FW: CED Matters - Publications, Funding, Events

2 weeks of information from our colleagues at USDA-Rural Development!! Lots of resources for rural health care.

 

Also an announcement about an Agritourism conference for business owners:

Florida Sea Grant and University of Florida invite you to attend the 2016 Gulf Coast Agritourism & Ecotourism Business Development Conference, February 18 – 19, 2016 in Pensacola, FL. A dynamic group of speakers will be providing relevant information for your start-up, established business or future plans. Great value: registration is $25 per person, includes two lunches and all conference materials. Conference lodging, session schedule, program registration and more may be found from the conference website: http://tinyurl.com/j6q5bbn.

 

PUBLICATIONS

HUD Publishes New Resources for the AFFH Rule

HUD has published the following new resources related to the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule:

Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH) Assessment Tool

AFFH Rule Guidebook

AFFH Data and Mapping Tool

AFFH FAQs

The Fair Housing Planning Process Under the AFFH Rule

AFFH Data Tool User Manual

AFFH Data Documentation

AFFH Data for Map 5

AFFH Raw Data for the Data and Mapping Tool

View the full collection of AFFH Resources and Training Material

 

Educational attainment rates were lower for rural minorities in 2014

Higher educational attainment is closely tied to economic well-being—through higher earnings, lower unemployment, and lower poverty. While educational attainment in rural (non-metro) America has improved over time, rural areas still lag urban (metro) areas in educational attainment. Moreover, within rural areas, educational attainment varies across racial and ethnic categories. In general, minority populations within rural areas have lower average levels of educational attainment. About a quarter of adults age 25 and over in the rural Black and Native American/Alaskan Native populations, and 40 percent of rural Hispanics, had not completed high school or the equivalent in 2014. These shares are considerably higher than for rural Whites, with 13 percent lacking a high school diploma. Lower attainment levels for minorities may both reflect and contribute to high rates of poverty; poverty in child­hood is highly correlated with lower academic success and graduation rates, while lower educational attainment is strongly associated with lower earnings in adulthood. This chart is found in the ERS publication, Rural America At A Glance, 2015 Edition, November 2015.

 

HUD's SHOP Program Under New Management!

HUD’s Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) is pleased to announce the transfer of the oversight and management of the Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) from the Office of Affordable Housing Programs to the Office of Rural Housing and Economic Development (ORHED), under the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development, effective December 16, 2015. View the full announcement.

 

New Hospitals and Health Care Providers Join Successful, Cutting-edge Federal Initiative That Cuts Costs and Puts Patients at the Center of Their Care
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announces the participants in its new Medicare Accountable Care Organization initiatives to improve healthcare quality and lower costs. Includes participants in a rural specific ACO model that is part of the Medicare Shared Savings Program, the ACO Investment Model (AIM).

 

Wholesome Wave and Navajo Nation Partner to Overcome Food Insecurity in Navajo Nation
Features a partnership between Wholesome Wave and Navajo Nation to improve access to healthy and nutritious food in an effort to address health disparities in remote parts of the Navajo nation.

 

In Rural Wyoming, Cops Learn New Skills To Deal With Mental Health Crises
Describes the Crisis Intervention Training being used in Wyoming and how it is preparing law enforcement officials for mental health crises since they are often the first emergency personnel to a scene of such a crisis, especially in rural areas.

 

Foundation Funding To Improve Rural Health Care
Provides a sampling of foundation funding that is supporting innovation in healthcare delivery in rural settings.
Author(s): Grantwatch
Location: Health Affairs, 35(1)
Date: 01/2016

 

Rural Medicare Advantage Plan Payment in 2015
Examines the impact of Medicare Advantage (MA) payment policy formula changes through the Affordable Care Act on MA plans and beneficiaries in rural and urban locations during 2014 and 2015.
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Date: 12/2015

 

Thrive 2015: Office of Rural Health Annual Report
Provides an overview of the VA Office of Rural Health's programs and accomplishments in 2015 aimed to improve healthcare access for rural veterans. Includes statistics and data on rural veterans.
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health

 

The dollar gained considerable strength in 2015

The value of the U.S. dollar against other major currencies strengthened considerably in 2015, accelerating a trend that began in 2011. The agricultural trade-weighted exchange rate is a broad measure of the value of the dollar against 79 foreign currencies, weighted by their share of U.S. agricultural exports. The dollar exchange rate affects the price of U.S. commodities in foreign markets, with a stronger dollar making U.S. products more expensive in terms of the local currency of importing countries. On the other hand, a stronger dollar makes U.S. imports less expensive in dollar terms. Since the dollar exchange rate affects the relative price of U.S. and foreign commodities in global markets, it can have important implications for agricultural trade. With the strengthening of the dollar in 2015, agricultural exports are expected to fall below 2014 levels, while imports are forecast to increase. ERS exchange rate projections used for the USDA Agricultural Projections to 2025 report (the current Agricultural Baseline) suggest the dollar will continue to gain strength—but at a slower pace—in 2016 and 2017, before trending lower from 2018 through 2025. This chart is based on the International Macroeconomic Data Set.

 

FUNDING

USDA Announces $8.8 Million Available to Support Food and Agricultural Sciences Education at Hispanic-Serving Institutions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of more than $8.8 million in competitive funding to support Hispanic-Serving Institutions' (HSIs) agricultural science education programs. These grants will enhance the ability of these colleges and universities to support underserved students and develop a skilled American workforce.

 

One in five households with children were food insecure at some time in 2014

In 2014, 19.2 percent of households with children were food insecure at some time during the year. Parents often are able to maintain normal or near-normal diets and meal patterns for their children, even when the parents themselves are food insecure. In about half of food-insecure households with children in 2014, only adults were food insecure (9.8 percent of households with children); in the rest, children were also food insecure. Thus, both children and adults were food insecure in 9.4 percent of households with children (3.7 million households). In 1.1 percent of households with children (422,000 households), food insecurity among children was so severe that caregivers reported that children were hungry, skipped a meal, or did not eat for a whole day because there was not enough money for food. In some households with very low food security among children, only older children may have experienced the more severe effects of food insecurity while younger children were protected from those effects. This chart appears in the ERS report, Household Food Security in the United States in 2014.

 

Seeds of Native Health
Supports Native American tribes and organizations working to eliminate food insecurity; promote access to fresh and healthy foods; and provide increased access to nutritional programs.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Feb 11, 2016
Sponsor: First Nations Development Institute

 

Christopher Reeve Foundation Quality of Life Grants
Grants to nonprofit organizations that provide services to individuals with paralysis, with special consideration given to wounded military and their families.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Feb 15, 2016
Sponsor: Christopher Reeve Foundation

 

Telehealth Resource Center Grant Program
Supports the establishment and development of Telehealth Resource Centers (TRCs) which provide technical assistance to health care organizations, health care networks, and health care providers in the implementation of telehealth programs to serve rural and medically underserved areas and populations.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Mar 4, 2016
Sponsor: Office for the Advancement of Telehealth

 

Full Circle Scholarships
Provides scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate Tribal College students.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: May 31, 2016
Sponsor: American Indian College Fund

 

Indian Health Service Health Professions Scholarship Program
Provides scholarships for American Indian and Alaska Native students enrolled in a health professions program.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Mar 28, 2016
Sponsor: Indian Health Service

 

Indian Health Service Pre-graduate Scholarship Program
Provides scholarships for American Indian and Alaska Native students to enroll in courses leading to a bachelor’s degree in pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, pre-podiatry or pre-optometry.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Mar 28, 2016
Sponsor: Indian Health Service

 

Presbyterian Hunger Program
Provides funding to programs that work to address the root causes of hunger and provide services to those experiencing hunger.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Letter of Intent (Required): Apr 30, 2016
Application Deadline: Jun 30, 2016
Sponsor: Presbyterian Hunger Program

 

Indian Health Service Preparatory Scholarship
Provides scholarships for American Indian and Alaska Native students who are enrolled in undergraduate or preparatory courses in preparation for entry to health profession schools.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Mar 28, 2016
Sponsor: Indian Health Service

 

EVENTS

CDFA Legislative Front: SSBCI Coalition Conference Call January 21 @ 1:00PM Eastern

Please join the Legislative Team for an important SSBCI Coalition conference call, on January 21, at 1:00PM, as they discuss the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) and advocacy planning for 2016. All public and private SSBCI participants are invited to join the call. Amongst other things, they will discuss the Small Business Access to Capital Act, introduced by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (NH) and Gary Peters (MI). Jeff Stout, SSBCI Director, U.S Treasury Department and Eric Silva, CDFA's Legislative Representative, will speak to the coalition.
What: State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Conference Call
When: Thursday, January 21, 2016
Time: 1:00PM ET
Dial-In: (614) 686-7333 (No passcode needed)

 

From: RA.RD.DCWA2.RDCED [mailto:RDCED@wdc.usda.gov]
Sent: Friday, January 22, 2016 10:39 AM
Subject: CED Matters - Publications, Funding, Events

 

PUBLICATIONS

Treasury, NCUA Partner to Increase Opportunities for Low-Income Credit Unions

The National Credit Union Administration and the U.S. Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund today signed an agreement that will streamline the application process for low-income credit unions to become certified as Community Development Financial Institutions. Credit unions that obtain CDFI certification can access training and competitive award programs provided by the CDFI Fund, and these resources can aid these institutions’ capacity to provide underserved communities with access to safe and affordable financial services. 

 

Here’s How the White House Plans to Address Rural America’s Struggle with Heroin
Jan 15, 2016 -- Announces President Obama's plans to launch a new interagency effort, led by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, to address heroin and opioid abuse in rural areas, among other pressing issues.
Source: The Washington Post

 

MSU Study Finds Nurse Practitioners More Likely than Medical Doctors to Work in Rural Areas
Jan 14, 2016 -- Describes recent research that found nurse practitioners are more likely than physicians to provide care in rural settings. Presents the findings to better help address disparities in healthcare access between urban and rural areas.
Source: Montana State University

 

Mortality and Life Expectancy in Rural America: Connecting the Health and Human Service Safety Nets to Improve Health Outcomes Over the Life Course
A policy brief describing the driving forces of rural health disparities in Appalachian Kentucky offering recommendations with national relevancy to address these challenges. Discusses rural and urban differences in life expectancy and mortality rates, and other significant factors including behavioral health, substance abuse, population health, trauma care, and transportation.
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
Date: 10/2015

 

FUNDING

CMS to Fund 'Accountable Health Communities' Models
Jan 13, 2016 -- Reports that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering $157 million to help build organizations that will assess social needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries across the country. This is the first time CMS has focused on health-related social needs; needs of importance to rural areas.
Source: HealthLeaders Media

 

Rural Health Research Center Cooperative Agreement
Grants to increase the amount of high quality, impartial, policy-relevant research to assist decision-makers to better understand problems faced by rural communities, and provide information that will improve access to healthcare and population health.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Mar 14, 2016
Sponsor: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

 

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program Grants
Provides grants to improve telemedicine services and distance learning services in rural areas through the use of telemedicine, computer networks, and related advanced technologies.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Mar 14, 2016
Sponsor: USDA Rural Development

 

Charles A. Frueauff Foundation Grants
Awards grants in the areas of education, human services, and health. Specific project initiatives include food and hunger; economic development; daycare programs; hospital and healthcare agencies; health screenings; health education; AIDS/HIV prevention and education; and equipment for healthcare facilities.
Geographic coverage: Available in 35 states and the District of Columbia.
Application Deadline: Jul 1, 2016
Sponsor: Charles A. Frueauff Foundation

 

EVENTS

USDA Announces Webinar Schedule for the Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grant Program

On January 27^th, February 2^nd, and February 18^th (1 – 3 pm EST) the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) will host webinars focused on the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program. These webinars will inform participants about the major eligibility and regulatory requirements of the program and will provide detailed guidance on how to submit a successful grant application.  There will also be time for participants to ask the speakers specific questions about putting together an application. To preregister, please contact Deborah Anderson or Gayle Buckner at (202) 720-0800 or email: Deborah.Anderson@wdc.usda.gov and Gayle.Buckner@wdc.usda.gov

 

Webinar Rescheduled: Q&A Session: HOME Consortia and the eCon Planning Suite

Due to the impending snow storm on the east coast, the HOME Consortia and the eCon Planning Suite Q&A Webinar scheduled for Friday, January 22, 2016 at 1:00 PM EST is Cancelled.

The webinar is rescheduled for Thursday, February 4, 2016 at 2:00 PM EST. All persons registered for the January 22, 2016 webinar do not need to register again. The registration period will also be extended until February 4, 2016 for any new registrants. You can Register Now.

 

Webinar: Are Some Rural Areas of the US Seeing a Drop in Life Expectancy and Increased Mortality?
Jan 14, 2016 -- On January 28, 2016 the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health & Human Services (NACRHHS) will hold a discussion via webcast, open to the public, on their most recent policy brief, Mortality and Life Expectancy in Rural America: Connecting the Health and Human Service Safety Nets to Improve Health Outcomes over the Life Course.
Source: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health & Human Services

 

Newsletters and email from which we gather this information include:

v  Foundation Center RFP Service -  To subscribe 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 News. To 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  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  Orton Family Foundation – email sign-up - http://www.orton.org/sign_up

 

 

FW: CED Matters - Publications, Funding, Events, and Tools

From our colleagues at USDA-Rural Development; great information about financing infrastructure!!

From: RA.RD.DCWA2.RDCED [mailto:RDCED@wdc.usda.gov]
Sent: Friday, January 08, 2016 2:38 PM
Subject: CED Matters - Publications, Funding, Events, and Tools

 

PUBLICATIONS

Efficient Strategies for Rural Transport Infrastructure

This report by Ernst and Young explains how administrations can make rural projects effective and leverage what public funds they do have available for investment growth through financial innovation, competition, and appropriate private sector engagement.

Rural Financing Best Practices: Unlocking the Development Finance Toolbox in Rural America

The Rural Financing Best Practices by CDFA explores how rural communities can leverage a wide range of tools and approaches to build on their assets, protect their resources, and make strategic investments that offer long-term benefits for residents and local businesses.

 

HUD Publishes CDBG Broadband Infrastructure FAQs

HUD has published Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitlement Program and State CDBG Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding broadband infrastructure.

HUD continues its efforts to narrow the digital divide in low-income communities served by HUD by providing, where feasible and with HUD funding, broadband infrastructure to communities in need of such infrastructure. Broadband is the common term used to refer to a very fast connection to the Internet. Such connections are also referred to as high-speed. Although HUD plans to issue regulations that will formalize its steps for narrowing the digital divide, current CDBG funds can be used for broadband installation infrastructure and service delivery.

 

One in five rural counties had child poverty rates over 33 percent

Child poverty rates varied considerably across nonmetropolitan (rural) counties according to 2009-13 county averages (data on poverty for all U.S. counties are available from the American Community Survey only for 5-year averages). According to the official poverty measure, one in five rural counties had child poverty rates over 33 percent. Child poverty has increased since the 2000 Census (which measured poverty in 1999) and the number of rural counties with child poverty rates of over 33 percent has more than doubled. Improving young adult education levels tended to lower child poverty rates over the period, but increases in single-parent households and economic recession were associated with rising child poverty. Metropolitan counties had average child poverty rates of 21 percent in 2009-13. This map appears in the July 2015 Amber Waves feature, Understanding the Geography of Growth in Rural Child Poverty.

 

Midsize and large-scale family farms dominate the production of dairy, cotton, and cash grains/soybeans

In 2014, 99 percent of U.S. farms were family farms, where the principal operator and his or her relatives owned the majority of the business. Most of U.S. farm production—68 percent—occurred on the 9 percent of farms classified as midsize or large-scale family farms having at least $350,000 in annual gross cash farm income (GCFI). Those farms together accounted for most production of dairy (87 percent of production), cotton (81 percent), and cash grains/soybeans (76 percent). Large-scale family farms alone (those with annual GCFI of $1 million or more) produced 73 percent of dairy output in 2014. Although small family farms (with less than $350,000 annual GCFI) accounted for 90 percent of U.S. farms, they contributed just 22 percent to U.S. farm production. Among some commodity specializations, though, small family farms account for a much higher share of production, accounting for over half of poultry output (mostly under production contracts) and hay. Non-family farms accounted for 10.4 percent of all production, but were most prominent in high-value crops and beef (through operating feedlots). This chart is found in America’s Diverse Family Farms: 2015 Edition, released in December 2015.

 

SSTI Examines Details of the FY16 Spending Omnibus and Tax Legislation

As recently reported in the SSTI Digest, Congressional leaders were able to reach an agreement on federal spending that averted a government shutdown. The FY16 omnibus appropriations legislation and an accompanying bill related to tax provisions were signed by President Obama on December 18. After several years of sequestration spending caps and mostly flat funding for TBED-related programs, the new agreement will bolster funding for many science and economic development initiatives, as well as extend a number of tax credits for small and high-tech businesses. In this article, SSTI takes a closer look at the changes for research and entrepreneurship funding delivered by the deal. Read more here.

 

HUD Publishes Notice CPD-15-11: Requirements for the Development and Implementation of HOME Underwriting and Subsidy Layering Guidelines

Notice CPD-15-11 provides guidance to HOME participating jurisdictions (PJs) in the development and implementation of written subsidy layering and underwriting guidelines in accordance with the HOME regulations at 24 CFR Part 92. A PJ is required to develop and use such guidelines to evaluate and ensure that the level of HOME investment does not exceed the amount that is necessary to provide quality affordable housing that is financially viable. View Notice CPD-15-11: Requirements for the Development and Implementation of HOME Underwriting and Subsidy Layering Guidelines.

 

FUNDING

CDFI Fund Opens Application Period for FY 2016 CDFI Bond Guarantee Program

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) has opened the fiscal year (FY) 2016 application period for the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program. Application materials are available on the CDFI Fund’s website in anticipation of the publication of the Notice of Guarantee Authority (NOGA) in the Federal Register later this week. The NOGA makes up to $750 million in bond guarantee authority available to eligible Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in FY 2016. Please reference the NOGA and application instructions for detailed information regarding the following application deadlines for consideration for FY 2016 bond guarantee authority.

·        CDFI Certification Applications must be submitted through AMIS by 11:59 p.m. EDT on February 12, 2016.

·        Qualified Issuer Applications must be submitted through AMIS by 11:59 p.m. EDT on March 4, 2016.

·        Guarantee Applications must be submitted through AMIS by 11:59 p.m. EDT on March 18, 2016.

·        The last day the CDFI Fund will accept questions regarding the FY 2016 application period for the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program is March 9, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. All questions must be submitted electronically to the program office: bgp@cdfi.treas.gov.

 

The FY 2016 Organic Transitions (ORG) Request for Applications (RFA) is now available for public viewing

NIFA Funding Opportunity Page:  http://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/organic-transitions-org.

Grants.gov Page: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=280858.  

This page includes a synopsis of the funding opportunity, a link to the full announcement (RFA) and the application package.

 

Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) Planning Funds Program
Grants for pediatricians to develop community-based child health projects related to medical home access, immunization services, and specific health services not otherwise available.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Jan 29, 2016
Sponsor: American Academy of Pediatrics

Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) Resident Funds Program
Grants to support pediatric residents in the planning of community-based child health initiatives that increase children’s access to medical homes, immunization services, and specific health services not otherwise available. Funding is also available for projects that focus on overweight and obesity, nutrition, or physical activity.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Jan 29, 2016
Sponsor: American Academy of Pediatrics

Lessons in Infection Control Initiative (LINC)
Awards funding to local health departments to improve healthcare and community infection control and improve capacity for responding to infectious diseases.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Feb 5, 2016
Sponsor: National Association of County and City Health Officials

Accountable Health Communities Model
Grant objective is to test whether screening beneficiaries for health-related social needs and associated referrals to and navigation of community-based services will improve quality and affordability in Medicare and Medicaid.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Letter of Intent (Required): Feb 8, 2016
Application Deadline: Mar 31, 2016
Sponsor: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Lowe's Toolbox for Education Program
Provides grants for school improvement projects, including school gardens, physical fitness areas, and walking trails.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Feb 12, 2016
Sponsor: Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation

Connections for Cardiovascular Health
Provides grants to nonprofit organizations working to improve cardiovascular health at the community level.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Feb 25, 2016
Sponsor: AstraZeneca Healthcare Foundation

Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Grant Program (SHCPQI)
The purpose of this program is to provide support to rural primary care providers for planning and implementation of quality improvement activities.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Mar 4, 2016
Sponsor: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

Children's Initiative
Funding for new programs designed to create and promote stability and resiliency for children who have witnessed domestic violence.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Letter of Intent (Required): Apr 1, 2016
Application Deadline: Aug 1, 2016
Sponsor: Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation

 

EVENTS

NADO Webinar on USDA’s Strategic Economic Community Development Program and How Rural Communities Can Apply

On January 12 from 2 – 3 p.m. ET, the National Association of Development Organizations in partnership with U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA-RD) will host an informational webinar on USDA’s new Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) program. Established under the 2014 Farm Bill (P.L. 113-79), the SECD program allows USDA-RD to reserve up to 10 percent of funding appropriated to specific programs until June 30 of each fiscal year to fund projects that support the implementation of strategic economic and community development plans across multi-jurisdictional areas.  The four Rural Development programs included under the program are: Community Facilities, Water and Environmental Programs, Rural Business Development Grants, and Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans.  The SECD program went into effect this past June and funds will be accessible during fiscal year (FY) 2016. This timely webinar will provide an overview of the SECD program, how to apply for funding, and will conclude with an in-depth question and answer session.  This webinar is free of charge and a recording will be made available to registrants afterward.  Click here to register.  For additional questions, please contact Ted Stiger at tstiger@nado.org or 202.624.8467.

 

Steps to Starting a Cooperative:  Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Are you interested in helping organize cooperatives?  Not sure how to get started?  Looking for a guide on what to do and in what order?  Join Margaret Bau, Cooperative Development Specialist with the USDA Rural Development, to learn the steps to organizing a co-op.  We will examine the steps from the perspective of a start-up co-op business initiated by a community group.  Next we will discuss how the organizing process differs for a co-op incubated by a sponsoring organization.  Finally we will outline the steps of converting an existing business to cooperative ownership.  This free USDA webinar is presented in partnership with Cooperation Works, the national association of co-op development centers and professionals.  The intended audience includes newly hired staff of co-op development centers and those engaged in community economic development.

Where:  https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/registrations/new?cid=t4fs0gilj8tf

When:   Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Time: 2:00pm – 3:30 pm EST

If using a phone: Dial: (303) 248-0285; conference ID:  20240324

If possible, please use your computer’s audio and “chat” feature instead of phone lines.

 

USDA Offers Workshops on How to Use Energy Grants

The USDA Rural Development scheduled various energy workshops to help farmers and rural small business owners learn about using the Rural Energy for America Program grant to reduce energy costs. There are four workshops scheduled in 2016, starting on January 19.

 

Newsletters and email from which we gather this information include:

v  Foundation Center RFP Service -  To subscribe 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 News. To 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  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  Orton Family Foundation – email sign-up - http://www.orton.org/sign_up