Sorry for the additional email; please note the emphasis on rural broadband throughout!
From: Agans, Suzette - RD, Washington, DC [mailto:Suzette.Agans@wdc.usda.gov]
Sent: Friday, August 22, 2014 9:23 AM
Subject: Publications, Tools, Learning, Funding, and Feedback request
PUBLICAITONS
Rural Economies Fount to Benefit from Broadband [Adoption] - http://www.sequoyahcountytimes.com/news/article_e64e283e-248c-11e4-8eb1-001a4bcf6878.html
FDIC Announces Additional Research on Community Bank Trends - http://www.agracel.com/495-fdic-announces-additional-research-on-community-bank-trends/
Most U.S. organic exports are fresh fruits and vegetables
The United States has developed an active organic trade sector in recent years. In 2013, the United States exported organic products to over 80 countries, with Canada and Mexico being the top trade partners. The U.S. Department of Commerce began tracking the trade value of some organic products in 2011, and is expanding the number of organic items tracked. Each new organic product added to the trade code system must meet minimum requirements on product value and the number of importers and exporters. In 2013, the value of tracked U.S. organic exports was $537 million. Fresh fruits/vegetables is still the top organic sector in both production and sales in the United States, and dominates the trade items currently being tracked. Fresh and chilled fruits and vegetables accounted for over 90 percent of the Nation’s total organic export sales in 2013. The top three U.S. organic exports (in value) were apples, lettuce, and grapes. A chart is found in the August 2014 Amber Waves data feature, “U.S. Organic Trade Includes Fresh Produce Exports and Tropical Imports.”
Diabetes Management in Rural Areas Takes Holistic, Community Approaches by Candi Helseth
Programs in Florida and Kentucky are helping diabetic patients better manage their health, and promoting community awareness of the disease.
CFED Recognizes 10 Standout Solutions Addressing Microbusiness Financial Capability Needs
HUD, EPA and DOT Release “Five Years of Learning from Communities and Coordinating Federal Investments” aka Partnership for Sustainable Communities
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week released “Five Years of Learning from Communities and Coordinating Federal Investments,” a report demonstrating how the three agencies are cooperating to help communities provide more housing choices, make transportation systems more efficient and reliable, and create vibrant neighborhoods that attract business development and jobs while protecting the environment.
TOOLS:
Center for Data Innovation: State Open Data Policies and Portals
This report provides a snapshot of states’ efforts to create open data policies and portals and ranks states on their progress. The six top-scoring states are Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Oklahoma, and Utah. Read more...
LEARNING
LIVABILITY AND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION - Wednesday, August 27, 2014, 11:00 AM (MDT)
The terms "sustainability" and "livability" are sometimes interchanged, but both terms can mean different things to different people. During this webinar you will learn more about the six livability principles, and how livability connects housing and transportation issues. Additional issues related to livability include land use and economic development, community health, and alternative modes of transportation.
PRESENTER
David Kack is the Director for the Small Urban and Rural Livability Center at the Western Transportation Institute - Montana State University, and has 15 years of experience specializing in transportation coordination, management, and planning. Through the Center, David hopes to show how the six livability principles can be applied to small urban and rural (and frontier) areas.
HOW TO JOIN THE WEBINAR - click on the following link and login as a Guest on the date and time of the event. https://connect.usu.edu/wrdc
QUESTIONS - Please contact the Western Rural Development Center's Amy Wengert via email to amy.wengert@usu.edu or by calling 435.797.9731.
WEBINAR: Case Studies of Funding Sources for Local Food Systems in Midwest Communities, September 16, 2014 (Tuesday), 10:00 AM CT / 11:00 AM – Eastern Time
Free - http://connect.msu.edu/ncrcrd
Support for and interest in local food systems is increasing in communities throughout the country. Much of the efforts are through “grassroots” organizations that seek funding support for their projects and programs. This project focused on seven programs in Midwest communities and how they utilized several grant sources to accomplish their goals. Linda and Christa will discuss the increased awareness in local foods and report on the case studies of funding support for community local foods programs.
About the Speakers:
Linda Naeve is an extension program specialist at Iowa State University. As a specialist in horticulture, much of her work focuses on local food production, food safety, and local food systems.
Christa Hartsook is an extension program coordinator at Iowa State University. As the small farms/acreage living coordinator, she focuses on local food production, opportunities for small farmers and homesteading.
FUNDING
Apply for Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Grants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization is accepting applications for Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Grants. Eligible activities include research, technical assistance and training for entities who wish to develop an area-wide plan for brownfields assessment, cleanup, and subsequent reuse. This funding opportunity references the Partnership for Sustainable Communities’ (PSC) Six Livability Principles and gives favorable consideration to applicants leveraging other PSC grants, including HUD’s Sustainable Communities grants. The proposal submission deadline is September 22. Learn more and apply here.
Small Grants Program for Transporting Healthy Food -
Application Deadline: October 1st
CSX and The Conservation Fund (TCF) have joined forces to help combat food insecurity! Specifically, CSX and TCF have launched a small grants program to help support our country's local transportation network to distribute fresh, healthy food to communities in need. More than 23 million Americans across the country have limited or no access to fresh produce, dairy, meats and seafood. One of the contributing factors to these “food deserts” is the lack of local infrastructure to distribute fresh food to markets. We need to connect people to food, and food to people!
This program will offer grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 to local government and nonprofit entities that distribute fresh, local foods in the 23 states where CSX operates including: AL, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, WV.
These grants will be used to address gaps in local food distribution by providing funds to enhance delivery capabilities which support a range of activities related to transportation.
>>Learn more about this program!
FCC Announces $100 Million for Rural Broadband Projects
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its report and order on rural broadband activities and outlined a budget of $100 million, which will go toward new broadband projects in rural areas. Local governments are eligible to apply for funding. The application deadline is October 14. Applicants are required to submit project details, confidential bids requesting the desired amount of support to serve specified census block, and other financial information such as ownership interest in FCC-regulated companies. Click here for more information.
Lowe's Charitable and Education Foundation Accepting Applications for Toolbox for Education Grants - DEADLINE: October 15, 2014
Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded in support of projects that have a permanent impact on a K-12 school community, such as a facility enhancement or landscaping/clean-up effort....
NCTM Accepting Applications for Classroom Research Grants for Teachers in Grades 7-12 - DEADLINE: November 7, 2014
Grants of up to $6,000 will be awarded to support and encourage classroom-based research in pre-college mathematics education....
Rural Economic Development: FCC Announces Additional Steps to Implement “Connect America Fund”
From a rulemaking notice in the August 6 FEDERAL REGISTER: Click here for the full August 6, 2014 notice.
Today the Federal Communications Commission takes further steps to implement the Connect America Fund to advance the deployment of voice and broadband-capable networks in rural, high-cost areas, including extremely high-cost areas, while ensuring that rural Americans benefit from the historic technology transitions that are transforming our nation's communications services. The Commission finalizes decisions to use on a limited scale Connect America funding for rural broadband experiments in price cap areas that will deploy new, robust broadband to consumers. The Report and Order (Order) establishes a budget for these experiments and an objective, clear cut methodology for selecting winning applications, building on the record from the Tech Transitions FNPRM, 79 FR 11366, February 28, 2014. The Commission describes the application process and announces that formal applications must be submitted by 90 days from release of the Order. The Commission will use these rural broadband experiments to explore how to structure the Phase II competitive bidding process in price cap areas and to gather valuable information about interest in deploying next generation networks in high-cost areas.
Community Grants - Deadline: Rolling Deadline
Funder: The Safeway Foundation
Support for Organizations Assisting Low-Income Communities - Deadline: Open
Funder: The Kresge Foundation
Sustainable Development Program - Deadline: Rolling
Funder: Rockefeller Brothers Fund
FEEDBACK ON INTERIM RULE REQUESTED
The Department of the Treasury today issued regulations concerning the investment and use of amounts deposited in the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund.
Section 34.302 (Allocation of Funds) describes how funds will be allocated between Alabama, Florida counties, Louisiana state government and parishes, Mississippi, and Texas.
The August 15 FEDERAL REGISTER contains the Interim Final Rule. Effective date for the Interim Final Rule: October 14, 2014. Comments on the Interim Final Rule are due: September 15, 2014.
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