FW: Publications, Learning, Funding, Feedback Request

Attached is a flyer explaining the Stronger Economies Together program, which provides technical assistance and facilitation for creating a regional (i.e., 3 county minimum) strategic plan focused on economic development; deadline for applications is June 8, 2015!! Please share with colleagues, elected officials and others who might support such an effort.

 

Below is the weekly resources email from our colleagues at USDA in Washington, DC. There’s a heavy focus on rural health this week!

 

From: Agans, Suzette - RD, Washington, DC [mailto:Suzette.Agans@wdc.usda.gov]
Sent: Friday, May 15, 2015 3:29 PM
Subject: Publications, Learning, Funding, Feedback Request

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

Frontier and Remote (FAR) codes pinpoint Nation’s most remote regions

Small population size and geographic remoteness provide benefits for residents and visitors alike, but those same characteristics often create economic and social challenges. Job creation, population retention, and provision of goods/services (such as groceries, health care, clothing, household appliances, and other consumer items) require increased efforts in very rural, remote communities. The newly updated ERS Frontier and Remote area (FAR) codes identify remote areas of the United States using travel times to nearby cities. Results for level one FAR codes (which include ZIP code areas with majority of their population living 60 minutes or more from urban areas of 50,000 or more people) show that 12.2 million Americans reside more than a one-hour drive from any city of 50,000 or more people. They constitute just 3.9 percent of the U.S. population living in territory covering 52 percent of U.S. land area. Wyoming has the highest share of its population living in FAR level one ZIP code areas (57 percent), followed by Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Alaska. A map, along with the full detail of FAR codes levels 1-4 may be found in the ERS data product, Frontier and Remote Area Codes, updated April 2015.

 

 

LEARNING

 

Webinar: Exploring the Health of Counties in Rural America, May 18 from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is hosting a webinar to explore how the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps Program can help your work on rural health issues, economic development, and poverty alleviation.  Click here to learn more and register for the webinar.   

 

 

FUNDING

 

Farmers’ Market SNAP Support Grants - Letter of Intent (Required): May 18, 2015, Application deadline: Jun 18, 2015
Awards funding to support the establishment, expansion, and promotion of SNAP/Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) services at farmers’ markets.
Sponsor: USDA Food and Nutrition Service

 

Seeds of Native Health - Application deadline: May 21, 2015
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. Sponsor: First Nations Development Institute

 

DTA Foundation Seeks Applications for 2015 Oral Health Grants Program - DEADLINE: May 27, 2015

Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded in support of innovative projects designed to improve oral health care for the growing number of needy Americans....

 

DTA Foundation Invites Applications for Dental Lifeline Network Grant - DEADLINE: May 27, 2015

Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded to innovative projects specifically related to providing access to comprehensive dentistry for individuals with disabilities or who are elderly or medically compromised....

 

ACCP Issues Request for Applications for Comprehensive Medication Management Studies - DEADLINE: June 1, 2015 (Letters of Intent)

A total of $2.5 million is available to fund up to two research proposals focused on the impact of CMM provided by qualified clinical pharmacists embedded in primary care practices as integral members of the healthcare team....

 

National Health Service Corps Recruitment and Retention Assistance Site Application - Application deadline: Jun 2, 2015
Provides recruitment and retention assistance to healthcare facilities located in a Health Professional Shortage Area.
Sponsor: National Health Service Corps

 

Rural Child Poverty Telehealth Network Grant Program - Application deadline: Jun 22, 2015
Awards funding to telehealth networks that integrate social and human service organizations. Networks must demonstrate how integration of social and human service organizations can expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of healthcare services for children living in impoverished rural areas.
Sponsor: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

 

Society of Professional Journalist Invites Nominations for First Amendment Award - DEADLINE: June 22, 2015

The annual award honors those who have fought to protect and preserve one or more of the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment with a $10,000 cash award and an engraved crystal....

 

Telehealth Focused Rural Health Research Center Cooperative Agreement- Application deadline: Jun 29, 2015
Awards funding to operate a telehealth focused research center which will work to assist rural health providers and governmental decision makers by increasing the amount of policy-relevant telehealth related research. Sponsor: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

 

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants and Guaranteed Loans - Application deadline: Jun 30, 2015. Provides financial assistance to agriculture producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install, and construct renewable energy systems. An example of a potential funded project may be the installation of solar panels for hospitals or clinics to improve energy costs.
Sponsor: USDA Rural Development

 

ABA Community Engagement Foundation Accepting Entries for Community Commitment Awards - DEADLINE: July 1, 2015

The awards recognize the contributions of banks of all asset sizes to the growth and vitality of their communities....

 

Ball Brothers Foundation Accepting Application for Cycle II Grants - DEADLINE: July 15, 2015 (Letters of Intent)

Grants of up to $100,000 will be awarded to projects that fall into one of the foundation's six broad subject areas — education, the arts, human services, community improvement/development, health, and the environment....

 

Innovating for the Underserved Challenge - Application deadline: Jul 22, 2015
Gives monetary awards for ideas that show how innovative technology can address access to services, childhood obesity, or connecting data between systems. Proposed innovations must show how technology and data can address challenges faced by underserved and vulnerable populations.
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

 

Healthy Eating Research - Building the Evidence to Prevent Childhood Obesity - Letter of Intent (Required): Aug 26, 2015; Application deadline: Oct 7, 2015
Supports research on environmental and policy strategies designed to promote healthy eating among children to prevent childhood obesity, especially among groups at highest risk for obesity: Black, Latino, American Indian, Asian/Pacific Islander children, and children who live in lower-income communities.
Sponsor: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

 

Jim Meeks, PA-C, DFAAPA Memorial AFPPA Student Scholarship - Application deadline: Sep 1, 2015
Offers a scholarship to a physician assistant student who displays a commitment to family practice and rural health.
Sponsor: Association of Family Practice Physician Assistants

 

NCTM Invites Applications for Equity in Middle School Mathematics Grants - DEADLINE: November 6, 2015

Grants of up to $8,000 will be awarded to projects that incorporate middle school classroom materials or lessons designed to improve the achievement of student groups with previous records of underachievement in math....

 

Lalor Foundation Accepting Applications for Reproductive Health Programs - DEADLINE: November 1, 2015

Grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded to programs for young women who have inadequate access to information regarding sexual and reproductive health, including comprehensive and unbiased information on contraception and pregnancy termination....

 

Feedback Request:

USDA and DOC Request Comments on Rural Broadband Deployment

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural  Utilities  Service (RUS) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National  Telecommunications and  Information  Administration (NTIA) seek  input on  federal  actions  to  promote  broadband  deployment, adoption, and competition, as well as  identification of regulatory barriers.  Comments are due by June 10.  Click here for more information.  Contact Denise Scott with RUS at 202.720.1910 for additional questions. 

 

NIST Releases Community Resilience Planning Guide for Public Review

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a draft of their Community Resilience Planning Guide for Buildings and Infrastructure Systems for public comment.  The guide serves as a tool to help communities plan for disruptions and ensure that they are making informed, long-term decisions to manage disaster risks.  Both volumes of the planning guide and the public comment form are available here.  Public comments must be submitted by June 26. 

 

FW: Publications, Learning, Tools, and Funding

 

 

From: Agans, Suzette - RD, Washington, DC [mailto:Suzette.Agans@wdc.usda.gov]
Sent: Thursday, May 07, 2015 3:33 PM
Subject: Publications, Learning, Tools, and Funding

 

Seems appropriate in our varied lines of work:  "Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible...."  — St. Francis of Assisi

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

10 Reasons Why You Should Eat Local, Strolling of the Heifers | READ STORY

As part of the 2015 Locavore Index this year, Strolling of the Heifers offers 10 reasons to increase the use of local foods, which, the nonprofit says, are better for consumers, better for growers and better for the environment.

 

California isn't the only state with water problems, Business Insider | READ STORY

As drought, flooding, and climate change restrict America's water supply, demands from population growth and energy production look set to increase, according to a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

 

 

 

LEARNING

 

Webinar: Main Street, LLC: Put Your Money Where Your House Is, Friday, May 15 2015, 3-4 p.m. EDT
Featuring: Rick Hauser, mayor of Perry, New York and owner of In. Site: Architecture. Mr. Hauser will offer new insights into a longstanding challenge for towns and small cities—getting the ball rolling to overcome vacancy in key downtown locations. Register  Free

 

RECORDED Webinar - Creative Rural-Urban Alliances

Chuck Fluharty, Kirsten Stoltz, and Savannah Barrett joined CommunityMatters and the Citizen's Insitute on Rural Design in March to share ideas for building partnerships across rural and urban divides. Watch the webinar recording.

 

Webinar - Supporting Rural Business Success Through New Media Marketing Research, Tuesday May 12, 2015, 12:30 PM ET/11:30 AM CT

This webinar will introduce learners to the founders of the Center for Rural Enterprise Engagement, some of their online marketing research results/implications and plans for the future. The purpose of the center is to assist small, rural businesses with the information and resources to maximize their online marketing efforts. Limited resources (and sometimes interest) can inhibit business operators from expanding their circle of influence via social media. We feel that effective online marketing can help rural businesses maintain viability in times of uncertainty. The Center’s mission: “As a generator and source of knowledge about new media technologies, the Center will enable rural businesses to flourish in ever-changing environments. We make research-based knowledge discoverable and accessible to individuals, businesses, and communities. Our endeavor will foster positive changes to rural livelihood.”

 

To access the free webinar on Tuesday May 12th, go to: https://connect.msu.edu/newtech/ and select “Enter as a Guest.” You will then be directed to the MSU Adobe Connect page. Currently, a flyer for the upcoming webinar is posted on the page. If you need technical assistance accessing the page, please contact MSU Adobe Connect at:  (517) 355-2345 or 1-800-500-1554.

 

TOOLS

 

Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood Invites Letters of Intent - DEADLINE: Rolling

Grants will be awarded to innovative, creative projects and programs designed to significantly enhance the development, health, safety, education, and/or quality of life of children from infancy through five years of age....

 

Free eBook: The Guide to Effective Online Engagement.
This guide will help you learn how to use online tools and tactics to engage your community. We outline what to look for in a good tool, as well as best practices and tips gleaned from our 18 years of experience in public outreach projects.

 

USDA Rural Housing Service Announces Latest Customer Service Innovation for Multi-Family Borrowers, (Rd.usda.gov 5/5)

USDA Rural Development today announced the most recent version of the Preliminary Assessment Tool (PAT) designed by the Rural Housing Service (RHS) that will improve customer service by helping Multi-Family Housing (MFH) borrowers, applicants and RHS staff to improve customer service when Multi-Family transfers and Multifamily Preservation and Revitalization (MPR) program transactions are done. Link

 

 

FUNDING

 

Lincoln Financial Group Invites Submissions for 2015 Lincoln's Legacy Award - DEADLINE: May 15, 2015

A single grant of $50,000 will be awarded to a nonprofit organization working to boost high school graduation rates and college preparedness....

 

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES is offering funding to nonprofits and public agencies through the Partnerships to Increase Coverage in Communities II Initiative. Funding is offered for programs to educate various uninsured populations who are eligible for health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace.  These populations include racial and ethnic minority people and those that are economically or environmentally disadvantaged (such as limited English proficient and immigrant and refugee populations).  Programs would offer education about the Marketplace and assist with enrollment and completion of the application process to determine eligibility and obtain or purchase health coverage offered through the Marketplace. Deadline: 5/22/2015. Click here for funding guidelines and an application.

 

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES is offering grants to fund demonstration projects that provide eligible individuals with the opportunity to obtain education and training for occupations in the healthcare field that pay well and are expected to either experience labor shortages or be in high demand. Deadline to apply: 5/29/2015. Click here for funding criteria.

 

THE LOWE'S CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION supports nonprofit organizations and local municipalities undertaking high-need projects such as building renovations/upgrades, grounds improvements, technology upgrades, and safety improvements. Most grants range from $10,000 to $25,000. Deadline: 5/29/2015. Visit the company’s website here to take the eligibility quiz and submit an online application.  

 

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE is offering grants to nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Indian tribes with a demonstrable history of providing community-based reentry programs and services for Latino/a youth. The objective of this program is to provide Latino/a youth with supportive services based on and matched to their assessed risks and needs and to support their successful reentry to the family and community. Deadline: 6/1/2015. Click here for additional funding guidelines.  

 

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE is offering grants to nonprofit and public agencies to provide an array of new and expanded mentoring activities. Deadline: 6/2/2015. Click here for funding guidelines.

 

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR is offering grants to public or private nonprofit organizations through YouthBuild, a community-based alternative education program for youth between the ages of 16 and 24 who are high school dropouts, adjudicated youth, youth aging out of foster care, youth with disabilities, homeless youth, and other disadvantaged youth populations. The YouthBuild program simultaneously addresses several core issues important to low-income communities: affordable housing, education, employment, leadership development, and energy efficiency. Funding available: $700,000 to $1,100,000 over 40 months. Deadline: 6/5/2015. Click here for application guidelines.

 

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION is funding programs for American Indians with disabilities who reside on or near federal or state reservations so that they may prepare for and engage in high quality employment that will increase opportunities for economic self-sufficiency. Deadline: 6/8/2015. Click here for application guidelines.

 

THE FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY KENTUCKY is offering funding to research, document, and examine health conditions in the Appalachian region. Researchers should document health disparities; identify communities that have better than expected health outcomes, and identify community-based models and policy implications. Deadline: 6/8/2015. Click here for funding guidelines.  

 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES is offering grants through the Assets for Independence (AFI) Demonstration Program. Deadline: 6/15/2015. AFI enables community-based nonprofits and government agencies to implement and demonstrate an assets-based approach for supporting low-income individuals and their families. View information about resources, trainings, and other assistance for grantees and potential applicants on the Assets for Independence Resource Center website here.

 

THE TONY HAWK FOUNDATION is offering grants to nonprofit and public organizations for funding the construction of new, quality skateparks located in low-income communities throughout the United States. The Foundation primarily supports projects that can demonstrate a strong grassroots commitment, particularly in the form of planning and fundraising by local skateboarders and other community groups. Deadline: 6/17/2015. Visit the Foundation’s website here to review grant criteria and submit an online application.

 

THE WELLS FARGO REGIONAL FOUNDATION offers two grant programs to improve the quality of life for children and families living in low-income neighborhoods in Delaware, New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania. 1. Neighborhood Planning Grants of $25,000 to $100,000 support intensive 12 to 24 month resident-driven neighborhood planning processes. The application deadline for this program is 9/4/2015 (required Intent to Apply Calls will be held on June 18 and June 24). 2. Neighborhood Implementation Grants of $100,000 to $750,000 over three to five years support comprehensive community development projects that target specific neighborhoods. The application deadline for this program is 10/23/2015 (required Intent to Apply Calls will be held on August 7 and August 12). Visit the Wells Fargo website here to learn more about both grant programs and to take the eligibility quiz.

 

USDA is offering funding for the Section 514/516 Farm Labor Housing Loans and Grants Program. Deadline: pre-applications for construction or purchase and substantial rehab of off-farm housing are due 6/23/2015. Click here for funding guidelines.  

 

Chambers of Commerce Grants to Ignite Youth Entrepreneurs - Deadline: May 30, 2015
Funder: U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

 

Woodard & Curran Foundation Invites Applications From Environmental Organizations - DEADLINE: June 15, 2015

Grants of up to 20,000 will be awarded to projects that promote a clean and sustainable environment and demonstrate community involvement in environmental stewardship....

 

Knight-VICE Innovators Fund Accepting Applications From Journalists - DEADLINE: June 1, 2015

The fund is designed to support journalists and others seeking to adopt new ways of storytelling for the next generation of news consumers....

 

U.S. Department of Education Announces $3 Million In Grants Available to Help Native Youth - Deadline for Notice of Intent To Apply: June 2, 2015.  Applications Due: June 29, 2015.

The U.S. Department of Education today announced the availability of an estimated $3 million in grants to help Native American youth become college- and career-ready. In a Federal Register notice, the Department said it would award five to seven demonstration grants ranging from $400,000 to $600,000 to tribal communities before Sept. 30. The new program is based on significant consultation with tribal communities and recognizes that these communities are best-positioned to:

• Identify key barriers to improving educational and life outcomes for Native youth, and
• Develop and implement locally produced strategies designed to address those barriers.

Each grant will support a coordinated, focused approach chosen by a community partnership that includes a tribe, local schools and other optional service providers or organizations. For example, the program allows tribes to identify ways to achieve college and career readiness specific to their own communities – whether it’s early learning, language immersion or mental health services. Communities can tailor actions to address one or more of those issues. The success of these first projects will guide the work of future practices that improve the educational opportunities and achievement of preschool, elementary and secondary Indian students.

The President’s FY 2016 budget proposal calls for increased investments across Indian Country, including a total request of $20.8 billion for a range of federal programs that serve tribes – a $1.5 billion increase over the 2015-enacted level. The budget proposal includes $53 million for fiscal year 2016 – a $50 million increase from this year – to significantly expand the Native Youth Community Projects program.

For more on the Administration’s investment in Native American issues, visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/nativeamericans.

 

SNAP - Farmers’ Market SNAP Support Grants Applications Due -  June 18, 2015

these funds are intended to support “the participation of farmers’ markets in SNAP by providing equipment and support grants to new markets and those currently participating in the program.” The goals of the FMSSG program are to increase SNAP accessibility and participation at farmers’ markets, and support the establishment, expansion, and promotion of SNAP/Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) services at farmers’ markets. This is a new program, which may continue in subsequent years.  http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/snap/FMSSG-RFA-FINAL-05.05.15.docx.pdf

 

THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS is offering grants to arts organizations, local arts agencies, arts service organizations, local education agencies, and other organizations that can help advance the goals of the Arts Endowment. The program seeks to support the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and the strengthening of communities through the arts. Deadline: 7/23/2015. Click here to visit the website for details.  

 

Best Buy Foundation Accepting Applications for National Youth Technology Program - DEADLINE: November 1, 2015

Grants of up to $200,000 will be awarded to programs that provide underserved teens with access to new technologies and help them become interested and fluent in digital learning....

 

Community-Based Learning Center Grants - Deadline: Open
Funder: Microsoft Corporation

 

 

FW: Publications, tools, and funding

From our colleagues at USDA-RD; focus areas include working with adjudicated youth, small business development and rural health.

 

From: Agans, Suzette - RD, Washington, DC [mailto:Suzette.Agans@wdc.usda.gov]
Sent: Friday, May 01, 2015 12:40 PM
Subject: Publications, tools, and funding

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

A Loan in the Dark: The Difficulty of Determining Local Small Business Credit Needs, by WILLIAM DOWLING
It should come as no surprise that small businesses play an important role in the U.S. economy. There are 28 million small businesses operating throughout the country, and they are responsible for nearly half of all private-sector employment and 63 percent of new private-sector jobs. Therefore, maintaining an atmosphere in which these businesses can thrive is essential to the health of the economy. Read more

 

Critical Access Hospitals - Updated with new FAQs. Visit the guide to learn about the purpose of the program, requirements and benefits of CAH status, locations of CAHs, and much more. The guide was developed by Brandon Baumbach, RAC's Rural Health Policy Specialist with input from Terry Hill, National Rural Health Resource Center; Keith Mueller, RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis; and Brad Gibbens, UND Center for Rural Health.

 

Rural Health Clinics - Includes information on the advantages of RHC designation, rules and regulations, Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement policies, and more. This guide was developed by Kathleen Spencer, RAC Information Specialist, with guidance from Bill Finerfrock, National Association of Rural Health Clinics and Chris Christoffersen, Health Services Associates, Inc.

Rural-urban poverty gap is widest among youngest Americans

An important indicator of the Nation’s long-term well-being is poverty among children; child poverty often has an impact that carries throughout a lifetime, particularly if the child lived in poverty at an early age. Like the overall poverty rate, nonmetro (rural) child poverty has been historically higher than metro (urban) child poverty, and increased to record-high levels in 2012. According to Census estimates, the poverty rate for children under 18 living in rural areas stood at 26.2 percent in 2013, more than four percentage points higher than the metro child poverty rate of 21.6 percent. In 2013, the nonmetro/metro difference in poverty rates was greatest for children under six years old (30.3 percent nonmetro and 23.9 percent metro). Child poverty is more sensitive to labor market conditions than overall poverty, as children depend on the earnings of their parents. Older members of the labor force, including empty nesters and retirees, are less affected by job downturns, and families with children need higher incomes to stay above the poverty line than singles or married couples without children. This chart is found in the ERS topic page on Rural Poverty & Well-being, updated April 2015.

 

 

TOOLS

 

Mapping a nation of regional clusters

The U.S. Cluster Mapping Portal (ClusterMapping.us) provides over 50 million open data records on industry clusters and regional business environments to promote economic growth and U.S. competitiveness.  The project is led by Professor Michael Porter through Harvard Business School's Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Economic Development Administration.

 

Wallace Center Launches Good Food Economy Digest to Highlight Innovative Food Systems Business Models
The Wallace Center has recently launched the Good Food Economy Digest, an online resource which will share stories of innovative food systems business models from around the country on a bi-weekly basis.  The stories will be of interest to those working in community economic development to understand the transformative power that investment in the good food sector can have on an economy.  The first installment describes value chains in place in New York’s Hudson Valley to meet the soaring demand for locally-sourced foods.  Click here for more information about the Good Food Economy Digest and to read the first article. 

 

AARP Releases New Livability Index Tool 
The AARP Public Policy Institute has recently developed the Livability Index, a web-based tool to measure community livability.  Users can search the Index by address, zip code, or community to find an overall livability score, as well as a score for each of seven major livability categories: housing, neighborhood, transportation, environment, health, engagement, and opportunity.  Users also can customize the Index to place higher or lower emphasis on the livability features of most importance to them. The Livability Index website provides resources to help consumers and policymakers use livability scores to effect change in their communities. It is the first tool of its kind to measure livability broadly at the neighborhood level for the entire country, and it is intended to inform and encourage people to take action to make their communities more livable.  Click here to access the tool.   

 

Smart Growth America and RCLCO Develop New Model to Calculate The Costs of Development Patterns  
Smart Growth America and RCLCO have developed a new model designed to help municipalities understand the financial performance of development patterns, and what strategies could generate better returns in the future. The model looks at a variety of public costs and revenues to help municipal leaders understand how a smart growth approach to development could help improve their bottom line.  Typical fiscal impact models are based on an “average cost” assumption. That is, they assume each new resident and/or employee associated with new development generates an increase in municipal operating costs equal to the average cost per resident and/or employee—regardless of the pattern or location of the new development.  The main innovation in this new model is that it identifies specific governmental functions as sensitive to geographic dispersion, and we allow the cost per capita for these cost categories to vary based on the density of the development scenario.  For more information about the model’s methodology, download an overview guide here.    

                    

 

FUNDING

 

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE is offering funding to schools, state and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, agricultural producers, and nonprofits in implementing farm to school programs that improve access to local foods in eligible schools. Planning grant applications are due 5/20/2015. Click here for guidelines and instructions.

 

THE CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE is offering grants to nonprofit and public agencies for an Americorps youth internship specifically targeting youth that have been adjudicated in the juvenile justice system. This program will give disconnected youth (at least 17 but under 25 years old) the opportunity to participate in a national service program and provide them with meaningful mentoring while they are serving. Deadline: 5/20/2015. Click here to visit the program website for details.

 

Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program - Application deadline: May 21, 2015
Provides funding to community-based, outreach education and extension programs at land-grant colleges and universities that provide individuals and families based in rural areas with information on health, wellness, and prevention. Sponsor: U.S. Department of Agriculture

 

Ribbons of Hope Seeks Applications From Organizations That Benefit Women and Girls - DEADLINE: May 31, 2015

A grant of $100,000 will be awarded to a nonprofit organization working to promote the well-being and future prospects of women and girls....

 

2015 SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Application

The U.S. Small Business Administration is thrilled to announce a second round of the Growth Accelerator Fund contest. In 2015, they will again be awarding $50,000 prizes to the winners of the contest. New this year, special consideration will be given to any accelerator models which support manufacturing and the White House Power Initiative. The main premise of the competition is to ensure that a diverse set of entrepreneurs from all walks of life have the opportunity to participate in our innovation economy, so the SBA encourages applicants that fill geographic, industry, and economic gaps in the accelerator and entrepreneurial ecosystem space, as well as those run by or that support women or other underrepresented groups. THE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JUNE 1, 2015.  Learn more

 

BusinessUSA's Access Financing Wizard

To help you identify what government financing programs may be available to help you start or expand your business, check out the "Access Financing" Wizard from BusinessUSA. In a few quick steps, this wizard will guide you to government resources to access financing for your business! Learn more

 

Native Arts and Cultures Foundation Invites Applications for 2015 Regional Artist Fellowships - DEADLINE: June 15, 2015

Grants of $20,000 will be awarded to enable Native artists in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, or Wisconsin to create new works with the potential to transform their communities....

 

Chesapeake Bay Trust Accepting Mini-Grant Proposals for K-12 Environmental Education Programs - DEADLINE: June 12, 2015

Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to schools in the Chesapeake Bay watershed area that provide meaningful educational experiences, teacher professional development, and programs that advance environmental literacy ....

 

Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) / State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) Hard-to-Reach Beneficiary Project - Letter of Intent (Optional): Apr 30, 2015; Geographic Coverage: National
Application deadline: Jun 14, 2015
Funds to develop a plan that can be used by the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) and State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) programs to better serve hard-to-reach populations.
Sponsor: Administration for Community Living

 

National Minority Aging Organizations - Technical Assistance Centers Consortium - Letter of Intent (Optional): May 18, 2015; Application deadline: Jun 15, 2015
Grants to increase the efficiency of the National Minority Aging Organizations (NMAO) Technical Assistance Centers Program to disseminate culturally competent health promotion and disease prevention information.
Sponsor: Administration on Aging

 

Environmental Health Services Support for Public Health Drinking Water Programs to Reduce Drinking Water Exposures - Application deadline: Jun 22, 2015
Offers funding to state and local health departments to identify and address drinking water issues and reduce exposures associated with drinking water contamination, especially in communities and populations using small drinking-water systems (e.g. private wells, springs, cisterns, tankered water). Sponsor: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 

ACS Invites Nominations for Women Chemists Committee Rising Star Award - DEADLINE: June 30, 2015

The annual prize, which includes a $1,000 travel stipend, recognizes up to ten women scientists who are approaching the midpoint of their careers and have demonstrated outstanding promise....

 

$3 Million Available to Coal-impacted Communities under White House POWER Initiative

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has announced the availability of $3 million in planning assistance to communities impacted, or which may be impacted, by contractions in the coal economy. These funds are made available as part of the Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative, a new interagency effort to assist communities negatively impacted by changes in the coal industry and power sector.

Successful applications will enable affected communities to develop detailed strategies to diversify their economies, create jobs in new or existing industries, attract new sources of job-creating investment, and/or how to provide a range of workforce services that result in industry-recognized credentials for high-quality, in-demand jobs. Funding will be available until expended or until September 30, 2015.

For more information, please contact your EDA state representative. To apply for this funding, please follow instructions here.  Read more

 

 

 

Stronger Economies Together (SET) Application Available; NOW Due June 8, 2015

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 8, 2015 to Dave Shideler at dave.shideler@okstate.edu. An announcement of participation is expected by the end of July, 2015.

Questions? If you have questions about any aspects of the SET application or the training program, please contact:

Kathy James USDA-RD State Office 405-742-1000 kathleen.james@ok.usda.gov

Dave Shideler Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service 405-744-6170 dave.shideler@okstate.edu

FW: Publications, Learning, Tools, and Funding

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"

 

Local Food/Farmers Market Promotion Program Webinar

For those unable to attend a face-to-face workshop for USDA Agriculture Marketing Service's Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Programs, plan to join Dave Shideler for a webinar covering the material. The webinar will last 2 hours.

Participants can expect to become:

·   more knowledgeable about the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Programs

·   able to decide which program track their project fits

·   given an overview of key features for a successful proposal

When: Friday, April 17, 2015 at 9 am 

Join the webinar using this link:

http://dasnr.adobeconnect.com/local_food_grant/

Reference materials used during the webinar can be downloaded from here (includes slides to be used during the webinar, Modules 1-4; examples of funded grants):
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hldgcvmzfnqol0p/AADkEbwEFduRYFW6uUputZNRa?dl=0

If you have never attended an Adobe Connect meeting before:

Test your connection at:  http://dasnr.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm and make sure that all 4 tests complete ok.

Note:  Google Chrome does NOT work well with Adobe Connect.  Use either Firefox, Internet Explorer, or other.

Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect.html

At the Connect site, choose the “Enter as a Guest” option and enter your name as you would like it to appear to the other participants.

FW: Webinar Opportunities & Challenges of Sustaining Community Food Systems - April 22, 2015

 

 

From: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development [mailto:NCRCRD@anr.msu.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2015 10:31 AM
Subject: Webinar Opportunities & Challenges of Sustaining Community Food Systems - April 22, 2015

 

The webinar “Opportunities and Challenges of Sustaining Community Food Systems” has been rescheduled for April 22, 2015. Feel free to share with others who may be interested in participating.

 

WEBINAR ANNOUNCEMENT Opportunities and Challenges of Sustaining Community Food Systems   Trudy Rice (Kansas State University) Michelle Walk (Michigan State University)   April 22, 2015   1:00 PM – Eastern Time   http://connect.msu.edu/ncrcrd

 

About the webinar:  Local food systems projects have many different “faces” across the North Central Region. However, the principles of sound community development apply to the project’s success in any community. These principles include: assessment, vision creation, goal identification, project determination, outcome evaluation, and celebration of successes.  Through onsite discussions, eight communities in 3 North Central states shared the ways they used these steps  to identify the need to develop or strengthen the local food system, how they measure their successes, how their initiatives are funded, and how they plan to sustain the local food system for future generations. The findings from these 9 local focus groups will be the focus of this webinar.  An over view of each program will be shared as well as general best practices related to sound community planning principles.

 

About the Speakers:

Trudy Rice, Extension Community Vitality Specialist, Kansas State University Research and Extension. Trudy has spent her entire professional career with K-State Research and Extension first serving as a county agent and currently as a Community Vitality specialist at the state level.  Trudy works with local communities across the state as they assess their community strengths and opportunities for improvement.  Many times these include issues related the healthy lifestyle of people and the financial health of local communities.  Trudy has served on the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) board for the North Central Region and recently served as an Extension liaison to the National Association of Counties. 

 

Michelle Walk, Extension Educator, Michigan State University Extension. Michelle concentrates on programming related to Sustaining Community Prosperity/Tourism and Community Food Systems.  Michelle has been very active in working with communities in the UP of Michigan addressing the issue of local food as it relates to living a healthy lifestyle and providing economic health for the community.  Michelle has a strength in developing, promoting and fostering partnerships to work for the good of the people who live and work in local communities.

 

Registration: There is no registration and no fee for attending this webinar.

 

To join the webinar go to http://connect.msu.edu/ncrcrd, “enter as a guest” is by default already chosen. Type your name into the text box provided, and click on “Enter Room”. You are now in the meeting room for the webinar.

 

If you’ve never used Adobe Connect on the computer you will be using, please use the “Test your connection” link below and do a test connection to the actual meeting space well in advance of the scheduled meeting time. http://connect.msu.edu/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

 

To facilitate Q&A’s, participants submit questions/comments via the Chat Function in Adobe Connect.

 

The webinar will be recorded and archived at http://ncrcrd.msu.edu/ncrcrd/chronological_archive.

 

To receive these announcements directly, or to correct errors in our distribution list, please email soliz@anr.msu.edu.

 

North Central Regional Center for Rural Development

Michigan State University

Justin S. Morrill Hall of Agriculture

446 W. Circle Drive, Room 66

East Lansing, MI 48824

517.355.3373