From our colleagues at USDA-Rural Development;
From: Agans, Suzette - RD, Washington, DC [mailto:Suzette.Agans@wdc.usda.gov]
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2015 11:09 AM
Subject: Publications, Learning, Tools, and Funding
PUBLICATIONS
SBA Issues Brief Examining Equity-based Crowdfunding
The Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy has released a new issue brief, Equity-based Crowdfunding: Potential Implications for Small Business Capital. Many small businesses are utilizing crowdfunding as an alternative form of funding, but one method of crowdfunding remains untapped in the United States: equity-based crowdfunding. This issue brief explores this new funding option, how it could unlock additional capital and how it works in other countries.
While only 5 percent of all crowdfunding globally is equity-based, a new regulation being promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may shift this trend. Equity-based crowdfunding was created under Title III of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act (2012), and the rule is still being written by the SEC to expand the ability for entrepreneurs to sell equity to prospective investors online. Until the SEC issues the final rule, equity-based crowdfunding for the vast majority of Americans remains off-limits. This issue brief examines the potential benefits equity-based crowdfunding could offer small businesses that have trouble obtaining capital through conventional means while looking at two case studies of equity-based crowdfunding platforms operating in Germany and England. The issue brief is available on Advocacy’s website at https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/advocacy/Issue-Brief-5-Equity-Based-Crowdfunding_2.pdf
LEARNING
Webinar: Enough is Known for Action: Credentials that Count for Youth – April 29, 2015, at 2pm Eastern, Registration
This session is the third webinar in this series for the youth community, hosted by the Chicago and San Francisco Employment and Training Administration (ETA) offices but open to all, to inspire strategic planning and action now in anticipation of the July 1, 2015 implementation date of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
Helping youth attain credentials is a critical goal of WIOA. This webinar will provide information, resources, and local examples that will inform your program's service delivery strategies for helping youth earn high school diplomas or equivalencies, and industry-recognized and postsecondary credentials that have value in the labor market. ETA staff will highlight resources that can assist providers as they work with youth to better understand the opportunities that are out there and the education, training and credentials needed to get there. Local practitioners from Arizona, California, Iowa, and Oregon will share their program models and the valuable credentials that support their program's success. The webinar will focus on four key steps to success:
- Finding high demand occupations using labor market information (LMI)
- Finding promising occupations for youth served by the workforce system
- Determining occupations with pathways to career advancement
- Discovering credentials needed for identified promising occupations
TOOLS
FHWA Releases New Planning Tools to Enhance Community and Regional Quality of Life
FHWA recently developed two new planning resources, the Community Vision Metrics and the PlaceFit tools to emphasize the connection between transportation, livability, and communities. The Community Vision Metrics tool enables planning practitioners to search for performance indicators or measures relevant to a county or community’s specific circumstances and quality of life goals. This tool may be used during the visioning and goal setting steps in the planning process. The PlaceFit tool is an investigative tool that allows the user to select primary and secondary characteristics that describe what they are looking for in a community, as a desirable place to live. Click here to listen to a recording of a recent FHWA webinar that demonstrated these two tools.
FUNDING
“Stronger Economies Together (SET)” Program Open for Regional Applications in 13 States
Stronger Economies Together (SET) is a tool that has been used by 55 rural multi-county regions across the U.S. to develop, refine, and implement economic blueprints for their regions, including CEDS. SET is a partnership between USDA Rural Development, the four Rural Regional Development Centers, the Purdue Center for Regional Development, and state-based Cooperative Extension staff. Phase V of SET is being offered in 13 states. Rural multi-county regions may apply through May 7. For more information on SET, click here. For the application forms for each state, click here. The contact people for each state are listed in that particular state’s application.
Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation Seeks Proposals for Guest Artists Program - DEADLINE: May 9, 2015
The SDCF Guest Artist Initiative is designed to help American colleges and universities bring professional stage directors and choreographers to campus as guest artists to helm college or university theater productions....
VETS Announces Availability of $4 Million under the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project; Proposals Due by May 12
The Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service has announced that a total of $4 million is available to provide an estimated 2,000 veterans with job-driven training for in-demand jobs to help them successfully transition from homelessness to sustainable housing and good civilian jobs. Homeless veterans may receive occupational, classroom and on-the-job training, as well as job search and placement assistance, including follow-up services. Funds are being awarded on a competitive basis to state and local workforce investment boards, local public agencies and nonprofit organizations, and tribal governments, including faith-based and community organizations. Click here for the grant opportunity.
Source Reduction Assistance (SRA) awards are issued annually, subject to Congressional appropriation and the quality of proposals received. Applications Due May 28, 2015.
The Environmental Protection Agency has issued Request for Proposals stating that EPA’s Regional Pollution Prevention (P2) Program Offices collectively anticipate having approximately $1,200,000 in total grant funds in Fiscal Year 2015 to issue SRA grants. SRA awards will be issued in the form of grants and/or cooperative agreements. Award selection, funding and grant oversight will be managed by the Regions. The announcement was posted on April 17 on www.grants.gov (EPA-HQ-OPPT-2015-004) and is available at http://www.epa.gov/p2/pubs/grants/srap/srap15.pdf. Collectively, the Regions are interested in funding projects that support the P2 Program’s National Emphasis Areas – 1) Climate Change Mitigation/Prevention of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 2) Food Manufacturing and 3) State or Community Approaches to Hazardous Materials Source Reduction. Proposals will need to demonstrate P2/source reduction through surveys, studies, research, investigation, experimentation, education, training and/or innovative practices. Proposals that principally support recycling, clean-up, treatment, disposal and/or energy recovery efforts (e.g., incinerating solid waste to generate electricity) will not be considered for funding.
Phoenix Society for Burn Victims Accepting Applications for 2015-16 Phoenix Education Grant - DEADLINE: May 30, 2015
Through the annual program, the society provides scholarships of up to $4,000 to burn victims who are attending college or a technical school....
Chambers of Commerce Invited to Start Young Entrepreneur Academies - DEADLINE: May 30, 2015
The thirty-week program teaches students in grades 6-12 how to generate business ideas, conduct market research, write business plans, pitch to a panel of investors, and launch their own companies....
William T. Grant Foundation Accepting Nominations for 2015 Scholars Program - DEADLINE: July 8, 2015
Grants of up to $350,000 will be awarded to projects aimed at improving our understanding of programs, policies, and practices that reduce inequality in youth outcomes....
National Alliance for Grieving Children Invites Applications for Child Bereavement Programs - DEADLINE: July 31, 2015
Grants of up to $100,000 will be awarded for programs that bring grief support services to youth from ethnically diverse or low-income communities not served by existing bereavement programs....
Home Depot Foundation Offers Grants to Support the Housing Needs of Military Veterans - DEADLINE: September 1, 2015
Grants of up to $5,000 in the form of Home Depot gift cards will be awarded to volunteer-driven projects aimed at helping veterans stay in their homes comfortably....
Captain Planet Foundation Offers Grants for Hands-On Environmental Education Activities - DEADLINE: September 30, 2015
Grants of up $2,500 will be awarded in support of high-quality educational programs that help children and youth understand and appreciate our world through hands-on learning experiences aimed at improving the environment in their schools and communities....
Creating a strong future for rural America.
At CHS we recognize we wouldn’t have the success we have today without our rural communities. For us, giving back is essential to our business.
The CHS Foundation supports education and leadership development in rural America through funding of adult education and leadership programs and is open to innovative and collaborative approaches to address emerging issues and opportunities in rural communities. But our efforts don’t stop at financial contribution. Our employees are active volunteers, many of them participating in the CHS Day of Service program that gives eligible employees paid time off for volunteering. Our CHS Service Center employees raise the equivalent of more than 3 million meals for food banks across the nation through their annual Harvest for Hunger drive. Click here to learn how to apply. Questions about funding for your community program? Call 1-800-814-0506 or email: stewardship@chsinc.com
JP Morgan & Chase – Applications due – ongoing
Four areas of focus – job readiness, financial capability, small business development, and affordable housing. To be considered for support, a potential grantee must first submit an online Letter of Inquiry. You will receive an automatic electronic notification after the Letter of Inquiry has been successfully submitted. We will notify you whether or not we are able to consider your proposal for funding at this time.
Technology for Social Good, JP Morgan & Chase link for application – Applications due ongoing
Technology is a powerful tool. Technology can transform nonprofits, helping them to work smarter and achieve more. However, for many nonprofit professionals, technology is a source of confusion and frustration. As part of our commitment to giving back to our communities, Technology for Social Good is a firmwide program focused on harnessing the technology strength and skill of our employees to develop solutions that benefit the social sector. Technology for Social Good supports local nonprofits and socially responsible businesses through various initiatives. We have several programs which help connect the needs of the social sector to our staff of skilled technology volunteers. The in-kind technology assistance provided by our teams affords organizations the opportunity to reallocate funds to other efforts that support their missions.
Suzette M. Agans
Community Economic Development
Rural Development | U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., S.W. | Washington, D.C. 20250-3254
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"
