Community Resources

Federal, State, and Nonprofit Opportunities:

Crop Protection and Pest Management Program

The purpose of the Crop Protection and Pest Management program is to address high priority issues related to pests and their management using IPM approaches at the state, regional and national levels. The CPPM program supports projects that will ensure food security and respond effectively to other major societal pest management challenges with comprehensive IPM approaches that are economically viable, ecologically prudent, and safe for human health. More information...

Application Deadline: May 9, 2017

 

Veterinary Services Grant Program

The purpose of the Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) is to develop, implement and sustain veterinary services and relieve veterinarian shortage situations in the United States and U.S. Insular Areas. More information...

Application Deadline: May 19, 2017

 

Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program

This program helps improve the economic condition of rural areas by helping non-profit corporations or higher education institutions in the startup, expansion or operational improvement of rural cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses through cooperative development. More information...

Application Deadline: May 26, 2017

 

Food Safety Outreach Program

The Food Safety Outreach Program will focus on delivery of customized training to members of the target audiences. New projects will focus on, but are not limited to, addressing knowledge and resource gaps for the target audience in the areas of pre- and post-harvest water testing and sampling, soil amendments, developing supply chain programs, and/or developing food safety plans. The program will continue to fund projects that develop bilingual and culturally appropriate training resources. More information...

Application Deadline: June 6, 2017

 

Economic Development Assistance Programs 

The Economic Development Administration's (EDA's) mission is to lead the Federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for economic growth and success in the worldwide economy. More information... 

Application Deadline: Rolling

 

Rural & Tribal Passenger Transportation Technical Assistance 

The rural program provides technical assistance for small communities of less than 50,000 people. The focus of the program is economic development: helping small and emerging businesses and stimulating economic development through new and improved public transportation.
The tribal program is designed to help Native American tribes enhance economic growth and development by improving transportation services. Technical assistance is limited to planning and may support transit service improvements and expansion, system start-up, facility development, development of marketing plans and materials, transportation coordination, training and other public transit problem solving activities.
For more information and to register, click here. 

Location: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Rolling
Source: Community Transportation Association of America

 

Homegrown By Heroes

The Homegrown By Heroes label is a key differentiation for farmer veteran products in competitive markets. The HBH label gives farmer veterans the point-of-sale visibility they need to be successful in the marketplace. The HBH label also affords consumers a tangible way to support veterans while providing an avenue to share the veteran's story. More information...

Dates: Annually renewable

Location: Nationwide

 

Choctaw Nation Opportunities

 

Oklahoma Hunting and Fishing License

The Choctaw Nation is excited to announce that hunting and fishing license will now be available for all Choctaw citizens residing within Oklahoma regardless of age or if they are a current Oklahoma lifetime license holder.

For more information or to access the online application you can click here.  

 

Helpful tools and internship opportunities

 

Hoeven Delivers Congressional Response to 2017 State of Indian Nations Address 

February 13, 2017 -- U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, delivered the Congressional Response to the 2017 State of Indian Nations address given by the National Congress of American Indians President Brian Cladoosby. In his remarks, Chairman Hoeven highlighted his legislative priorities for the committee, including jobs and economic development, health care, energy, housing, public safety, and veterans. He also emphasized the need to continue working in a bipartisan manner to advance safety, security and opportunity in Indian Country. Read more... 

 

The Oklahoma Brownfields Program and TAB, the Technical Assistance to Brownfields Program, with Kansas State University are presenting a Free workshop “Brownfields & Sustainable Community Building” at OSU’s Botanical Gardens in Stillwater, OK on May 23rd, and at OU’s National Weather Center in Norman, OK on May 25th. This will be an opportunity for communities to hear local leaders discuss sustainable redevelopment, and where to focus redevelopment projects to turn abandoned idle properties, including brownfields, into vibrant spaces such as housing, parks, trails and job-creating businesses.

Attendance is free but registration is required as lunch will be provided. We are very excited about this event and looking forward to seeing everyone!

For questions, please contact:

Alisha Grayson (ODEQ), alisha.grayson@deq.ok.gov, 405-702-5113

Oral Saulters (KSU TAB) osaulter@ksu.edu, 785-280-0931

Stillwater Workshop http://www.ksutab.org/education/workshops/details?id=245

Norman Workshop http://www.ksutab.org/education/workshops/details?id=246

 

Training opportunities

 

Fundraising Summits

The Fundraising Summit provides nonprofit professionals an opportunity to gain extensive knowledge about fundraising in a short, 6-hour setting. Fundraising experts present in quick succession their knowledge about best practices on the many topics every nonprofit professional needs to know. Participants will learn insider-tips for applying for grants, tried-and-true tactics for making bold asks, and flawless management for annual fundraising plans.

Ponca City - May 11, 2017

 

Funders Forums 

We all want to know the secrets to receiving funding from foundations and corporations. The Center's Funders Forum can help! This will consist of a morning session, networking lunch, and after-lunch session where the dynamic panel of corporate and foundation employees will offer you tips and share their expertise.
Oklahoma City - May 16, 2017
Tulsa - May 30, 2017 

 

Preparing for a Financial Audit 

Having an annual financial audit is a best practice as defined by the Standards for Excellence Institute, and requires significant work from the entire organization. This three-hour workshop will help participants understand the administrative responsibilities of a financial audit, from the perspective of an audit team. 

Tulsa - May 18, 2017 

Oklahoma City - June 8, 2017  

 

2017 Brownfields and Sustainable Community Building Workshop

This workshop will focus on the resources available to assist with planning your redevelopment, and where to focus resources to ensure success when applying for grants. Registration check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the workshop will run from about 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Lunch will be served.

Stillwater - May 23, 2017

 

Other Opportunities

 

Congressional Art Competition for Oklahoma High School Students 

Students submit artwork to their elected representative's office, and panelists select winners from each district. Winning works are exhibited at the U.S. Capitol, and winners have the opportunity to be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. More information...
The instructions for your entries are available through your representative's link below.
1st District - Congressman Jim Bridenstine
2nd District - Congressman Markwayne Mullin
3rd District - Congressman Frank Lucas
4th District - Congressman Tom Cole
5th District - Congressman Steve Russell

 

Oklahoma State University Medical Summer Camp "Operation Orange"

Spend a day in the life of a medical student at Operation Orange, a summer camp for high school students interested in a career in medicine.

Dates and locations vary through the month of June.

Click here to access the flyer.

 

Fifth and Eighth-Grade Teachers Encouraged to Apply for Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute Fellowships

While at Colonial Williamsburg -- the world's largest living history museum -- Oklahoma teachers meet character interpreters of 18th-century people and are immersed in early American history through hands-on activities and reenactments of historic events. More information...
Application Deadline for 5th Grade Teachers: June 8-14, 2017
Application Deadline for 8th Grade Teachers: June 15-21, 2017

 

American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association Scholarship

Established to provide American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students with financial assistance to earn a degree or certificate in the hospitality, tourism, recreation, culinary arts or related fields.  AIANTA will award three (3) individuals who have met all scholarship application criteria. AIANTA would like to encourage Indigenous students to build their careers in the tourism industry while sustaining and strengthening their cultural legacy. Access the application here! 

Application Deadline for Fall 2017 Semester: July 28, 2017
Application Deadline for Spring 2018 Semester: December 1, 2017 

 

Webinars

 

Idea Friendly Towns – a webinar from SaveYour.Town (Becky McCray and Deb Brown)

Research has shown that being open to new ideas is tied to our economic future. How can we open up our towns to new ideas?

We'll share the Idea Friendly method: Gather Your Crowd, Build Connections and Take Small Steps.

We'll share real-world examples of ways people have successfully applied the Idea Friendly concepts to shape a better future for their town.  

The old way of deciding the future was done by organizations and government, our new way is done by everyone.  The old way had someone in control, our new way is to get as many people as possible trying new things.  It sounds informal doesn't it?  Because it is.  The days of a group of men sitting in a backroom deciding what happens in your town are over. Join us to learn how to use the Idea Friendly Platform to create the kind of town you want to live, work and play in! 

When: May 17, 2017 @ 12 pm Central (it will be recorded)

Where: Sign up at http://saveyour.town/ideafriendlywebinar/?mc_cid=48dd5cbe00&mc_eid=83e416986e

Cost: $20 for this webinar only, $25 for 2 week access to all of the webinars on SaveYour.Town

(Once you’re registered, you can schedule more than one viewing during the two week window so you reach as many people as possible.

We allow you to watch the live event, invite friends and hold replays in your town, as long as you’re personally present each time. If others want to watch without you, we ask that they also register. )

 

Understanding the Fundraising Cycle
This one-hour webinar will explore the circular, ongoing nature of fundraising. Elements of the fundraising cycle explore in this webinar include: donor identification, qualification, planning, cultivation, solicitation, negotiation, closure, acknowledgement, and stewardship.
Click here for more information and registration.
When: May 31, 2017      1:30pm - 2:30pm 

 

Bringing Life Downtown After Hours: Arts, Shopping, Culture After 5

Being open evening hours is not just a matter of extending store hours. It is more like opening a whole different store with different customers. Becky McCray and Deb Brown be sharing ideas and examples from real small towns. Deb will share from her experience as a Chamber of Commerce director, and Becky will share from her perspective as a business owner in a small town. More information...

When: Webinar continually available. 

 

 

USDA and Food Nutrition Service April 27th Meeting Summary

 

1. Grace Gershuny, Author, Organic Revolutionary: A Memoir of the Movement for Real Food, Planetary Healing & Human Liberation), shared information about her experiences helping to write the first-ever USDA National Organic program regulations from the mid-1990s to publication of the final rule in 2000. The organic movement was rooted in historical grassroots efforts that brought together disparate organic-oriented organizations (e.g.: environmentalists, food relief, the farm industry, and consumers) to overcome barriers to ultimately codify organic standards. Some of the challenges to finalizing the rules included: disagreements about the use of synthetics, reconciling negative public comments, and facilitating agreement between stakeholders. Contact Grace here. 

 

2. Victor Strausbaugh, Allofeed, shared information about an app that he built that connects farmer vendors and CSA subscribers or those who can’t physically participate at farmers markets via a home delivery system via on-demand driver couriers. Using an easy-to-use interface, customers can place orders with vendors who use the app. Currently, the app supports more than 60 vendors around the Columbus, OH, area. Additionally, the app features a recipe database for vendor products. Contact Victor here.

 

3. Cheryl Graffagnino, Healthy Food Access Program Manager, City of Columbus and Matt Brown, Planning Administrator, Franklin County Economic Development & Planning Department shared information about the creation of the City of Columbus and Franklin County Local Food Action Plan. The plan helped to implement the city’s and county’s goal to improve all residents’ access to nutritious and affordable food, prevent food waste, enhance coordination among existing food resources, and address barriers to access, including poverty, underemployment, and unemployment. Launched in November, 2013, the planners included Columbus Councilmember Priscilla Tyson, County Commissioner John O’Grady, 24 community members, and the nonprofit Local Matters. During the first phase, the team gathered information by reviewing more than 24 food planning documents and published data and convening 18 community meetings in seven Columbus neighborhoods. Altogether, 900 stakeholders participated. Second, the team identified 800 potential actions, which were revised and consolidated into 27 actions in the final Local Food Action Plan. Last, the team wrote the plan, including for each action: the current status, partners involved, desired outcomes, starting steps, measures, and related resources. To collect feedback, the Columbus Health Department led 11 public feedback sessions. Throughout the process, the team heard from the community that health equity, cultural competency, and continued development of the emergency food system were important issues. The plan also established a city-county joint local food team to oversee and ensure coordination between efforts. Contact Cheryl here.

 

4. Adam Montri, Co-owner and Managing Member, Ten Hens Farm, shared information about the Southeast Michigan Seasonal High Tunnel Education Initiative. As background, high tunnels (also called hoop houses) are unheated greenhouse structures that trap solar heat to allow farmers to grow crops outside of the growing season. The initiative is led by four partner organizations: USDA NRCS (which funds the project via the EQIP program), the SE Michigan Sustainable Resource Alliance (the grant recipients), and Keep Growing Detroit, and Ten Hens Farm, which coordinate project implementation and outreach to farmers. The initiative started as a partner project in Cleveland between Congresswoman Marcia Fudge’s office, Ten Hens Farm (which provided technical assistance), NRCS, and Fair Food Network (which had received an USDA EQIP grant). Since then, the initiative has expanded to Detroit/Wayne County, seven counties in Southeast Michigan, and Flint/Genesee County. As part of the initiative, the team provides educational workshops, hands-on builds, one-on-one technical assistance, and multi-farm tours. The workshops cover various topics, including: high tunnel basics, irrigation and fertility, pest management, winter crops, and marketing. Contact Adam here.

 

5. Nick Nichols, Author, shared information about his book, “I’m Hungry, I’m Hungry, I’m Hungry, Too”. Nick was made aware of the importance of hunger when a close relative qualified for free lunch. Researching the subject, Nick realized that 49% of the children in his La Crosse area qualify for free lunch, that 14,000 people in La Crosse County were food insecure in 2015, and that there are nine food pantries in La Crosse district schools. The book addresses various topics related to food insecurity, including lack of food access, cooking skills, obesity, and bullying. Nick partnered with the Hunger Task Force of La Crosse to publish over 3,300 copies of the book. Additionally, Nick partnered with the Rotary club to read and discuss the book at local schools. As an outcome of the event, over 2,800 books were distributed to eleven schools, public library, and local women’s shelter. Additionally, schools will continue to hold the event in 2018 and one school organized a food backpack event for students. A statewide school nutrition group will distribute the book at their conference in July, 2017.  Contact Nick here.

 

6. Sharing by member organizations of recent news/developments (All).

Vicky Reeves, Grant Program Manager, Organic Valley, shared information about the Farmers Advocating For Organic (FAFO) Grant Program, which is now accepting applications. The program funds projects in the areas of research, education, and advocacy to protect and promote the organic industry and the livelihood of organic farmers. For more information, please view the overview packet.

 

USDA and Food Nutrition Service May 25th Meeting Agenda

 

1. Alison Alkon, Associate Professor of Sociology and Food Studies, University of The Pacific, will share information about research related to farmers markets, CSAs, and food systems that serve and are owned by their communities. Alison will also share information about the necessity of economic policies—and not simply a dependence on market mechanisms—that determine a community’s food sovereignty.

 

2. Nick Groch, Clinical Nutrition Manager, Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center (Chicago), will share information about the hospital’s nutrition and agriculture initiatives, which include a twice monthly farmers market, to improve access to healthy produce for the organization’s low-income community patients.

 

3. Brenda Scott Henry, Director of Green Urbanism, and Mary Mulligan, Brownfields/Urban Conservation Specialist, City of Gary (IN), will share information about their work to support community efforts related to urban agriculture. Some of these efforts include the Stewart House Urban Farms & Gardens, farm and food projects in the Emerson neighborhood and area churches, and the Vacant to Vibrant initiative, which aims to install rain gardens as a way to manage storm water in vacant, abandoned lots. Much of Gary is classified by USDA as a food desert.

 

4. Shermain Hardesty, Cooperative Extension Specialist and Lecturer, University of California Davis Agricultural and Resource Economics, will share information about her team’s recent study on the local economic benefits of direct marketing (e.g.: farmers markets, roadside farm stands, community-supported agriculture programs). Sacramento-area farmers and ranchers who engage in direct marketing generated twice as much regional economic impact per dollar of output, compared to area food producers who did not market directly.

 

5. Rachel Armstrong, Founder & Executive Director, Farm Commons (MN), will share information about her organization’s work to empower direct-to-consumer farmers with the proactive legal attention they need to build resilient farm businesses. Recently, Farm Commons received a USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program Grant. As part of the grant project, the organization will host “Direct-to-Consumer Farm Law” workshops, distribute legal Quick Guides, and help educate over 7,000 farmers about how the law affects agritourism, CSA operations, farmers market sales, food safety, and other direct-to-consumer topics.

 

Grants, Resources, Opportunities, and More... 

(click on the links below to see more)

June 22nd Meeting Agenda

Events/Opportunities

Resources, Tools, & Technical Assistance

Grants & Funding

Data, Statistics, & Reports

Food Waste

News

Employment Opportunities

 

Thanks,

Dave

 

Associate Professor and Community Development Specialist

Department of Agricultural Economics

Oklahoma State University

323 Agricultural Hall

Stillwater, OK 74078-6025

405-744-6170

405-744-8210 – fax

http://rd.okstate.edu

Find grants and professional development resources on my blog
http://okextdevres.blogspot.com/

 

 

Community Resources

Funding and Finance Opportunities

 

Aging

 

KENDAL CHARITABLE FUNDS is offering Promising Innovations grants to nonprofit organizations that work to meet the needs of a burgeoning population of elders. In 2017, the program is seeking proposals that support aging in place and combat isolation of older adults through engagement in purposeful and meaningful ways within the greater community, designed to affirm their value and connectedness. The program hopes to identify factors that lead to isolation and to address them before and/or after they occur, especially utilizing new, replicable models. Grants will range up to $50,000 for a two-year period. Deadlines: letters of intent must be submitted by 5/19/2017; invited proposals will be due 8/4/2017. Visit the Kendal website here to learn more about the application process.

 

Children/Education/Youth

 

THE FORD FAMILY FOUNDATION (TFFF) supports educational projects, programs and out-of-school time facilities in rural communities that encourage the development of skills, confidence and support needed for school-aged youth (5-18 years) to connect with quality mentors, excel in school, develop leadership skills, graduate with a plan for the future and become successful citizens. Typical grant sizes range from $25,000 to $150,000 per year. While there are exceptions, TFFF prefers to fund no more than one-third of the proposed budget. The fund types include programs, operating requests and capital projects. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Click here to learn more and to apply.

 

W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION provides grants to support programs that focus on developing a healthy start and quality learning experiences for all children, helping families get stable, high-quality jobs and connecting employers with talented candidates, and/or advancing racial equity, developing leaders, and fostering community engagement. Award amounts have ranged from $5,000 to $1,500,000. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. To learn more and to apply, click here.

 

THE DOLLAR GENERAL LITERACY FOUNDATION is accepting applications for its Youth Literacy Grant Program. Grants of up to $4,000 will be awarded to schools, public libraries and nonprofit organizations in support of efforts to help students who are reading below grade level or experiencing difficulty reading. Deadline: 5/18/2017. Click here to review funding guidelines.

 

THE TONY HAWK FOUNDATION is dedicated to promoting 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. Priority is given to projects that are designed and built from concrete by experienced skatepark contractors and include local skaters in the planning, fundraising and design process. Grants of $1,000 to $25,000 are provided to nonprofit organizations and state or local agencies, including public school systems and public projects. Deadline: 6/14/2017. Visit the Foundation’s website here to review the grant criteria and to submit an online application.

 

THE DUKE ENDOWMENT provides Child Care Grants for programs that offer opportunities for vulnerable children in North Carolina and South Carolina. Funding is focused on advancing evidence-based, nationally recognized practices that promote child well-being. Awards vary based on the size and scope of projects. Applicants are required fill out an online pre-application to confirm eligibility and gain access to the full application. Deadline for full application: 6/15/2017. Learn more and apply here.

 

Food

 

USDA is offering funding through the Food Safety Outreach Program . This Program will build upon the National Food Safety Training, Education, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance Competitive Grants Program national infrastructure, with a sustained focus on delivery of customized training to members of the target audiences. Awardees will develop and implement food safety training, education, extension, outreach and technical assistance projects that address the needs of owners and operators of small to mid-sized farms, beginning farmers, socially-disadvantaged farmers, small processors, or small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers. Grant applications will be solicited directly from those in local communities - to include those from community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, food hubs, farm cooperatives, extension, and other local groups. Deadline: 6/6/2017. Click here for more information and to apply.

 

Leadership

 

THE FORD FAMILY FOUNDATION provides Technical Assistance Grants to assist organizations and communities in their efforts to develop leadership expertise, engage in planning efforts or advance collaborations in rural communities with populations of less than 35,000. This concept is the core of "capacity building." Types of grants include Leadership Development Technical Assistance, Effective Organizations Technical Assistance, and Community Collaborations Technical Assistance. Typical grant sizes range from $1,000 to $5,000. A minimum 20% cash match towards the project is required and demonstrates board/leadership commitment. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. To learn more and to apply, click here.

 

MEYER FOUNDATION is accepting applications for nonprofit leader sabbaticals. Up to three organizations will be awarded grants of $50,000 each to allow their executives to take a three- to four-month sabbatical. Deadline to apply: 6/1/2017. Click here for an application.  

 

Native Americans

 

FIRST NATIONS DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE has issued an RFP for a new nutrition program for native children. Grants of up to $15,000 will be awarded to Native American communities interested in expanding nutrition resources for existing programs that serve American Indian children between the ages of 6 and 14. Deadline: 5/5/2017. Click here for funding guidelines.  

 

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES is offering Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) grants to provide funding for new or continued centers that support research and research training to meet the needs of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Funding should be used for research on AI/AN communities and individuals with the intent to reduce health disparities. Grantees should seek to strengthen partnerships and AI/AN community engagement in health research and increase the number of AI/AN scientists and health professionals engaged in health research. Up to 15 grants will be awarded with amounts ranging from $100,000 to $1,000,000. Deadlines: letter of intent (optional) due 5/24/2017; application due 6/24/2017. To learn more and to apply, click here.

 

THE AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE FUND, through its Full Circle Scholarships program, is providing a number of scholarship opportunities for American Indians and Alaska Natives who are pursing undergraduate degrees at a Tribal College. Eligibility and amounts vary by scholarship. Deadline: May 31, 2017. To learn more and to apply, click here.  

 

Rural Development/Capacity Building

 

USDA is offering funding through the Rural Cooperative Development Grant program. The Program provides support to improve the economic condition of rural areas by assisting in the startup, expansion or operational improvement of rural cooperatives and other business entities. The application deadline is: electronic applications 5/26/2017; paper applications 6/2/2017. Click here to review funding guidelines.

 

THE HAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION is offering grants to nonprofit organizations in Hawaii for operating support through its FLEX Grants Program. Funds may be used for a variety of purposes, including but not limited to, administrative costs, program expenses or salaries. FLEX is intended to support organizations that can demonstrate the importance of their organization to their community, the effectiveness of their services and/or activities, and their financial stability. Applicants with operating budgets under $250,000 are eligible to receive up to $20,000. Applicants with operating budgets over $250,000 are typically able to request up to 20% of their annual budget, not to exceed $50,000. Deadline: 5/31/2017. To learn more and to apply, click here.

 

Veterans

 

THE HOME DEPOT FOUNDATION’S VETERAN HOUSING GRANTS PROGRAM will award grants to nonprofit organizations throughout the United States for the development and repair of multi-unit veteran housing facilities. Awards ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 support new construction and rehabilitation/repair of single-family or multifamily housing, permanent supportive housing, or transitional housing. Although projects in rural areas will be considered, high priority is placed on large metropolitan areas that have a dense veteran population. Nonprofit organizations with a current operating budget of at least $300,000 are eligible to apply. Deadline: 6/23/2017. Visit the Foundation’s website here to review the funding guidelines and take the online eligibility quiz.  

 

Other Opportunities

 

THE FORD FAMILY FOUNDATION is providing grants that support the development of physical places that are open to the public and have multiple uses in order to encourage civic participation, community collaboration and other ways of bringing residents together for the well-being of the community. Community Building Spaces grants may be used toward land acquisition, purchase of buildings, new construction and renovation, fixtures, furnishings and equipment, and architecture, engineering and planning fees in rural communities with populations of less than 35,000. Typical grant sizes range from $50,000 to $250,000, and funds requested may not exceed one-third of the project’s total budget. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. For more information on eligibility, criteria and how to apply, click here.  

 

THE HEARST FOUNDATIONS are offering support for well-established nonprofit organizations that address significant issues within four major areas of interest – culture, education, health and social service – and that primarily serve large demographic and/or geographic constituencies. In each area of funding, the Foundations seek to identify those organizations achieving truly differentiated results relative to other organizations making similar efforts for similar populations. The Foundations also look for evidence of sustainability beyond their support. The Foundations do not generally provide funding for organizations with an operating budget under $1 million. Grant amounts vary depending on the type funding requested. For more information and how to apply, click here.  

 

THE FORD FAMILY FOUNDATION is offering small grants to organizations working in rural communities with populations of less than 35,000 in response to unexpected needs or simple projects. These grants are highly competitive and limited; priority is given to short-term grant requests for simple projects, unforeseen emergencies that interrupt programming or services, and one-off events or activities. Grants can range from $1,000 to $10,000 and funds are released within 60 days. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. To learn more and to apply, click here.

 

THE FUND FOR SHARED INSIGHT, administered by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, is a multi-year collaborative effort among funders that pools financial and other resources to make grants to improve philanthropy. Shared Insight emerged from the belief that foundations will be more effective and make an even bigger difference in the world if they are more open. Listen for Good, an initiative of the Fund for Shared Insight, invites nonprofit organizations and funders to join in exploring a systematic and rigorous way of getting feedback from the people who are benefiting from foundation funding. In order to participate in Listen for Good, a nonprofit organization must be nominated by an existing or new funder. Applicants must have a minimum annual budget of $500,000 in the current and previous fiscal years. In 2017, grants totaling $45,000 over two years will be provided to U.S. nonprofit organizations working in any issue area. This amount includes $15,000 from the nonprofit organization’s funding partner and $30,000 from the Fund for Shared Insight. Deadline: 5/26/2017. Visit the Fund for Shared Insight website here to learn more about the grant guidelines and application details.  

 

THE PEOPLEFORBIKES COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM offers funding for projects that leverage federal funding and build momentum for bicycling in communities across the United States. Grants of up to $10,000 are provided for bicycle infrastructure projects and targeted advocacy initiatives that make it easier and safer for people of all ages and abilities to ride. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with a focus on bicycling, active transportation, or community development; city or county agencies or departments; and state or federal agencies working locally. Deadlines: letters of interest for the fall 2017 grant cycle will be accepted 6/12/2017 to 7/21/2017; full applications will be due 10/13/2017. Visit the PeopleForBikes website here to review the grant guidelines.

 

ATHERTON FAMILY FOUNDATION offers grants providing funding for projects and programs in Hawaii in the following areas: arts, culture and humanities, community development, education, environment, health, human services, spiritual development and youth development. Past awards have ranged from $2,000 to $100,000. The maximum grant for major capital projects is $200,000, normally paid out over three years. Applications must be submitted through the Hawaii Community Foundation online application process and are reviewed four times annually. Deadlines: July 3, 2017 for September deliberation; October 2, 2017 for December deliberation. For more information and to apply, click here.

 

Training Events and Conferences

Oklahoma Business Event for your Small Business/Self Employed Clients:  May 9, 2017 – IRS Opportunities & Financing for Small Business – 36 Degree North, Tulsa, OK. For more information contact Senior Stakeholder Liaison of the Internal Revenue Service, Anita Douglas at 405-982-6699 or Anita.E.Douglas@irs.gov

 

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) will host a webinar, “Borrowing from LISC,” Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at 1:30 PM EDT. Are you a current borrower or thinking that you may need financing at some point in the future? Tune into this webinar and hear everything you always wanted to know about borrowing from LISC. Click here to register.

 

On May 11, 2017, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, in collaboration with USDA/NIFA's Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, will host a conference on preparing winning grants, at Delaware State University, in Dover, Delaware. This workshop will focus on NIFA’s Food Science and Nutrition competitive grant programs, with an emphasis on mentorship and successful grant writing. Click here for more information on the event and to register.

 

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is offering a competitive funding opportunity webinar to provide an overview of the USDA NIFA competitive grant programs. The two-part informational webinar is meant to enhance the application success rate of all, with a focus on tips for minority serving institutions.  It is divided into: Session I (11:00 AM-12:00 PM EDT); and Session II (1:00-2:00 PM EDT). Both sessions will be offered on May 25, 2017. Click here to register.

 

The National Housing Law Project will offer a free webinar “Prepayments and Loan Maturities: Protecting Residents and Preserving RD Rental Housing,” on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, 2:00-3:30 PM EDT. Thousands of Rural Development (RD) rental housing units are lost due to prepayments each year. Thousands more will reach loan maturity over the next few years. RD subsidies that support low-income residents lose their Rental Assistance and Interest Credit Subsidies when a development is prepaid or its loan matures. Register here.  

 

Center for Community Progress will host a VAD Academy in Indianapolis, Indiana, May 31-June 1, 2017. Vacant, Abandoned, and Deteriorated (VAD) Properties Training Academy is a two-day "boot camp" for public, private, nonprofit and community leaders working on tough property challenges. The first of two VAD Academies in 2017 will take place in Indianapolis and the deadline for registration is May 17. Click here to learn more about this event.

 

National Housing Conference Housing Visionary Awards Gala will be held June 8, 2017, in Washington, D.C.  Click here to register.

 

2017 National Community Development Association Annual Training Conference will be held June 14-17, 2017, at the Hyatt Regency in Miami, Florida.  Click here for more information and to register.

 

Annual Council for Affordable and Rural Housing Meeting & Legislative Conference, hosted by the Council for Affordable and Rural Housing, will be held June 19-21, 2017 in Arlington, Virginia. Click here for more information and to register.

 

2017 Policy Summit on Housing, Human Capital, and Inequality, will be held June 22–23, 2017, in Cleveland, Ohio. This year’s summit features research and practitioner sessions on the theme Transforming Regional Economies: Growth and Equity through Policy and Practice. Click here to register. 

 

Save the Date…

Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) is hosting RCAP Outreach and Well Assessment Workshop for health and environmental professionals and others who work with well owners on August 24, 2017, from 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM in West Sacramento, California at the RCAC Corporate Office (3120 Freeboard Drive, West Sacramento, California). The second RCAP Outreach and Well Assessment Workshop will be hosted on September 7, 2017, from 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM in Portland, Oregon at the Portland State Office Building (800 NE Oregon Street, Portland, Oregon.  

 

The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) will be hosting its annual training conference September 9-12, 2017, in Anchorage, Alaska. Registration can be found here.

 

Save the date for the Investing in America’s Workforce 2017 Conference. Join leaders in workforce, employers, and policy-makers from communities across the country for a dialogue on how to invest in creating a stronger workforce. The event will be held October 4-6, 2017, in Austin, Texas.  

 

NDC Academy will be held October 23-25, 2017, in Washington, D.C. with the theme “Rethinking How We Invest: Homes, Jobs and Communities in 2017 and Beyond.”

 

Information and Other Resources

National Endowment for the Arts has created a Creative Placemaking Artistic Field landing page on its website. Listed are creative placemaking-related news, features, videos, podcasts, resources, partnerships, funding guidelines and initiatives all in one place. Visit the page here.

 

An article in The Washington Post “In the Tennessee Delta, a Poor Community Loses Its Hospital — and Sense of Security,” highlights the impact and contributing factors of rural hospital closures by looking at a rural town in Tennessee that recently lost its hospital and several surrounding hospitals. The piece also details the efforts and complications with trying to resurrect the hospital, find alternate healthcare solutions and improve the health of the community. Read the article here.

 

The Spring 2017 issue of Cascade, the quarterly community development journal from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, features articles on rental housing affordability, including information on a new rental housing data tool from the Philadelphia Fed; the impact of expiring federal subsidies on rental affordability; and a nonprofit investment vehicle to preserve affordable rental housing. Get the issue here.  

 

Measure of America has released “Promising Gains, Persistent Gaps: Youth Disconnection in America,” a report that presents data on disconnected youth in America, young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither in school nor working. Disconnection has been shown to have lasting negative effects, such as lower incomes and poorer physical and mental health. The report includes rural-specific data, and an interactive tool allows data to be sorted by state, county, race/ethnicity, gender, congressional district and more. Get the report here.

 

An article in the Daily Yonder provides an analysis of federal jobs data that finds employment growth was concentrated in large metropolitan areas in 2016. Some rural places, such as Appalachia, did gain some jobs, while others, like those where shale gas fracking had boomed relatively recently, lost employment during 2016, and the losses were proportionally highest in counties not adjacent to metro areas. Read the article here.  

 

CFED released a report, “A Downpayment on the Divide,” that explores the barriers to equal housing opportunity and proposes a number of policy recommendations to reduce inequality in homeownership. Get the report here.

 

The Department of Health and Human Services has compiled “Profile of Older Americans: 2016.” This profile covers 15 topical areas including population, income and poverty, living arrangements, education, health and caregiving. Get the report here.  

 

The National Rural Housing Coalition has published “2017 Impact Report.” The survey asked organizations to respond to seven categories, including homeownership activities, rental housing activities, and clean water and sewer activities. In addition, the survey asked for organizations that provide housing counseling, technical assistance, or are Community Development Financial Institutions, Community Development Corporations or Intermediaries to respond on their activities. The survey analyzed data from 104 organizations of their activity in Fiscal Year (FY) 2016. The report and presentations of some of its case studies are available here.

 

The Christian Science Monitor released a new story highlighting efforts being made in Appalachia to help young people realize the economic opportunity that exists in their communities and within themselves. The old mind-set that the region needs a big jobs provider – like coal – is hard to break, but many are working to help young people in Appalachia envision lives that don’t revolve around hauling solid black fuel out of the ground. Perhaps more than at any time in the past, the focus is on bootstrap ingenuity – encouraging a more entrepreneurial economy. The goal is not just to pump money into the region, but to help communities foster the desire and have the tools to build a new future for themselves, one small business at a time. Read the full story here.

 

New research from the Carsey School of Public Policy finds that more than 95 percent of U.S. children had health insurance in 2015. In this brief, author Michael Staley examines rates of children's health insurance across the United States, by region and by place type, breaking down rates by private and public coverage. Get the brief here.

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has published a report showing how Medicaid provides affordable and comprehensive health coverage to over 30 million children, not only at the doctor's office, but also often at school. Get the report here.  

 

The PEW Charitable Trusts' Stateline reporting service conducted an analysis of a 2016 report highlighting nationwide teacher shortage areas. The report found that high schools are cutting many Minnesota employers say they can’t find skilled workers with the right career training. Two-thirds of states are currently reporting a shortage of CTE teachers in at least one specialty, according to the analysis. Find the full analysis and data here.

 

The County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program released their 2016 Key Findings Report, which demonstrates that rural counties have had the highest rates of premature death for many years, lagging far behind other counties. While urban counties continue to show improvement, premature death rates are worsening in rural counties. Ranking the health of nearly every county in the nation, the County Health Rankings illustrate what we know when it comes to what is keeping people healthy or making people sick. The Roadmaps show what we can do to create healthier places to live, learn, work and play. Download the full report here.

 

The Albuquerque Journal reported that New Mexico became the first U.S. state to require all local and state law enforcement agencies to provide officers with antidote kits this April as the state works to curb deaths from opioid and heroin overdoses. In 2014, New Mexico had one of the highest overdose death rates in the nation, second only to West Virginia, and remarkably has fallen to 44th place in a more recent survey. In addition to the antidote kits, the state is enforcing other measures to improve its opioid epidemic. Read the full article here to learn more about what’s being done.

 

Employment Opportunity...

 

Mutual Housing California is seeking a Chief Executive Officer. Click here to read the full position description.  

 

Thanks,

Dave

 

Associate Professor and Community Development Specialist

Department of Agricultural Economics

Oklahoma State University

323 Agricultural Hall

Stillwater, OK 74078-6025

405-744-6170

405-744-8210 – fax

http://rd.okstate.edu

Find grants and professional development resources on my blog
http://okextdevres.blogspot.com/