice focused on dialogue and deliberation to strengthen civic engagement.

 

TELECONFERENCE: Third Quarter Rural Gateway Conference Call: Economic Development Assistance in Rural America: A Discussion of Best Practices - May 9, 2013 - 2 pm EDT

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Office of Rural Housing and Economic Development (ORHED) invites you to take part in our next Peer-to-Peer conference call. Scheduled for May 9, 2013, this call will offer participants the opportunity to learn about the current issues related to economic development activities throughout Rural America.
 
Leaders of federal economic development organizations will share their knowledge of successfully implementing economic development activities that have expanded and created opportunities and improved the economy for those living in Rural America. Various organizations will have an opportunity to discuss and share issues related to economic development and the impact it has on Rural America.

Conference call participants will have the opportunity to ask questions about best practices, discuss the challenges of developing economic development activities within rural communities, and establish contacts for future reference.  Join HUD’s Office of Rural Housing and Economic Development (ORHED) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration as we engage rural community leaders in this open forum.    

Speakers will include:

  • Valerie G. Piper, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development, Community Planning and Development, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development;
  • Jackie L. Williams, Ph.D., Director, Office of Rural Housing and Economic Development, Community Planning and Development, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development;
  • Tom Guevara, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Affairs, Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce;
  • Phil Paradice, Director, Economic Development Administration’s Atlanta Regional Office, U.S. Department of Commerce; and
  • Robert E. Olson, Director, Economic Development Administration’s Denver Regional Office

Topics to be discussed:

  • Economic Development Assistance Program and upcoming Funding Opportunity Announcements
  • The types of economic development activities developed and implemented
  • Performance outcomes of the economic development activities
  • Public and Private sources of funding to carry out projects
  • Best practices and lessons-learned

Format of the call:  Call-in instructions and additional materials will be emailed to participants on May 8, 2013. The call will consist of a 60 minute presentation by our speakers, including a Q&A session. Please RSVP by email to rhed@hud.gov no later than close of business on May 8, 2013. Please include your name and organization.  If you have any questions, please call 1-877-RURAL-26 (1-877-787-2526).

 

WEBINAR:  Place-based Branding for Food Systems and Beyond: A study by the Central Appalachian Network, Registration for the May 23rd, 1-2 pm ET

Members of the Central Appalachian Network will report on a study of place-based branding applied to food systems and other sectors.

 

WEBINAR: Policy Link is offering a series of webinars in May through its Healthy Food Access Portal.  On Thursday, May 30, the title is “Resources to Create or Expand Healthy Food Retail: Public and Private Grant and Loan Programs” from 2:00–3:00 PM Eastern Time. This webinar will provide an overview of the “Find Money” section of the Healthy Food Retail Portal and provide examples of specific federal, state, and local resources that can be tapped to create or expand healthy food retail opportunities in underserved communities. Register by clicking here.  

 

 

FUNDING

 

Grants to support economic justice efforts - The Norman Foundation support efforts that strengthen the ability of communities to determine their own economic, environmental and social well-being, and that help people control those forces that affect their lives.

 

Cooperative Agreement to Support Navigators in Federally-facilitated and State Partnership Exchanges, Letter of Intent (Optional): May 1, 2013, Application deadline: Jun 7, 2013
Awards funding to entities and individuals to serve as navigators for Affordable Insurance Exchanges, assisting consumers with enrolling in qualified health plans and managing new regulations.

 

Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention Veteran’s Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing Program, Application deadline: Jun 7, 2013
Funding to develop and implement career ladder programs to increase the enrollment of veterans in bachelor's of science in nursing programs. Preference will be given to programs that benefit rural and underserved populations.

 

Aetna Foundation Regional Grants, Geographic Coverage: Available in 15 states and the District of Columbia. Application deadline: Sep 15, 2013
Funds community wellness initiatives focusing on healthy food and activity that serve low-income, underserved, or minority populations.

 

HUD is offering grants to nonprofit and public agencies to develop comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans which will transform these communities into viable, mixed-income neighborhoods by linking housing improvements with appropriate services, schools, public assets, transportation and access to jobs. Deadline: 5/28/2013. Click here for application guidelines.  

 

HUD is also offering grants to nonprofit and public agencies for research under the broad subject area of sustainability. Deadline: 5/29/2013. Click here to learn more about these research grants.

 

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION is offering funds to small rural schools to provide support to address the unique needs of rural school districts. Deadline: 5/31/2013. Click here for more information.  

 

ANNIE'S GRANTS FOR GARDENS offers funding to K-12 school gardens nationwide that connect children directly to real food. Two types of grants are provided. “Getting Started: Funds for Your New Program” offers grants of $500 to start brand-new school garden programs. “Digging Deeper: Funds for Your Existing Program” offers grants of $1,500 to enhance current school garden programs. Deadline: 5/31/2013. Visit the website here to learn more about the program.

 

FARM AID will provide grants of $3,000 to $10,000 to organizations that work to maintain a family farm system of agriculture and that promote solutions to the challenges facing rural communities. Letters of inquiry are due by June 1, 2013. Grant application guidelines are available on the Farm Aid website here.  

 

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES has announced the availability of funding for community-based projects for the Social and Economic Development Strategies (SEDS) program. The purpose of the funding is to support Native American communities in their efforts to be self-determining, healthy, culturally and linguistically vibrant and economically self-sufficient. Deadline to apply: 6/6/2013. Click here for an application and to learn more.

 

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES is offering grants to nonprofit and public agencies in the 34 states that have a state-based healthcare insurance exchange to have Health Navigators guide the uninsured through the healthcare system. Deadline: 6/7/2013. Click here for more information.

 

THE ADMINISTRTION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES is offering grants to nonprofit and public agencies to help refugees develop microenterprises and to help mainstream organizations serve refugees. Deadline to apply: 6/10/2013. Click here to learn more about this program.

 

THE MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION is seeking proposals for community improvement initiatives. Through its Region & Communities program, the foundation will award grants totaling $750,000 to scale up market-based public/private initiatives that benefit low-income people and communities in Minnesota. Deadline: 6/28/2013. To learn more about the foundation and this initiative, click here.

 

THE WELLS FARGO HOUSING FOUNDATION is seeking applications for the Homeownership Grant Program that supports local nonprofit housing organizations nationwide that help create sustainable homeownership opportunities for low- to moderate-income families. The program focuses on construction/rehab, homebuyer education and counseling, foreclosure counseling and prevention, subsidies, and home repairs. Deadline: 7/13/2013. Visit the Wells Fargo website here to submit an online application.  

 

Kendal Charitable Funds Invites Letters of Intent for Elder Abuse Projects - Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded for pilot projects that focus on the identification or prevention of financial, physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse of non-institutionalized elderly populations.... Deadline: May 15, 2013 (Letter of Intent)

 

World We Want Foundation Invites Applications From Youth for Social Change Projects - Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to youth between the ages of 13 and 25 who want to make a difference through a range of social action activities, including community service projects, service-learning projects, and social ventures....Deadline: Rolling

 

Safeway Foundation Seeks Applications for Innovative Childhood Obesity Programs - Grants of up to $100,000 will be awarded to organizations working to prevent childhood obesity in communities where Safeway companies have a presence.... Deadline: May 15, 2013

 

Foundation for Technology and Engineering Educators Invites Applications - Grants of $2,000 each will be awarded to K-12 technology and engineering teachers to encourage the integration of a quality technology and engineering education program within their school's curriculum.... Deadline: December 1, 2013

 

Captain Planet Foundation Seeks Applications for K-12 Environment-Based Projects
Seed grants of up to $500 will be awarded to high-quality educational programs designed to help children and youth understand and appreciate the world through hands-on projects that improve the environment in their schools and communities....Deadline: September 30, 2013

 

Fuel Up to Play 60 Invites Applications for K-12 Nutrition and Physical Activity Programs - Grants of up to $4,000 will be awarded to K-12 schools to help students and adults select and implement a series of activities that result in long-term changes in student nutrition and physical activity....Deadline: June 4, 2013

 

NEH Announces Applications for Humanities Collections and Reference Resources Grants

On April 19, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) announced applications for Humanities Collections and Reference Resources grants. The Humanities Collections and Reference Resources (HCRR) program supports projects that provide an essential underpinning for scholarship, education, and public programming in the humanities. Thousands of libraries, archives, museums, and historical organizations across the country maintain important collections of books and manuscripts, photographs, sound recordings and moving images, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, art and material culture, and digital objects. Funding from this program strengthens efforts to extend the life of such materials and make their intellectual content widely accessible, often through the use of digital technology. Awards are also made to create various reference resources that facilitate use of cultural materials, from works that provide basic information quickly to tools that synthesize and codify knowledge of a subject for in-depth investigation. Grants awards can be as high as $350,000 and the deadline to apply is July 18, 2013. Click here to view the original press release. Click here to view the grant synopsis.

 

National Endowment for the Arts Announces Second Round of FY2013 Art Works Grants

On April 23, the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) announced plans to award $26.3 million in grants to nonprofit national, regional, state, and local organizations nationwide. These grants support exemplary projects in thirteen artistic disciplines and fields: arts education, dance, design, folk and traditional arts, literature, local arts agencies, media arts, museums, music, opera, presenting, theater and musical theater, and visual arts. Contact NEA Public Affairs (202-682-5570) for more information. Click here to view the original announcement.

 

EPA Announces Availability Funds to Supplement Eligible Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grants

On April 18, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization (OBLM) announced the availability of an estimated $6 million in FY2013 funds to supplement eligible Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grants. Grants eligible to request supplemental funds are Brownfields RLF grants that have been previously awarded competitively under Section 104(k)(3) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) or that have transitioned to Section 104(k)(3) of CERCLA, and subject to other identified criteria (see links below). The deadline to apply is May 20, 2013. Click here to view a supporting FY2013 RLF supplemental funding process memo. Click here to view the Federal Register announcement. Click here to view the original announcement. 

 

DOT Announces Notice of Funding Availability for 2013 TIGER Funds

On April 22, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the notice of funding availability (NOFA) for the National Infrastructure Investments (TIGER Funds). The $473.8 million in funding will be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant impact on the Nation, a metropolitan area, or a region. Unlike last year, a pre-application is not required.  By law, all funds must be obligated by September 30, 2014.  Therefore, applicants must demonstrate that the project can meet all local, state, and federal requirements by June 30, 2014. DOT will start accepting applications on April 29, 2013 at www.Grants.Gov and the deadline to apply is June 3, 2013. Click here to view the full NOFA article for information about project eligibilities, application requirements, and other important information. Click here to view the TIGER webpage for more information on past awards, benefit/cost analysis, and other application resources.