From our colleagues at USDA-Rural Development. There’s a particular emphasis this time on funding for multi-county planning and community food programs. At the end, I have also attached the EPA’s announcement of community development grant programs.
Enjoy!
From: RA.RD.DCWA2.RDCED [mailto:RDCED@wdc.usda.gov]
Sent: Friday, October 07, 2016 2:43 PM
Subject: CED Matters - Funding, Publications, Events and Learning
Community Economic Development (CED) Matters – Funding, Publications, Events and Learning (10/7)
FUNDING
1. Strategic Economic and Community Development
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is excited to share a new Rural Development funding opportunity authorized by Section 6025 of the 2014 Farm Bill. This new authority entitled Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) prioritizes projects that support the implementation of multi-jurisdictional plans under the Community Facilities Program, Water and Waste Disposal Program, Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program, and Rural Business Development Grant Program. Under this provision, up to 10 percent of each programs annual appropriations can be set aside and made available to eligible SECD applicants. Many communities already working together to develop multi-jurisdictional plans with the help of strategic partners including non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, university extensions, regional authorities, coalitions of counties/towns and federal special initiative coalitions such as: Stronger Economies Together, Promise Zones, Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnerships, Sustainable Communities, and Local Food, Local Places. The goal of SECD is to promote collaboration in rural communities and across Rural Development agencies and programs. Communities are incentivized to align resources, develop long-term community and economic growth strategies and engage federal, state and local partners. By promoting this regional focus USDA resources can be more effectively utilized and have a larger impact on rural capacity building and wealth creation.
2. Community Food Projects (CFP) Competitive Grants Program
In FY 2017 NIFA's CFP intends to solicit applications and fund two types of grants. The types are entitled (1) Community Food Projects (CFP) and (2) Planning Projects (PP). The primary goals of the CFP are to: Meet the food needs of low-income individuals through food distribution, community outreach to assist in participation in Federally assisted nutrition programs, or improving access to food as part of a comprehensive service; Increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for the food needs of the communities; Promote comprehensive responses to local food access, farm, and nutrition issues; and Meet specific state, local or neighborhood food and agricultural needs including needs relating to: Equipment necessary for the efficient operation of a project; Planning for long-term solutions; or The creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers. Apply for Grant/View RFA.
Closing Date: Wednesday, November 30, 2016
3. NIFA Announces the Availability of $17.7 Million to Train, Educate the Next Generation of Farmers and Ranchers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced the availability of $17.7 million in grant funding to help train and educate the next generation of agricultural producers through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP). The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program helps fund organizations implementing programs throughout the United States that train beginning farmers and ranchers, through workshops, educational teams, training and technical assistance. Eligible applicants include collaborative state, tribal, local or regionally-based networks or partnerships of public or private entities such as state cooperative extension services, community-based organizations, colleges or universities; and other organizations providing services to beginning farmers and ranchers. 2017 applications are due Dec. 8, 2016.
4. Performance Partnership Pilots (P3)
Funds for pilot sites to test outcome-focused strategies focused on improving educational, employment, physical and mental health, and other key outcomes for disconnected youth by providing the flexibility to blend funds from existing federal programs and seeking waivers for associated program requirements to allow for innovative activities otherwise not allowed within program guidelines. Priority areas include working with youth in rural and tribal communities, among others.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Oct 31, 2016
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Education
5. Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program Community Selection
As part of the Continuum of Care program, HUD will select up to 10 communities to participate in the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) to develop and execute a coordinated community approach to preventing and ending youth homelessness. Four of the selected communities will be rural. Applicants must be a collaborative registered through the 2016 Continuum of Care Program.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Nov 30, 2016
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
6. Academy of General Dentistry Foundation Grant Program
Supports oral cancer education and research programs and nonprofit community-based programs that provide quality oral health care and/or oral cancer screenings for underserved populations.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Dec 1, 2016
Sponsor: Academy of General Dentistry
7. Safer School Garden Grant
Provides funding to start a school garden.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Dec 1, 2016
Sponsor: Safer Brand
8. Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention Grant
Grants to support a comprehensive public health approach to prevent suicide in institutions of higher education, including community colleges. The distribution of awards will be equitable in terms of geography (urban, rural, and remote settings), and balanced among populations of focus and program size.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Dec 7, 2016
Sponsor: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
9. Solid Waste Management Grant Program (SWMFY2017)
Offers funds to organizations to provide technical assistance that will reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources in rural areas and improve planning and management of solid waste sites in rural areas.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Dec 31, 2016
Sponsor: USDA Rural Development
10. Water and Waste Disposal Technical Assistance and Training Grants
Grants for organizations that assist communities with water or wastewater operations through technical assistance and/or training.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Dec 31, 2016
Sponsor: USDA Rural Development
11. Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program
Provides loan repayment programs for health professions educational loans in return for full-time clinical service in Indian health programs.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Oct 13, 2017
Sponsor: Indian Health Service
12. NEA, Kresge Launch Creative Placemaking Program
The National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with the Kresge Foundation, has announced the launch of a technical assistance program for the creative placemaking field. Through the program, Kresge and the NEA will collaborate with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the National Creative Placemaking Program, and PolicyLink to provide fourteen organizations and their partners with specialized technical assistance aimed at building each organization's capacity to lead placemaking projects that result in positive short- and long-term outcomes for their community. The program also will work to clarify standard practices in creative placemaking by sharing lessons learned and will inform future funding practices for NEA's Our Town program and Kresge's own investments in the field...
PUBLICATIONS
1. Growing Rural Economies and Opportunities through Social Media
From Facebook to Snapchat, rural businesses are exploring how to use social media to improve their customer’s experience and expand their customer base. Over the last eight years, USDA and the Obama Administration have partnered with rural communities to build more opportunities that support rural small business owners, farmers and ranchers through applied research.
EVENTS/LEARNING
1. October is National Cooperative Month!
As part of this month’s celebration, USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) is holding a series of training and informational webinars to showcase the many important ways cooperatives empower our daily lives. For the full calendar of events for Co-op Month, visit http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/cooperative-programs, or to request special accommodations, please contact rdced@wdc.usda.gov.
a. Oct. 11, 2016 Cooperative Board Training 101
1-2:15 pm EST Speaker: Margaret Bau, RBS Cooperative Programs
Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/x3d3w44ec7ex&eom
b. Oct. 13, 2016 Cooperative Legal Basics
2-3:15 pm EST Facilitator: Meegan Moriarty, RBS Cooperative Programs
Speakers: Todd R. Eskelsen, Schiff Hardin, LLP and Marlis Carson, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/fjn0raup3sgh&eom
c. Oct. 18, 2016 When the Last Grocery Store Closes – Exploring Cooperative Options
2-3:15 pm EST Facilitator: Margaret Bau, RBS Cooperative Programs
Speakers: Dr. David Proctor, Rural Grocery Initiative, Kansas State University and Marnie Thompson, Fund 4 Democratic Communities
Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/v92f7ysqo9k0&eom
d. Oct 19, 2016 Farm to School and the Role of Cooperatives – Producer and Buyer Perspectives
2-3:15 pm EST Facilitator: James Barham, RBS Cooperative Programs
Speakers: Andrea Northup, USDA Food Nutrition Service, Jennie Rengert, Fifth Season Cooperative, Krista Garand, Durango School District, and Janet Fogel, Mancos School District
Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/jlm99m0d6tul&eom
e. Oct. 25, 2016 #CoopYouth: Telling our Stories
2-3:15 pm EST Facilitator: Scott Cessarich, RBS Cooperative Programs
Speakers: Jesus Lucero, USA Cooperative Youth Council, Hnin Hnin, Cooperative Food Empowerment Directive, and Morgan Crawford, North American Students of Cooperation
Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/57tvjzrooxe4&eom
f. Oct. 27, 2016 Celebrating Diversity: Race and Ethnicity in the Cooperative Movement
10:30 am-12 pm EST Facilitator: Claudette Fernandez, RBS Cooperative Programs / Community Economic Development
(Whitten Bldg - 107A) Speakers: Cornelius Blanding, Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Mai Nguyen, California Center for Cooperative Development, and Nikki Marin Baena, Southern Reparations Loan Fund
Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/8gljluzevxt8&eom
2. The Arts Block: A Case Study on Ethical Redevelopment
On October 18 at 1pm EDT the Community Solutions - Community of Practice is hosting The Arts Block: A Case Study on Ethical Redevelopment, a webinar with guest presenters Theaster Gates and Calvin L. Holmes, President of Chicago Community Loan Fund. In this webinar, Gates will provide an overview of how he and his team (in partnership with a range of local partners, funders, and philanthropist) leverage arts and culture as an economic engine on Chicago’s disinvested South Side, and the people-first ethical principles that guide their work in community development. Holmes will discuss community building, housing, and workforce development. The Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF) is one of largest 10 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) in Illinois. CCLF is a major partner of the Stony Island Arts Bank - a hybrid gallery, media archive, library and community center. The radically restored building serves as a space for neighborhood residents to preserve, access, reimagine and share their heritage. This is the 8th in a series of bi-weekly innovation calls for the Community of Practice to gather on a specific topic.
3. NIFA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Informational Webinar
The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program helps fund organizations implementing programs throughout the United States that train beginning farmers and ranchers, through workshops, educational teams, training and technical assistance. Eligible applicants include collaborative state, tribal, local or regionally-based networks or partnerships of public or private entities such as state cooperative extension services, community-based organizations, colleges or universities; and other organizations providing services to beginning farmers and ranchers. NIFA will host a free informational webinar for interested applicants on Oct. 26 from 1-3 p.m. EST.
4. Welcoming America Toolkit Describes Tactics to Support Immigrant Entrepreneurs
Although much has been written on the value of immigrant entrepreneurship, relatively little research to date focuses on strategies for supporting these individuals. Welcoming America, a national nonprofit and non-partisan organization focused on immigrant inclusion, has addressed this gap by releasing a how-to-guide for those interested in supporting immigrant entrepreneurship in their cities. Produced with Global Detroit, an initiative focused on southeast Michigan’s international community, Seeds of Growth describes practical ways for regions across the nation to leverage opportunities associated with including immigrant entrepreneurs in local economic development strategies and programs. Read more...
5. Webinar Series Will Get You Ready and Set to “GO” on a Community Food Sovereignty Assessment
First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) has scheduled a new series of four free First Nations Knowledge webinars that will help Native organizations and tribal communities get ready and set to “GO” on conducting a Community Food Sovereignty Assessment, with the last in the series focusing on moving forward with action planning after the assessment. Please register for each webinar individually:
a. October 18, 2016 @ 1:00 p.m. MDT
“Ready! Starting the Community Food Sovereignty Assessment Process”
Understanding food sovereignty and what it means to each community or tribe; a few examples of food sovereignty work in Indian Country; defining and engaging the community to be assessed; identifying the “core group” who will work on the Community Food Sovereignty Assessment (CFSA); developing a timeline for the assessment work. Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7092073577509146114
b. November 15, 2016 @ 1:00 p.m. MST
"Set! Designing your Community Food Sovereignty Assessment"
Identifying priority issues for focus in the CFSA; designing the assessment tools, methods and questions; publicizing the work and setting up logistics for success. An organization or tribe will share experiences and best practices. Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7049058483607326210
c. December 13, 2016 @ 1:00 p.m. MST
"Go! Conducting Your Community Food Sovereignty Assessment"
Conducting the assessment; analyzing the data; dissemination and confidentiality of data; how to use data for strategic/project planning and grant proposals; how to use data for policy development. An organization or tribe will share experiences and best practices. Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3422440325667269378
d. January 17, 2017 @ 1:00 p.m. MST
"Moving Forward! Community-Based Policy and Action Plans"
Developing action plans from the CFSA data; experience gained through community engagement during the CFSA. This webinar will highlight success stories from two organizations or tribes. Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2798412501323018754
For more CED-related content please subscribe to the following:
Interagency Working Group on Cooperative Development
Cooperative Reports, Publications, and Statistics
Placed Based Initiatives & Regional Programs
Community Economic Development
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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today invited rural communities to apply for planning assistance to develop strategies that help grow the economy and revitalize downtown neighborhoods. EPA is offering this assistance as part of Rural Advantage, a suite of federal economic development planning assistance programs for rural communities.
“Rural Advantage is helping communities reinvent themselves in ways that are good for the economy and the environment,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “We are excited to partner with communities that want to use their unique rural assets to create a brighter, healthier future.
Communities may apply for assistance through the following programs:
• Local Foods, Local Places (LFLP), which helps communities leverage local food enterprise to diversify their economy and renew their downtowns.
• Cool & Connected, which helps communities use broadband service to create walkable, connected, economically successful neighborhoods.
• Healthy Places for Healthy People, a new program that will help communities partner with health care facilities to catalyze downtown revitalization and to improve options for healthy living and economic opportunity.
Rural Advantage is part of the Obama Administration's commitment to place-based strategies to help communities develop competitive advantages. In these places, federal experts are working side by side with residents and local leaders to create customized solutions, bolstering coordination across agencies and improving how we interact with and serve community partners.
Under the Obama Administration, EPA and federal partners have provided rural advantage assistance to 83 communities, to date. Sixty-eight communities have been selected for assistance through Local Foods, Local Places, and 15 communities have received assistance through Cool & Connected, ten of which are in Appalachia.
In 2012, Williamson, W Va., was selected to participate in the Livable Communities in Appalachia program, the predecessor to LFLP. Through that effort, a team of small-town development experts worked with Sustainable Williamson to create an action plan tailored to achieving the town’s goals, including improving access to food to realize better health outcomes.
Upon implementing the plan, Sustainable Williamson received an $80,000 planning grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration. That grant helped create a Federally Qualified Health Center that later received an additional $650,000 to support clinic operations. Sustainable Williamson also established a downtown farmers’ market and community garden that increased access to healthy foods for Williamson residents. The Williamson Health and Wellness Center also received LFLP assistance, in 2015, to provide support to new entrepreneurs starting up their businesses in the local food and health care sectors, and to expand the community’s innovative approaches to creating a culture of health.
In Montrose, Co., the Cool & Connected action plan helped advance Proximity Space, an award-winning coworking project, and link it to the community’s efforts to build a walkable and investment-ready downtown. Coworking space allows people to access high-speed internet, conference rooms, and office equipment, and is one of many ways that small towns can leverage broadband to boost main street development.
Communities selected for this latest round of assistance will work with an EPA-supported team of experts, including through a two-day workshop, to develop strategies and action plans that enable them to realize their local revitalization goals. The team will include people with expertise in community development, and representatives of the federal agencies that sponsor the three programs so communities can build connections and take better advantage of federal programs and resources.
Working with federal partners, EPA will select thirty or more communities for assistance through a competitive process.
EPA’s Rural Advantage federal partners are the United States Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Transportation, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Delta Regional Authority and the Economic Development Administration.
Communities may apply by submitting letters of interest by November 6. For more information and to submit an application, see:https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth
Subscribe to EPA's smart growth listserv by sending a blank email tosmart_growth_list_serve-subscribe@lists.epa.gov. Subscribers will receive occasional emails from the Office of Sustainable Communities about events, publications, and more.
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