MRP Rural Round-Up April 2012

April 2012– Volume X, Number 4
Compiled and edited by Deb Miller Slipek & Ann Treacy

–Across the Field

–FUNDING

–TRAINING/MEETINGS

–OPPORTUNITIES

–MISCELLANEOUS

Across the Field:  Across the Country Connected Nearly All the Way by Mobile Broadband – by Ann Treacy

Editor’s note:  If you know Ann Treacy, you know she’s an amazing person who is never without her laptop, always helping widen the reach of community informatics in Minnesota and across the world to strengthen community and economic development. Ann recently got the chance to do her work in Alaska and we asked her to write about the on-the-road-across-America experience.-JL

I was honored when Jane Leonard asked me to write about my travels for the newsletter this month. Earlier this year I went on a serious road trip – 4,000 miles, 13 states, 3 kids, me, their Grandpa (one way) and their dad (the other way) in a week. In February, I got to spend almost a week in Anchorage. I learned (or relearned) a couple of things on the road:

1. Distance is not the barrier it once was. Thanks to mobile broadband, I worked in the car over 4000 miles. Actually I probably worked over 3800 miles – there was one patch where I couldn’t get online. http://tinyurl.com/7znnuhs . For communities, this means that if you have broadband, you’re fair game for anyone with a job (or business) looking to relocate. If you don’t have broadband, you are off the map for most people.
2. Turnpikes do not make it easy to visit small towns. I’m not sure what the game plan was in terms of promoting statewide community vitality but it seems as if opportunities may have been missed. However, the Internet offers a platform for small towns to tell their stories, which are often compelling enough to cause a traveler to find their way off the turnpike to learn more. Smart communities, looking for tourists, will tell their stories. (We took at least two diversions based on info we found online.)
3. Many communities in the continental US may be rural, but they aren’t remote. You can drive to them – and generally you can drive to them in a reasonable amount of time. They aren’t necessarily convenient, but they are accessible.
4. To quote Michelle Shocked – you know you’re in the largest state in the union when you’re anchored down in Anchorage. My overwhelming impression of Alaska was its huge size – and I saw a very small portion around Anchorage. I am part of a team that is working to promote broadband in Southwest Alaska. We are working with the string of islands streaming almost like a comet below the state. It is 1,700 miles from Anchorage to the farthest Aleutian Island (Attu). That is remote! Also their main industry (seafood harvesting and processing) is seasonal. So like many lakeshore towns in Minnesota, the population fluctuates greatly between summer and winter.
5. People are passionate about their places – and they have good reason to be. >From the blue snowdrifts in Whittier AK, to the Tennessee Rockies, to the white beaches of Jacksonville, every community has something to make it worth the visit.

FUNDING

–Eileen Fisher is inviting applications for the Activating Leadership Grant Program for Women and Girls from nonprofits that show an innovative, holistic, effective, and direct approach to activating leadership among women and/or girls.  Deadline to apply is 4/25/2012.  To apply, http://tinyurl.com/7agsfth

–MnDOT seeks applicants for Safe Routes to School grant funds.  Minnesota elementary and middle schools and their partners are invited to apply for

Safe Routes to School grant funds for projects that will help more children safely walk and bicycle to school.  Applications are due Friday, April 27, at noon and are available at www.mndot.gov/saferoutes/

Kindergarten through eighth-grade schools in Minnesota may apply for grants in

two categories:

* Planning assistance

- Schools will receive expert assistance to complete a Safe Routes to School plan, which will analyze existing conditions, gather public input and identify potential infrastructure and non-infrastructure solutions.

* Implementation grants

- Schools will receive grant funds to support education, encouragement, enforcement or evaluation activities related to safe walking and bicycling to school.

Minnesota has $1.2 million available in these categories for 2012-13.  All SRTS grants use federal funds, and no local match is required. Grants for infrastructure projects, such as sidewalks and crosswalks, are not available at this time. 
All non-profit organizations and government entities in Minnesota may be eligible partners, including tribal nations, schools, school districts, cities, counties and regional planning organizations. For more information, visit www.mndot.gov/saferoutes/ or contact Lisa Bender at 651-366-4195 or lisa.bender@state.mn.us

–HUD has announced the availability of funding for the Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) for an array of activities encouraging innovative home ownership through “sweat-equity” affordable housing development or rehabilitation projects. Deadline: 4/30/2012. For more information, http://tinyurl.com/8ycb9kt

–HUD recently released the NOFA for the 2012 Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Planning Grants competition.  HUD will award approximately $5 million in Planning Grants under this NOFA (12-17 grants of approx. $300,000). Deadline to apply is   5/1/2012.  Applications must propose a plan for the transformation of a severely distressed public and/or HUD-assisted multifamily housing project located in a distressed neighborhood into a viable, mixed-income community.  For an application, http://tinyurl.com/7dqoyf4

–The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is offering grants to nonprofits and tribal groups for the Roadmaps to Health: Community Grants program. Funding will support communities’ implementation of policy or system changes that address one of the social or economic factors that, as defined by the County Health Rankings, most strongly influences health outcomes in the community. These include: education; employment and income; family and social support; and community safety. Deadline to apply: 5/2/2012. To learn more, http://tinyurl.com/7jdh9af

–Conservation Applied Research and Development (CARD) Grants.  The Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources seeks proposals from organizations and individuals interested in receiving a Conservation Applied Research and Development (CARD) Grant.  The CARD Grant Program is intended to identify new technologies or strategies to maximize energy savings, improve the effectiveness of energy conservation programs, or document the carbon dioxide reductions from energy conservation projects. Up to $3 million in total is available for this grant opportunity.  The request for proposals and required forms are available at the web site above through May 7, 2012.  For more information, see http://tinyurl.com/7r9l4g6

–The Department of Labor has issued a NOFA for the YouthBuild program. The program funds vocational training and education in the construction trades for at-risk youth. Deadline to apply is 5/8/2012.  For more information, http://tinyurl.com/7x9xxp9

–The Department of Justice is offering funding to provide resources and coordination to increase the ability of American Indian and Alaska Native tribal communities to provide comprehensive and culturally appropriate services to crime victims, their families, and the community.  Application deadline is May 8, 2012.  To learn more about this opportunity, http://tinyurl.com/894y8df

– Applications are being accepted for the traditional Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) program and the RCDI Rural Jobs Accelerator (RJA).   Applications are due May 9, 2012. In Minnesota, applications must be submitted to Terry Louwagie in our state office (375 Jackson St., Suite 410, St. Paul, MN, 55101).  USDA Rural Development plans to award up to $8.6 million through the RCDI program. Applications are sought for projects that: http://tinyurl.com/85emz5z

• Provide technical assistance to improve the capacity of local organizations to complete successful housing, economic development and community facilities projects;
• Help recipients complete pre-development requirements – such as architectural and engineering plans;
• Help development organizations improve their board operations, management and knowledge of financial and information technology systems;
• Provide homeownership education or training for entrepreneurs.

Part of the RCDI funds to be awarded may be used for projects associated with the Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge, http://tinyurl.com/6pg9wfj which was announced on March 8, 2012. Applications for Jobs Accelerator projects must be submitted to both USDA and the EDA. More information can be found at Federal Register and Grants.gov

–The Veterans Administration has grants available to nonprofits to provide services to specific homeless veteran populations that are identified in the NOFA, or to implement a new “transition in place” housing model to facilitate housing stabilization. Deadline to apply is 5/30/2012. For more information, http://tinyurl.com/784jzvb

– Environmental assistance loans program.  The Environmental Assistance Loan Program is accepting applications until June 30, 2013.  Applications should be submitted electronically to Grants-Loans.pca@state.mn.us. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it as an e-mail attachment. Faxed applications or applications received after the June 30, 2013 deadline will not accepted for consideration under this RFP.

Who can apply?

Priority eligible applicants: Minnesota-based small to medium-sized businesses and political subdivisions of Minnesota

Eligible projects and costs?

Priority eligible projects: green chemistry, pollution prevention, source reduction, recycling, and source-separated composting.

Eligible loan costs: limited to the capital costs of implementing waste or pollution prevention technologies in Minnesota. Capital costs are limited to the costs of acquisition of machinery and equipment, including freight and installation, and related improvements.  The EA Loan Program is offering two types of loans: Participatory and Direct. Participatory Loans provide for awards up to a maximum loan of $100,000 at zero percent interest. Participatory Loan funds must be matched by a minimum dollar-for-dollar match by loans from a participating financial institution. In addition to the competitive interest rate charged by the participating financial institution on its matching funds, an administrative fee may be added to the Participatory Loan to defray costs associated with the servicing of the EA Loan by the financial institution.

Direct Loans are limited to businesses/entities and provide for awards up to a maximum loan of $50,000 at four percent interest or one half the prime rate, whichever is greater. Direct Loans must be matched by a minimum one dollar for every two dollars received of funds from the applicant. Start-up businesses are not eligible for direct loans.  Visit the MPCA Environmental Assistance Loan Program website for more information. http://tinyurl.com/6p2ulu8

–NREA Mini-Grant Program
- Available to rural classroom teachers who focus on rural classroom projects that feature an investigation of the science of energy or electricity. Application deadline is July 15, 2012. http://tinyurl.com/7vwfvqc

–Home Depot Foundation’s Community Impact Grants.  Grants, up to $5,000, are available to registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, public schools, or tax-exempt public service agencies in the U.S. that are using the power of volunteers to improve the physical health of their community.  Grants are given in the form of The Home Depot gift cards for the purchase of tools, materials, or services.  The Home Depot Foundation’s Community Impact Grant Program is accepting proposals for grants through August 13, 2012.   More competitive grant proposals will specifically identify projects for veterans and will include housing repairs, modifications, and weatherization work.  Only proposals submitted through the online application process will be considered for funding. 
For more details, see http://tinyurl.com/6fj9tdv

–Technology Grants for Rural Schools
-
Funding to help public schools in rural areas bring computers to every classroom, connect schools to the internet and to make sure that effective software and online resources are an integral part of the school curriculum. Application deadline: Nov 1, 2012. http://tinyurl.com/6o9kk83

–The Administration for Children and Families is accepting applications for grants to administer projects for the national Assets for Independence demonstration of the use and impact of Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) and related services.  Grantees must ensure that participants have access to financial literacy education and coaching.  For more information and program deadlines, http://tinyurl.com/4g3yuth

–TD Charitable Foundation is accepting grant applications for its Non-Profit Training Resource Fund on a rolling basis.  Grants of up to $1,000 are being awarded to employees of nonprofit organizations.  To read more about this program, http://tinyurl.com/83yloq7

TRAINING/MEETINGS

– 13th Annual SADBOC Government Procurement Fair will be held April 25, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center, MN.

Small businesses interested in doing business with government agencies and prime contractors are encouraged to attend this Trade Fair.  Coupling education with marketing strategies, this event will provide small businesses an opportunity to meet with representatives from Federal, State and local departments, commercial/prime contractors and nonprofit organizations; access available technical assistance; and learn about upcoming contracts.  Small businesses have the opportunity to be matched with a government or corporate buyer interested in their particular product/service. Online registration for a 10-minute appointment began April 2 at our online registration page.  http://tinyurl.com/76rhmoj All appointments must be scheduled in advance. Matches will be posted on SBA’s website on April 23 at: www.sba.gov/mn  Cost:  FREE!  Registration is required.  You may register at: http://tinyurl.com/76rhmoj

If you have questions please call 612-370-2324 or contact Randy Czaia (SBA) 612-370-2314 or randall.czaia@sba.gov 

–The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the U. S. Interagency Council on Homelessness will host a free live webinar from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. EST on April 25, 2012.  The webinar will draw upon the OCC’s recent newsletter entitled “Ending Homelessness: Funding Permanent Supportive Housing” (http://tinyurl.com/87jr9f7)  and will focus on bank financing for the development of permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness. Bankers will learn from experts how to finance permanent supportive housing by investing in low-income housing tax credits and pre-development loan pools. Community Reinvestment Act consideration and risk mitigation for this type of housing investment will also be discussed.  The webinar provides an opportunity for bankers and other interested parties to interact with OCC, government, and industry experts. Get more information and register online (http://tinyurl.com/7379j8l).

–Join the AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals) of Central and Southwestern Minnesota on Thursday, April 26, 2012, for “The Art of Asking,” a half-day workshop that will address your fears of asking prospects for their support, as well as provide road-tested strategies to increase gifts to your organization. This educational opportunity is open to non-AFP members for a fee of $50.00 per person.   Pre-registration is required by contacting Alice Coudron at: acoudron@gw.stcdio.org or 320-258-7656.

– Bank of America will host a webinar in their Nonprofit Impact Series on Thursday, April 26th at 2:00 pm (Eastern Daylight Time). Rodney Christopher (Nonprofit Finance Fund) will present a program entitled Sound Financial Planning. The session will provide participants with concrete tools for assessing risk and preparing for opportunity.  To sign up for this webinar, http://www.cybergrants.com/boa/webinars.html

– Free Google Map Training Available for Communities along the Great River Road.  The Blandin Foundation, University of Minnesota Extension, and the Minnesota Mississippi River Parkway Commission are offering a free workshop on Friday, April 27 from 9-11 a.m. at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School, to help all communities along the Great River Road map their community attractions on Google Maps. Not only will you be able to learn the process to map all of your community attractions, you will get a good start on doing so at the workshop. So, gather a team from your community/county, (chambers, CVBs, park and recreation, public lands, interns, etc.), identify your key community attractions, and bring their addresses to help residents and visitors find your key assets and things to do in your area. A small registration fee may be required to hold your computer seat, but will be returned upon attendance.  Registration information is available from: Kari Schugel, Sauk Rapids – Rice Community Education, 320-258-1569, kari.schugel@isd47.org.

– The Minnesota Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (MNCARH) will host its 2012 Annual Conference and Meeting http://www.mncarh.org/upcoming.html on May 8-9, 2012, at the Grand Conference Center and Casino in Hinckley.  Please contact Katie Langer at 800-944-3078 or mncarh@gmail.com for more information.

– Minnesota Inventors Congress’s Invention & Idea Show.  You never know who you might meet at an invention show…. Register today to test market your products June 8 & 9, 2012, at the Redwood Area Community Center. Download registration brochure here: 2012 Registration Brochure http://tinyurl.com/7s44dyy

– 
Participant and exhibitor registration is now open for the 2012 Rural Health Conference, “Bringing It All Together,” taking place June 25-26 in Duluth.  Visit the Rural Health Conference website to register and find more conference details. https://secure.ruralcenter.org/conference/

– Existing and emerging nonprofit leaders from across Minnesota will gather for the 2012 Nonprofit Leadership Conference, co-sponsored by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs. It will be held Tuesday, June 26 from 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen, MN.  This conference will share strategies and solutions about how nonprofit organizations, including yours, excel at engaging people, improving systems and strengthening communities. http://tinyurl.com/7dbgksr

OPPORTUNITIES

– MPCA GreenCorps now accepting host site applications.  Minnesota GreenCorps is now accepting applications from organizations interested in hosting an AmeriCorps member for the 2012-2013 program year!  MPCA may place up to 27 full time members with various host sites for the 2012-2013 year. Members serve approximately 40 hours a week for 11 months beginning in mid to late September 2012 through August 2013. Members will be placed either individually or in teams of two at selected host sites.

Eligible organizations include public entities (local, regional, state, tribal), school districts, not for profit institutions of higher education, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Organizations may apply for Minnesota GreenCorps members who will serve on projects in the areas of:

• Energy Conservation
• Waste Prevention and Recycling
• Living Green
• Green Infrastructure

Applications from eligible organizations interested in hosting Minnesota GreenCorps members are due by 5:00pm on April 19, 2012.

Host site application packets (including an application and guidance document) are only available by e-mailing your request to mngreencorps.pca@state.mn.us. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Please direct all questions to this email.  Operation of the Minnesota GreenCorps program is dependent on funding. Visit the MPCA Greencorps website for more information. http://tinyurl.com/6bjqc7b

– Each year, Earth Day — April 22 — marks the anniversary of what many consider the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. Earth Day is a day to show how important the environment is to you. Whether you organize an event in your community or teach a peer about environmental issues, Earth Day is about uniting voices around the globe in support of a healthy planet. 

This year for Earth Day 2012, the focus is on Mobilizing the Earth. People of all nationalities and backgrounds will voice their appreciation for the planet and seek its protection. Together people will work for a sustainable future and call upon individuals, organizations, and governments to do their part. For ideas on how you can get involved, visit http://www.earthday.org/2012

– Free technical assistance is now available from Envision Minnesota for between 4-7 Minnesota communities to implement sustainability and livability strategies that will help to advance a clean environment, improved public health, greater job creation and economic opportunities, and enhanced overall quality of life.  Applications must be received by April 30, 2012.

The assistance is made possible through a competitively awarded grant to the Building Sustainable Communities Consortium (of which Envision is a member) from the EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities’ Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program (http://tinyurl.com/66mzq3n).  MN local governments and tribal governments, as well as nonprofits that are partners with and have strong support from local governments, are eligible to apply for technical assistance. Collaborative partnerships are encouraged.  Additional information, including how to apply and the criteria for selection, are available at http://tinyurl.com/8a37h85. Read more about the Building Sustainable Communities Consortium at http://buildingsustainablecommunities.org/.

– CALL for PROPOSALS!  The Minnesota Council on Foundations (MCF) and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) welcome your proposals for sessions during their Joint Annual Conference, to be held on November 1-2, 2012, at the Saint Paul RiverCentre.  The 2012 conference theme is Allied for Action: Bridging Differences for the Greater Good.  Our state faces increasingly complex problems that defy simple answers. Exceptional solutions will emerge only after we consciously harness the power of our differences and truly work together toward a greater good. To successfully tackle tough problems, we must value the diversity of our relationships, understand the intersections of our efforts, intensify our cross-sector connections and build on our collective desire for action. 

This conference will bring together nonprofit and philanthropic leaders to focus on how we can embrace inclusion as a powerful strategy for building a new Minnesota together. You’ll leave with new networks, renewed energy and powerful tools to work in our increasingly complicated world.  Submitting a proposal is easy! Simply follow this link to an online Survey Monkey proposal form. The deadline to submit a proposal to present at the conference is Friday, May 4, at 5 p.m.

If you have questions about submitting a proposal for the 2012 MCF/MCN Joint Annual Conference, please contact Stephanie Haddad, Program Director, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits at 651-757-3071 or shaddad@minnesotanonprofits.org; or Stephanie Jacobs, Director of Member Services, Minnesota Council on Foundations at 612-335-3556 or sjacobs@mcf.org.

– The Minnesota Cup, the largest statewide new venture competition in the country, is once again seeking to support and accelerate the development of the best breakthrough ideas from across the state.  This year $200,000 in cash awards is up for grabs along with other prizes in six divisions: Clean Tech & Renewable Energy, BioScience & Health IT, Student, General, High Tech and Social Entrepreneur. Anything from an idea to a new venture generating less than $1 million in revenue is eligible to enter. The 2012 competition is open at minnesotacup.org and entrepreneurs may enter through 11:59pm on May 18.

– The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and MAP for Nonprofits welcome nominations for the 2012 Nonprofit Mission & Excellence Awards. Nonprofit organizations make outstanding contributions to Minnesota’s high quality of life and we ask that you help us honor these contributions! http://minnesotanonprofitawards.org/

2012 Nonprofit Mission Awards:  Since 1987, the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits has been showcasing the work of Minnesota’s outstanding nonprofits through the Nonprofit Mission Awards in the categories of:

• Innovation
• Advocacy
• Anti-Racism Initiative
• Responsive Philanthropy

MCN encourages you to nominate http://minnesotanonprofitawards.org/ a nonprofit that you know has achieved tremendous results in one of these four areas. A full list of past recipients http://tinyurl.com/7ykq5la and their award videos are available online. Nominations must be submitted by May 31, 2012.

2012 Nonprofit Excellence Awards:  Minnesota Nonprofit Excellence Awards began in 2003. Since then, many of Minnesota’s best nonprofit organizations have proudly accepted and displayed their Nonprofit Excellence Awards. http://minnesotanonprofitawards.org/

Two Nonprofit Excellence Awards are presented each year, one to an organization with less than $1.5 million in annual operating expense, and one to a large organization with $1.5 million or more in annual operating expense. These awards are based upon how closely organizations align with the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits’ Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence. http://tinyurl.com/873×679

Applications http://tinyurl.com/7ogpmza for Excellence Awards must be self-submitted by the organization and require advance planning and board involvement. A full list of past recipients and their award videos are available online. Please submit your application materials to MAP for Nonprofits, 2314 University Avenue West, Suite 28, St. Paul, MN 55114 by May 31, 2012 at 4 p.m. http://www.mapfornonprofits.org/

– The Policy Fellows program at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs is accepting applications for 2012-2013. The Policy Fellows program brings together rising leaders from business, government and nonprofit sectors to hone their leadership skills, build their professional networks, and learn how to tackle the “common good” challenges facing our state and nation. As part of a 35-person cohort, Fellows meet monthly between September and June for full-day workshops and seminars; design and implement group projects on topics of their choosing; and participate in a three-day study trip to Washington, D.C. Emerging and mid-career leaders throughout the state of Minnesota are welcome to apply. The application and two recommendation letters are due June 1, 2012. Scholarships are available. http://tinyurl.com/8yn6w9b

–CALL for PROPOSALS!!  A Leadership Chautauqua (hosted by Bush Foundation) and the 2012 Symposium on Small Towns are coming up on June 12, 13 and 14in Morris, MN.  Here is the link to the webpage for these events: http://tinyurl.com/7xldh5r

We are looking for your participation in the Symposium this year as a presenter, storyteller, convener, or showcase presenter.  To learn more about the CALL FOR PROPOSALS, including presentation topic areas and formats, click on the link below (or just click on “CALL FOR PROPOSAL” which is on the top right of the Symposium page) http://tinyurl.com/7yj4f84

MISCELLANEOUS

– RCAP Releases a New Guide for Board Members.  The Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) http://rcap.org/  has released a new guidebook to assist members of the board of directors or governing body of small, rural drinking water and wastewater systems.  The Big Guide for Small Systems: A Resource for Board Members is a comprehensive guide to the oversight role a board member has in governing a small utility.  This is the newest in a series of guides that RCAP has recently published. Copies of all guides, including this newest one, are available in PDF format on the RCAP website, or by visiting MAP’s Guides and Publications page. http://tinyurl.com/6ucrqrq

– Rural Wealth Creation: Concepts, Strategies, and Measures.  This report presents a conceptual framework for rural wealth creation, drawing upon the U.S. and international development literature. The framework emphasizes the importance of multiple types of assets (physical, financial, human, intellectual, natural, social, political, and cultural capital) and the economic, institutional, and policy context in which rural wealth strategies are devised. The report discusses the role of wealth creation in the rural development process, how wealth can be created in rural communities, and how its accumulation and effects can be measured.  See: http://tinyurl.com/7w7fthv

– In early 2012, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the creation of the Sustainable Resource Center web site (http://tinyurl.com/6o65269), which functions as a one-stop resource that highlights projects and best practices from sustainability projects around the country.  According to the web site, the “Sustainable Communities Resource Center is intended to provide the public with a comprehensive set of information that supports local and regional strategies, with a particular emphasis on sustainable housing and planning.” Categories in the Resource Center include: economic competiveness, housing and transportation choices, regional planning, green building, and rural and tribal sustainability.  In conjunction with the unveiling of the Resource Center, HUD announced the debut of Sustainable Communities Enews, which “highlights information on emerging best practices that America’s communities and regions are generating to make our communities more economically competitive, inclusive, and energy efficient.”

– Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).   As our society ages and there is an increasing need for access by our senior community and others with disabilities, portions of the Americans with Disabilities Act were developed or updated to address this issue. Many of the new sections directly affect places of lodging. New language has been developed on reservation requirements, pool lift requirements, Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices and revised language regarding service animals. The attached material provides information on topics related to places of lodging. For additional information or assistance, please contact the Minnesota State Council on Disability at www.disability.state.mn.us or contact me directly at margot.imdieke@state.mn.us or 800.945.8913 toll free or 651.361.7800(v/tdd).  2012 Tourism Conference Presentations included:

SmallBusiness Primer 2010 http://tinyurl.com/82yqxwl

Reservations Made by Places of Lodging http://tinyurl.com/6nl4zhy

Highlights of Specific ADA Revisions for Lodging http://tinyurl.com/7pr2gzr

Other Information: Accessible Pools: Means of Entry and Exit http://tinyurl.com/7afswuw

–The Center for Housing Policy released its annual Housing Landscape report, which tracks the affordability of housing for America’s working households. The report found that, despite falling home sale prices, housing affordability worsened between 2008 and 2010 for both working renters and working owners.  To read more, http://tinyurl.com/7zw87ph

–Policy Link reports that the final fiscal year 2012 budget was approved with $32 million for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative through the U.S. Treasury and Health and Human Services departments. The legislation provides $22 million from the Treasury Department for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to work on healthy food access in low-income communities, and an additional $10 million will be available through the Community Economic Development Program at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for CDCs doing this work.  To learn more and to sign up for updates, http://tinyurl.com/3v28tvt

–The Carsey Institute has released a new report titled “Rural Demographic Change in the New Century: Slower Growth, Increased Diversity.”  The report looks at rural demographic trends in the first decade of the twenty-first century using newly available data from the 2010 Census.  To get the report, http://tinyurl.com/6tujxcz

–A paper from NeighborWorks America and The Joint Center for Housing Studies describes the management, financial and political challenges that nonprofits may face in developing and operating scattered-site rental housing. The paper emphasizes that rental strategies with cross-sector partnerships and strong local government support can have a positive impact on communities.  Get the paper http://tinyurl.com/79jy7on

–In a new Carsey Institute publication, “The Local Agricultural Community Exchange: Outcomes and Lessons Learned from a Public-Private Initiative to Revitalize a Downtown Community,” author Michele Cranwell Schmidt presents the evaluation of a revitalization project in Barre, Vermont.  The project created a community market, cafe and gallery, and was led by a public-private partnership involving the Agricultural Community Exchange, the Central Vermont Community Action Council and local private businesses. But, after four years of operation, the market, café, and gallery closed due to economic hardship. Schmidt, the 2008 recipient of the Nancy Nye Fellowship in Rural Community Development, examines the impact the initiative had on community revitalization and economic development, and she cites the recommendations offered by the staff and vendors.  You can access the publication http://tinyurl.com/7bhj7vu

–ROC-NH™ (formerly Manufactured Housing Park Program) helps residents of manufactured housing parks come together to buy the land under their houses, build value and security in their homes and create stronger, more vibrant communities. In much of rural America, manufactured housing is a primary form of affordable housing for lower-income families. Most families who buy a manufactured home rent a lot in a housing park, and that makes them vulnerable to excessive rent increases, poor maintenance by the park owner and failing infrastructure. To learn more, click http://tinyurl.com/7uzh738

–The recent Los Angeles NeighborWorks Training Institute symposium, “Reclaiming the Vision of Homeownership: Challenges and Solutions”, featured an innovative conversation on homeownership and a webcasted town hall meeting. To download resources and watch the webcast, click http://tinyurl.com/824nmhe

–Healthiest and Least Healthy Counties Ranked in Every State  – The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation announce the release of the 2012 County Health Rankings. Published on-line at www.countyhealthrankings.org, the rankings assess the overall health of nearly every county in all 50 states, using a standard way to measure how healthy people are and how long they live.

–HHS and Education Launch New Stop Bullying Website – Building on the momentum the Obama administration started more than a year ago to stop bullying in schools and communities, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Education Secretary Arne Duncan today unveiled a revitalized Stop Bullying website – www.stopbullying.gov – to encourage children, parents, educators, and communities to take action to stop and prevent bullying.

– US Patent and Trademark Office and NIST MEP.  The new Intellectual Property Awareness Assessment Tool developed by NIST MEP in collaboration with the US Patent and Trademark Office is now available for use: (http://tinyurl.com/7nposa5).   The tool is designed to help business owners and inventors consider critical intellectual property issues specific to their needs. It addresses Trademark, Copyright, Patent, Trade Secret, Licensing and International Rights as well as asset management, tracking and strategy issues.  Once the simple assessment is completed the user gains access to a customized menu of educational materials on intellectual property developed by the USPTO and information on additional resources that offer helpful assistance.  The intent is to help smaller manufacturers establish and employ an informed strategy to create value and protect their valuable IP assets.   

 

MRP Rural Round-Up March 2012

March 2012– Volume X, Number 3

Compiled & edited by Deb Miller Slipek & Ann Treacy

In this Issue:

–Across the Field: A Tribute to Gary DeCramer

–Funding

–Training/Meetings

–Opportunities

–Miscellaneous

Across the Field – A tribute to our friend and rural development colleague, Gary DeCramer – introduction by the editors and tribute by Deb Miller Slipek

We lost a dear friend this month, former state senator and former USDA State Rural Development Director, Gary DeCramer, who died suddenly last week at age 67 while on a trip to Morris.

At the time of his death, Gary was a senior lecturer and director of the mid-career Master of Public Affairs program at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.  We knew him best as a rural advocate, mentor, and friend. Minnesota Rural Partners staff and board members worked with Gary and his USDA team during the heyday years of statewide collaboration in the 1990s to host community conversations about rural development issues across Minnesota and create a strategic plan to act on opportunities and challenges.

This tribute is from one of our editors, Deb Miller Slipek, who worked with Gary for many years at the USDA:

Teacher, leader, citizen, friend…to the many of us whom you touched over the years, you will be sorely missed.  From you we learned patience, to sit quietly and listen, to share a meal, to engage, to think about all of the impacts of one’s actions.  Your passion for all things rural, cooperatives, Native American and Minnesota never was doubted.  You did not shrink away from the big jobs and you tried to bring us all along with you on the road of compassion, caring and knowledge.  Thank you, Gary DeCramer, for everything.

The memorial service for Gary DeCramer has been set for Tuesday, March 20, 4 PM, at the Ted Mann Concert Hall, University of Minnesota. Memorials preferred to Unity Church Unitarian, St. Paul, or U of M Humphrey School.

Editor’s note: It was a sad week indeed, with the death as well of State Sen. Gary Kubly, of Granite Falls. Senator Kubly was a Lutheran minister who served in the Minnesota House and Senate for 16 years. He died after a battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was 68. Both Kubly and DeCramer represented southwestern Minnesota in the Minnesota Legislature and both were dedicated, persistent advocates for rural Minnesota throughout their lives. They will be missed each and every day. Our hearts go out to their families in this difficult time.

FUNDING

– The Department of Education is offering grants to a consortium of schools, or a nonprofit in partnership with an LEA (Local Education Agency) for activities designed to improve student achievement, decrease dropout rates, increase high school graduation rates, and/or increase college enrollment and completion rates.  Deadline: 3/15/2012 Letter Of Intent (not mandatory); 4/9/2012 Final.  For more information, click here.

–HUD is offering funding to nonprofits to increase compliance with the Fair Housing Act and with substantially equivalent state and local housing laws by informing the general public about their rights and obligations under the Fair Housing Act.  Deadline:  3/16/2012.  For more information, click here.

–Dr. Pepper Snapple Group KaBOOM! are offering grants of up to $15,000 to municipalities, neighborhood associations, schools, day care centers and nonprofits to create playspaces.  Deadline:  3/16/2012.  To learn more about this group and to apply, click here.

–The Department of Health and Human Services is offering grants to nonprofits to enable community collaborations to implement locally designed initiatives to reduce substance abuse.  Deadline:  3/22/2012.  For more information, click here.

–The Department of Justice is offering funds to nonprofits, public agencies, states, Indian Tribes, and local governments for projects designed to address and prevent sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking in rural areas.  Deadline:  3/29/2012.  To apply, click here.

– Minnesota Filmmakers Legacy Grant Fund Available.  The Minnesota Film and TV Board is pleased to announce the Minnesota Filmmakers Legacy Grant Fund. This is a competitive grant program established with Arts and Cultural Heritage funds to support Minnesota filmmakers who create film and television projects that illuminate Minnesota’s cultural heritage.

The Film Board is currently accepting proposals from Minnesota filmmakers who have completed principal photography on a narrative or documentary feature or television project and who are seeking finishing (completion) funds. Application deadline is March 30, 2012. The summer funding cycle for the Minnesota Filmmakers Legacy Grant Fund will be open to projects in development and production and will be announced later this year. More information is available at www.mnfilmtv.org/grants.

-Hitachi Foundation is inviting entries for the Yoshiyama Young Entrepreneurs Program to identify and support inspiring young entrepreneurs whose work helps alleviate domestic poverty.  Deadline to apply:  3/30/2012.  Up to five winners will be selected to receive a $40,000 grant over two years.  For more information, click here.

–AARP Foundation has announced the Women’s Scholarship Program Call for Applicants.  The program provides funds to low-income women age 50 and older who are seeking new job skills, training and educational opportunities to support themselves and their families.  Deadline:  3/30/2012.  To learn more about this opportunity, click here.

–HUD has announced the availability of grants for nonprofits to transform neighborhoods by investing in a wide array of infrastructure and other redevelopment activities.  Both planning grants and implementation grants are available from the Choice Neighborhood Initiative.  Deadline to apply:  4/10/2012.  To learn more about these grants and apply, click here.

–US EPA Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Grants.  The US EPA is soliciting proposals from eligible entities, including non-profit organizations, to deliver environmental workforce development and job training programs that recruit, train, and place local, unemployed and under-employed residents with the skills needed to secure full-time employment in the environmental field, with a focus on solid and hazardous waste remediation, environmental health and safety, and wastewater-related training.

The total funding available under this competitive opportunity is approximately $2,800,000, subject to availability of funds, quality of proposals received, and other applicable considerations. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 14 environmental workforce development and job training cooperative agreements from this competitive opportunity.  Proposals are due by April 12, 2012.  For more details see: http://www.epa.gov/oswer/docs/grants/epa-oswer-oblr-12-03.pdf

– Applications are now being accepted for the Wells Fargo NEXT Awards for Opportunity Finance! With a theme of expanding CDFI coverage to underserved communities, the NEXT Awards celebrate our industry—its creativity, accomplishments, and enduring importance—by awarding high performing CDFIs with attractive grants and loan capital.  Aligned with the new theme, the program features new awards:

The NEXT Opportunity Award recognizes up to four CDFIs with compelling strategies for expanding product and geographic coverage that are ready to execute within six months of receiving an award. The total pool of $8.25 million includes $7.5 million in low-cost, long-term debt and $750,000 in unrestricted grant funding.

The NEXT Seed Capital Award offers a $100,000 unrestricted grant to a single CDFI with a promising idea for expanding geographic or product coverage that is still in development. The expansion strategy should be on track to implement within eighteen months of receiving an award.

In addition to continuing generous support from Wells Fargo and The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Kresge Foundation is a major new partner.  The final deadline to submit an application is 5:00 PM EST on April 17, 2012.  Application guidelines, applications, and more information can be found at the new Wells Fargo NEXT Awards Web site.

–The Department of Labor is offering grants to nonprofit and public agencies to improve the employability of young adult ex-offenders by providing skills training.  Deadline:  4/17/2012.  To learn more about this program, click here.

–The Department of Justice has grants available for Indian Tribes and tribal organizations to provide legal services for indigent defendants and respondents in tribal justice systems and other legal-related services.  Deadline to apply:  4/17/2012.  For more information, click here.

–The RFP for Clinical Dental Education Innovation Grants is now posted at http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/orhpc/funding/grants/dentaled.html. Deadline for applications is April 23, 2012.

–The Department of Justice has grants available to nonprofits to develop and implement mentoring strategies that address the challenges of offender reentry and recidivism reduction.  Deadline:  4/24/2012.  For an application, and to learn more about this program, click here.

–The Retirement Research Foundation is accepting applications from nonprofits for projects in aging designed to improve quality of life for older Americans.  Deadline:  5/1/2012.  Applicants are encouraged to discuss projects in advance of submitting a full proposal by calling (773) 714-8030 or emailing info@rrf.org.  For more information, click here.

–State Farm Insurance Companies is offering funds for student-led service-learning projects that address environmental responsibility, community safety and natural disaster preparedness, financial literacy, access to higher education, or social health and wellness.  Deadline:  5/4/2012.  For eligibility and to apply, click here.

–Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation just announced the Connect for Health Challenge. It will award twenty grants of up to $20,000, with one larger grant of up to $100,000 determined by Minnesotans in an online public vote. This new challenge to strengthen communities begins accepting proposals April 17 and closes May 15. Go to: http://blog.mcf.org/2012/02/29/connect-for-health/?utm_source=Giving+Memo+Enewsletter+List&utm_campaign=3302afc9c6-Giving_Memo_120306&utm_medium=email

–MPCA Environmental Assistance Loan Program.   The FY 2012-13 MPCA Environmental Assistance (EA) Loan Program is offering two types of loans: 1) Participatory Loans, which provide for awards up to a maximum loan of $100,000 at zero percent interest and 2) Direct Loans, which are limited to established businesses/entities and provide for awards up to a maximum loan of $50,000 at four percent interest or one half the prime rate, whichever is greater.

Preference will be given to Minnesota small to medium-sized businesses and political subdivisions of Minnesota, and to projects related to green chemistry, pollution prevention, source reduction, recycling, and source-separated composting.

Eligible loan costs are limited to the capital costs (equipment and machinery) associated with implementing waste or pollution prevention technologies in Minnesota. Approximately $250,000 is currently available for EA loans. As funds are repaid, additional loans may be awarded for proposed projects that will improve the environmental and economic quality of Minnesota.

The complete RFP, inclusive of the process by which applicants may apply for a loan, is available on the Agency’s web site at http://www.pca.state.mn.us/grants/ealoans.html

This web page also provides downloadable application forms, reference documents such as Frequently Asked Questions, and links to applicable statutes and rules.  Applications received after the June 30, 2013, deadline will not accepted for consideration under this RFP.

–Mini Grant Program. 
Application deadline is July 15, 2012
Mini-grants to rural schools.

TRAINING/MEETINGS

--Got funding? 
The Minnesota Science & Technology Authority is sponsoring an interactive webinar specifically for local entrepreneurs. The series is designed to introduce funding available through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The interactive workshop on March 15th will be focused exclusively on competing in the National Science Foundation SBIR and STTR Programs. Henry will cover specific characteristics of NSF programs and the submission process applicants should follow. Organizers say this session is best for technologies focused on biotech and chemical, as well as nanotech, advanced manufacturing, education, information and communications. READ MORE

–Multicultural Forum on Workplace Diversity: A Time for Innovation
 will be held March 20-22
at the University of St. Thomas.

– “Connecting Communities: Strategic Use of Data for Transforming Community Investment, ” audioconference will be Wednesday, March 21, 2:00 – 3:15 p.m. ET. This is an interactive session that will explore creative uses of data and technology to promote public and private investment in transitional communities–those communities with significant, perhaps erstwhile, strengths and assets but also declining housing values and population. This audioconference will feature presentations by redevelopment leaders from Baltimore, Cleveland and Philadelphia, where innovative and cost-effective, market-based strategies are being used to inform local decision-making, mobilize support and attract investment. For more information and to register visit: https://www.stlouisfed.org/bsr/connectingcommunities/index.cfm?proc=call&act=view&sid=6

–The 7th Annual 2012 Sustainable Communities Conference will be held Friday, March 23 and Saturday, March 24, 2012 in Minneapolis.  Hosted by the Alliance for Sustainability and sponsored by dozens of organizations (including Hennepin County, Ramsey County, The McKnight Foundation, 3M, League of Minnesota Cities, Comcast, Metropolitan Council, University Bank, CURA, Barr Engineering, Dakota Electric, and many others), this conference consists of three separate events as described below (two of which are free):

 
* Sustainable Business Forum – Friday, March 23, 7:30 am to 1:00 pm, McNamara Center, U of MN – $75 including breakfast and lunch (add $10 after March 7, add $20 after March 16).  Network with 400 business leaders from small, medium and large businesses in the Twin Cities and learn how businesses are integrating sustainability into their operations to save money and increase their profitability. National keynote speakers. Panel of Senior Executives. Workshops on sustainable manufacturing, employee engagement, and access to capital. Includes D’Amico meals. Register at http://2012sustainablebusinessforum.eventbrite.com or call (612) 331-1099

* Local Government Workshop - Friday, March 23, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, McNamara Center, U of MN – Free!  350 local government staff, elected and citizen leaders will share strategies to foster sustainable economic development. Staff from metro cities will share current projects. Learn about new grant programs and funding tools and simple, cost-effective best practices included in the MN GreenStep Cities program. Workshops on financing energy projects, complete streets, innovative storm water design, transit oriented development, citizen engagement, MN GreenStep Cities, urban forestry and organized collection. Optional lunch. Free. Register at http://localgovernmentsustainability.eventbrite.com or call (612) 331-1099.

* Community Conference – Saturday, March 24, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm – Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, 511 Groveland, Minneapolis (at Highway 94 and Hennepin) – Free!   500 Twin Cities volunteers from neighborhoods, congregations and schools will share hands-on project ideas for energy conservation, community gardening, biking and walking, water quality, rain gardens, urban forestry, localized food production, the Minneapolis carbon reduction plan and sustaining local businesses. Video welcome by Bill McKibben (350.org) Other local keynotes. Meet neighbors to help co-create greener more resilient communities for ourselves and our children. Find out about grant funding options, share ideas for volunteer recruitment for your projects. Bus & bike friendly free event – everyone is welcome including youth!  Bring or buy a lunch. Register at (612) 331-1099 or http://tinyurl.com/2012conferencereg

For more details, see http://www.afors.org/2012conference or contact the Alliance for Sustainability at (612) 331-1099.

– MnDOT to Hold Community Workshops on Bicycle Planning. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) recognizes that bicycling is important. MnDOT staff and others will facilitate community workshops throughout the state. Please help make this endeavor successful; take this opportunity and let MnDOT know your thoughts on bicycling in Minnesota.  The study will provide detailed policy recommendations, inventory existing bikeway facilities in the state, create a new statewide bikeway map, and establish bicycle-related performance measures for future MnDOT projects. All meetings are from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

District 1, Thursday, March 15, 
Duluth City Hall Council Chambers

District 3, Wednesday, March 14
, Whitney Senior Center
1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud

District 4, Tuesday, March 13, 
Detroit Lakes Public Library
1000 Washington Avenue, Detroit Lakes

Those unable to attend in-person may join a statewide webinar discussion on Wednesday, March 22, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Webinar details will be posted at www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/study.html

–National Bike Month Planning Webinars Offered.  The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) in coordination with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN), and Explore Minnesota Tourism (EMT) are hosting a series of webinars to help communities plan for National Bike Month in May.

Hear examples from other Minnesota communities. Learn about available resources to plan your events. Take steps in the right direction to plan, implement and evaluate your bike month activities.  Save the date for upcoming webinars, which are planned for the third Wednesday of every month through June. A summary of call topics includes:

Mar 21	9:30-10:30 a.m.	Topic: Promotion, PR and media
Apr 18	9:30-10:30 a.m.	Topic: How to measure and evaluate
May 16	9:30-10:30 a.m.	Topic: Check-in and troubleshooting
Jun 20	9:30-10:30 a.m.	Topic: Review and reporting

To connect to monthly calls go to http://industry.exploreminnesota.com/biking-in-minnesota and follow the instructions listed at the bottom.

–The South West/ West Central Volunteer Connections, MN Assn for Volunteer Administrators, and Bremer Bank invites you to the Volunteer Connections 2012 Season Kick-Off of our  “Communications in Volunteer Management” theme.  Tuesday, March 27, 2012 from 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. at Bremer Bank – Second Floor Training Room 500 Willmar Avenue SE; Willmar.  Webinar Topic:  “Content Spotlight: A Social Media Guide to Engagement.”  Pre-registration is not required, but if you are planning to come, please let us know so we have an idea of numbers.  Email to: sjsmace@yahoo.com or lcschmidt@bremer.com .  Bremer Bank has registered for the webinar.  There is no cost for those joining the viewing at Bremer, and no need to register separately with MCN.  (If you are unable to join us in the group viewing, you may register on your own at: www.minnesotanonprofits.org/events&trainings )

– The Heartland Center for Leadership Development in collaboration with the RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship invites you to participate in a series of three webinars entitled “Strategies to Recruit Alumni and Young Families to Your Community.”

• Tuesday March 27, 2012 from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. (Central) 
• Tuesday April 10, 2012 from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. (Central)
• Tuesday May 15, 2012 from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. (Central)

In three one-hour sessions, co-hosts Milan Wall and Craig Schroeder will guide you through the process of identifying your target audience in relation to your community’s strongest assets, crafting a compelling message and brand to attract new residents and building a game plan to recruit alumni and young families to your community.  Upon completion of this series, you will have the knowledge and tools needed to move forward with implementing an action plan. For more information go to: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=opyrgedab&oeidk=a07e5kpypvb6388e9c1&oseq=a01kbg3ak64fn

– Join the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and Nonprofits Assistance Fund on April 19 in Brooklyn Center, for an inaugural 2012 Nonprofit Finance and Sustainability Conference. The day-long conference will offer insights, strategies and tools for staff and board members looking at your organization’s financial sustainability from diverse perspectives – from strategy and oversight to implementation and evaluation. Register now!

–MARK YOUR CALENDARS…SAVE THE DATE!!  The Symposium on Small Towns, hosted by the Center for Small Towns (CST), will be held on the University of Minnesota, Morris campus June 13-14, 2012.  More information with be forthcoming. We look forward to seeing you at the Symposium!

– The 2012 Minnesota Rural Health Conference invites you to participate in “Bringing It All Together.” The annual Conference is being held June 25-26, 2012, in Duluth, Minnesota, at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC).  For more information go to: https://secure.ruralcenter.org/conference/

OPPORTUNITIES

–The Minnesota Idea Open brings everyday Minnesotans together to help solve the state’s most critical issues. It’s like a public town hall, where good ideas can gain momentum through public discussion and idea sharing, all with the chance of turning good ideas into a reality.

Minnesotans are known for their loyalty and tight-knit relationships. However, this sometimes means they are not as welcoming or open to others as they are to those within their own circles. In a changing state that has become more diverse in cultures and faiths, these tendencies become even more pronounced and it is increasingly important to find ways to get along. The Minnesota Idea Open believes that Minnesota is a better place when everyone works together in ways that go beyond usual comfort zones. This year, the Idea Open asks Minnesotans to help answer the question: What is your best idea to build bonds and work together across cultures and faiths in your community? Idea submissions are welcome now through March 23.

– Help create a detailed map of broadband coverage across Minnesota. Connect Minnesota is collecting information about schools, libraries, hospitals and emergency medical facilities and public safety facilities through the Community Anchor Institutions in Minnesota survey.

–STEM scholarships available. 
The Minnesota High Tech Foundation (MHTF) is once again awarding scholarships to Minnesota undergraduate students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields of study. These awards include $5,000 and $10,000 awards and can include internship opportunities at MHTA member companies.   READ MORE

– Nominations Open for the Virginia McKnight Binger Award.  Do you know people who work tirelessly in the service of their communities, and haven’t received the recognition that they deserve? Here’s your chance to do something about it. MCF member The McKnight Foundation has opened nominations for the Virginia McKnight Binger Awards in Human Service. Six nominees will be awarded $10,000 and honored during an August ceremony.  The McKnight Foundation seeks nominees who work directly to unite and empower others in their communities, especially those working to make their communities more responsive to the needs of poor or disadvantaged Minnesotans. Some of the eligibility criteria:

• Nominees may be volunteers or service staff working directly with people in Minnesota, and do not necessarily need to be associated with an organization.
• The process is confidential, and individuals are not to be notified that they have been nominated.
• Nominees may be adults or young people.
• Tenure of service will be taken into consideration.

The nomination period closes April 4. A committee of human service professionals and volunteers will then research and recommend candidates to the Board of Directors. Winners will be notified in June. Learn more and make your nominations at The McKnight Foundation’s website.

– Through the National Award for Smart Growth Achievement, US EPA recognizes and supports communities that use innovative policies and strategies to strengthen their economies, provide housing and transportation choices, develop in ways that bring benefits to a wide range of residents, and protect the environment.  Smart growth development practices support national environmental goals by preserving open spaces and parkland and protecting critical habitat; improving transportation choices, including walking, bicycling, and transit, which reduces emissions from automobiles; promoting brownfield redevelopment; and reducing impervious surfaces, which improves water quality.

This competition is open to public and private-sector entities that have successfully used smart growth principles to improve communities environmentally, socially, and economically. Winners will be recognized at a ceremony in Washington, DC, in December 2012.  There is only one application form for all three categories listed below:

* Programs and Policies
* Equitable Development
* Main Street or Corridor Revitalization

In addition, the review panel will choose an Overall Excellence winner from those that apply in these three categories.

Application deadline: April 6, 2012. All entries must be submitted using the application form accessible from http://epa.gov/smartgrowth/awards.htm. The application can be submitted by either a public-sector or private-sector entity, but all applications must include a public-sector partner.

– Minnesota GreenCorps is now accepting applications from organizations interested in hosting an AmeriCorps member for the 2012-2013 program year! MPCA may place up to 27 full time members with various host sites for the 2012-2013 year. Members will serve approximately 40 hours a week for 11 months beginning in mid to late September 2012 through August 2013. Members will be placed either individually or in teams of two at selected host sites.  Eligible organizations include public entities (local, regional, state, tribal), school districts, not for profit institutions of higher education, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Organizations may apply for Minnesota GreenCorps members who will serve on projects in the areas of:

* Energy Conservation 
* Waste Prevention and Recycling 
* Living Green 
* Green Infrastructure

MPCA does not charge a fee to host sites for participation in the MN GreenCorps program. However, host sites are expected to provide in-kind contributions in the form of supervision, operating costs (office space, internet, telephone), and equipment costs associated with hosting a member.  Host site application packets (including an application and guidance document) are available by emailing your request to mngreencorps.pca@state.mn.us  Please direct all questions to this e-mail.  Applications from eligible organizations interested in hosting Minnesota GreenCorps members are due by 5:00 pm on April 19, 2012. (Note: Operation of the Minnesota GreenCorps program is dependent on continued funding.)  For information about current GreenCorps host sites and projects, see http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/view-document.html?gid=17152

–Monsanto Fund Rural Teacher of the Year Award.  Application deadline is June 15, 2012. The grant goes to rural teachers and rural schools.

MISCELLANEOUS

– Compass has many new updates to data, including:

• Demographics: New population figures for every town and city in Minnesota with a population over 1,000.
• Demographics: Poverty under age 6 by county (map).
• Economy and workforce: Median income by race and ethnicity.
• Early childhood: Low birth weight by state.
• Health: Health care coverage by race and ethnicity.

For more information go to: http://www.mncompass.org/

–Plan Now for Minnesota Museums Month.  Minnesota Museums Month, a new statewide celebration of museums, will premiere this upcoming May 2012. The goal of Minnesota Museums Month is to highlight the rich museum resources in our communities and attract more visitors to all of the museums across the state. Explore Minnesota Tourism (EMT) is excited to join in the effort. The Minnesota Museums Month promotion will drive additional web traffic to museums in our database, so we are encouraging museums and similar listings to update their Explore Minnesota attraction listing, submit exhibition and events listings, and to offer special online deals during May. Tourism organizations can assist by checking out your area listings on www.exploreminnesota.com, and contacting any that are missing or needing updates, to let them know about this opportunity. Let us know if we can assist you with your listings on exploreminnesota.com. Contact Kim Kinsler at 651-757-1847 or Kim.Kinsler@state.mn.us

– Each year the nonprofit Land Stewardship Project (LSP) publishes a guide and listing of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms.
 CSA farms provide weekly deliveries of their locally-grown produce to their customers throughout the growing season, with the customers paying the farmers a subscription fee. In some ways the CSA customers become partners with the farmers, and the subscribers benefit by helping to build community and a more personal connection with the source of some of their food.

The 2012 edition of the CSA directory is available online and for free downloading at: http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/csa.html. The directory lists not only farms that deliver to subscribers in the Twin Cities, but also includes farms delivering to customers in Greater Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

–Baselines in Environmental Markets: Tradeoffs Between Cost and Additionality.  Markets for farm-based environmental services are designed to allow farmers to sell “credits” for environmental improvements in water quality, carbon sequestration, wetlands restoration, and other areas. These markets use an environmental baseline to help determine whether proposed improvements qualify for market credits, and, if so, the number that should be awarded. Selection of a baseline is often a critical and contentious element in the design of environmental service markets. Due to the complexity and costs associated with defining, measuring, and verifying environmental baseline levels across heterogeneous landscapes, program managers may face a tradeoff between the precision with which changes in environmental performance can be estimated and the cost of refining those estimates. This brief focuses on the issues involved in measuring baselines, the strengths and weaknesses of alternative types of baselines, and the tradeoffs involved when selecting a baseline to measure environmental improvement.  See: http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/eb18/

– CFED has released The Self-Employment Tax Initiative: Empowering Entrepreneurs at Tax Time, a brief that looks at the value that entrepreneurs contribute to the American economy.  The brief includes research on self-employment in job creation and community wealth building, the connection between tax preparation and microenterprise development services, and other information gathered from partners and grantees.  To download the report, click here.

–The Center for Housing Policy has released Housing Landscape 2012, a report that shows that nearly one in four working households spend more than half of their income on housing costs.  To get the report, click here.

–HUD and the U.S. Treasury Department have released the January edition of the Obama Administration’s Housing Scorecard, a comprehensive report on the nation’s housing market.  To get the full report, click here.

–LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) has released a report of its Financial Opportunity Center model which provides services focused on employment placement and career improvement, financial education and coaching, and public benefits access.  There are 65 existing Centers in 25 cities.  You can download the report by clicking here.

–Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity, a nonpartisan initiative to promote dialogue and action to reduce poverty and improve economic opportunity, is offering a collection of commentaries titled How Housing Matters.  The series explores the relationship between housing and three topics: health, economic opportunity, and education.  To read an introduction to the series by Michael Stegman click here.

–HUD has launched a new website for its Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) to convert public housing properties and some older forms of multifamily rental assistance to project-based Section 8.  Visit the website by clicking here.

–The Carsey Institute is offering a report called “Slower Growth and Increased Diversity in Rural America” which cites 2010 Census data that shows population growth in rural America slowed in the last ten years.  To get the report, click here.

–The Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs has issued a report titled “The Business Case for Product Philanthropy” which talks about retailers donating unwanted inventory like undamaged returns, slow-selling merchandise, discontinued models, and mislabeled items to charity as a good business practice and effective corporate social responsibility strategy.  The donations can help boost a company’s brand image while low- and middle-income people gain savings on household expenses.  To get the free report, just register some basic information by clicking here.

–”What to Do When Foundations Have Walled Themselves Off From Your Organization” is the title of an article in The Philanthropy News Digest by Tony Poderis, former Director of Development, Cleveland Symphony Orchestra.  The author talks about ways to form relationships with foundations in hopes of becoming one of their accepted few, rather than one of the permanently walled off.  To read the article, click here.

–Novogradac & Company has published an updated version of “The LIHTC Property Management Book” which includes information on income and rent limits, utility allowances and building rules and regulations.  To order, click here.

–Explore options now available for volunteers to sign up for opportunities on line through free web tools such as VolunteerSpot.com.

–Government Commodity Payments Continue to Shift to Larger Farms, Higher Income Households.  As agricultural production has shifted to farms with larger sales, so, too, has the distribution of commodity-related program payments. Because the average household income of farm operators typically increases with farm sales, farm households with higher incomes are receiving a larger share of commodity program payments than in the past. Barring substantial changes in program design, this shift is likely to continue.  See: http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/March12/Features/CommodityPayments.htm

–Identifying Federal Farm Programs’ Potential Overlaps. ERS researchers have defined how overlap among farm safety net programs can occur and developed a revenue-based approach to identify and measure overlap among programs. The availability of various combinations of programs can alter producers’ farm management and production decisions, suggesting that program interactions are sufficiently complex that production impacts of participation in multiple farm programs are not always evident beforehand.  See: http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/March12/Features/FarmPrograms.htm

 

February 2012 Minnesota Rural Partners Roundup

February 2012– Volume X, Number 2

Compiled and edited by Deb Miller Slipek and Ann Treacy

IN THIS ISSUE:

–Across the Field – USDA 150^th anniversary

–Funding

–Trainings/Meetings

–Opportunities

–Miscellaneous

Across the Field: Happy 150^th Anniversary to the United States Department of Agriculture

 

by Jane Leonar

This year let’s pause and recognize 150 years of service of the USDA to the American public.  Born in the midst of the Civil War, it has grown and adapted along with the country.  In an indirect way, it helped me find my career pathway. Many years ago I completed a master’s degree in mass communications at the University of Minnesota (when mass communications still meant radio, TV, newspapers and other print media….). For my thesis, I wrote about “The Agricultural Press and the Establishment of the United States Department of Agriculture.” It was a comparative analysis of the ag journals of the time before and after the creation of the USDA in May, 1862. My thesis showed how the ag journals helped set the agenda and purpose for the USDA — as an information dissemination agency — until it reached cabinet level status in the 1880s when it became more regulatory in nature.

A popular way in which USDA transmitted information to the American public were the great summaries of agriculture and rural life in the form of the USDA annual reports – government versions of agricultural journals — which evolved into annual USDA Yearbooks. My Dad, who worked at USDA in Washington in the 1960s, had collected all the annual reports and Yearbooks from the time in the 1840s that the forerunner of USDA was part of the Patent Office, to the present day.  Each is a time capsule. They are sort of the very first Kindle – an amazing collection of great stories and often, beautiful color engravings of animals, plants, machinery, and rural life. They captured my imagination as a child and formed an essential part of my master’s thesis.

I have a few of the Yearbooks myself in my library. I pull them out to get inspired and remember how important it is to write down and re-read our hopes, dreams, and accomplishments as a people over decades and centuries. Here’s an excerpt from the 100^th anniversary Yearbook in 1962 (which was entitled, “After a Hundred Years”). There is a sense of generosity and abundance, drive and imagination flowing from the words. Perhaps they can inspire us today, after 150 years. Here’s Minnesota’s own Governor Orville Freeman, then-Secretary of Agriculture, writing in the Yearbook foreword:

“We have a responsibility to the future….If we are not foresighted, Americans will not have a proper place to live (which was the theme of the 1963 Yearbook). We need an expanded program of care and use that will insure best utilization of land, water, and forests to meet future needs; protect and expand our parks, seashores, wild acres, places of natural beauty…Planning is needed, and a determination to do this task properly.

“We have a duty to the American community….This duty…embraces education, public discussion, and reaching decisions on policy on the basis of participation by farmers and the nonfarm public. Out of them will develop social, political, and economic growth that will insure steady, even, universal progress. As Thomas Jefferson said, “Laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind; as that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times”

“These goals are attainable. These responsibilities can be met. Not by farmers alone. Not by the Department of Agriculture –or, indeed, by the Government – alone. Not by one or a few of us. All of us. The time is not some time in the next hundred years. The time is now.”

Whew, quite the call to action, still ringing true 50 years later, to all us, now.

Check out 150^th anniversary website at: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=USDA150 It’s not quite as inspiring as the 1962 Yearbook – but they still have time to improve this new-fangled social media.

FUNDING

– Minnesota DNR – Division of Parks and Trails Grants – millions of dollars in state and federal funding will be available in 2012 for building trails, acquiring park land, installing fishing piers and otherwise expanding outdoor recreation opportunities in Minnesota, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Parks and Trails.  Applications are now being accepted for the following grant programs: outdoor recreation, natural and scenic areas, local trail connections, federal recreational trails, regional trails, public boat accesses, clean vessel, boating infrastructure, fishing pier and shore fishing areas. These grants help local governments, organizations and individuals throughout the state create partnerships with the DNR to fund projects ranging from natural area acquisition to trail connections to water-based recreational facilities.  For more details, see http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/index.html or http://bit.ly/wWN4Xf

–The Healthy Communities/Healthy America Fund is offering funding to nonprofits for nutrition and healthy behavior education projects as well as diabetes management and education projects for free clinic patients.  Deadlines: Letter of Intent (required) due 2/20/2012;  application due 5/14/2012.  For an application and more information, http://tinyurl.com/6mbzz9x

–FY 2012 Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Grants.  USDA Rural Development’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to complete a variety of energy projects. Offering both loan guarantees and grants, the REAP program helps eligible applicants install renewable energy systems such as solar panels or anaerobic digesters, make energy efficiency improvements such as installing irrigation pumps or replacing ventilation systems, and conduct energy audits and feasibility studies.  The REAP program is comprised of the following components:

–The Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loan and Grant Program provides financial assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install, and construct renewable energy systems; make energy efficiency improvements; use renewable technologies that reduce energy consumption; and participate in energy audits, renewable energy development assistance, and feasibility studies. For renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grant applications and combination grant and guaranteed loan applications are due March 30, 2012.  For renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement guaranteed loan only applications are accepted on a continuous basis up to June 29, 2012.

–The Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grant Program provides grant assistance to entities that will assist agriculture producers and small rural businesses by conducting energy audits and providing information on renewable energy development assistance. For energy audits and renewable energy development assistance applications are due February 21, 2012.

– The Feasibility Studies Grant Program assists financially applicants that need to complete a feasibility study, which are required in applications for many of USDA’s and other government agencies’ energy programs.  For renewable energy system feasibility study applications are due March 30, 2012.

For more information go to: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Reap.html

Or contact Minnesota’s USDA Rural Development’s office can be accessed at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/MNHome.html

–Scotts Miracle-Gro is awarding grants for Community Garden and Green Space Development to nonprofit organizations working to create edible gardens, flower gardens, and public green spaces in their neighborhoods and communities.  Deadline to apply is 2/24/2012.  To learn more about this opportunity http://tinyurl.com/72m6yf7

–Dollar General Literacy Foundation is accepting applications for adult and family literacy and summer reading grants to nonprofits, schools and public libraries in states where Dollar General operates.  Deadline is 2/28/2012.  http://tinyurl.com/6v7sysn

– The East Central Regional Arts Council (ECRAC) McKnight Fellowship program is an annual competitive grant designed to provide financial support to recognize, reward, and encourage outstanding professional artists. Applications are encouraged from artists in all disciplines.  Funding for this program is provided by The McKnight Foundation. The next ECRAC Fellowship opportunity for artists will be March 1, 2012. Two $7,000 ECAC-McKnight Fellowships will be awarded. http://tinyurl.com/75g8yz5

– National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Program.  The Our Town Program provides support for planning, design, and arts engagement activities seeking to improve communities’ quality of life, encourage creative activity, create community identity and a sense of place, and revitalize local economies. Proposed projects will demonstrate the potential to achieve the Livability: American communities are strengthened through the arts outcome, including activities that enhance the livability of the community and catalyze a persuasive vision for enhanced community vibrancy; support local artists, design professionals, and arts organizations by integrating design and the arts into the fabric of civic life; reflect or strengthen a unique community identity and sense of place; and capitalize on existing local assets. Deadline is March 1, 2012.  For more information go to: http://arts.gov/grants/apply/OurTown/index.html

 – The Northland Foundation is partnering with the Minneapolis-based Valspar Foundation to provide free paint and coating products for community restoration and beautification projects. Approximately 8-10 projects located within the seven counties of northeastern Minnesota are expected to receive grants this year. Since 1998, the Northland Foundation and Valspar Foundation together have awarded more than 6,300 gallons of paint to 182 projects throughout this region.  Grants through the Valspar Foundation’s “Minnesota Beautiful” program are available to communities and nonprofit organizations. Applications and more information are available on the Northland Foundation website. http://tinyurl.com/7rpenxs Completed applications are due by March 5, 2012.  Awardees will be notified at the end of March, paint orders will be ready for pick up in May, and projects must be completed by November 1, 2012.

Awards are decided based on visual impact, public benefit, volunteer participation and support, intended use, and benefit to the needy. Projects that may qualify for a grant include historic buildings, senior citizen centers, community centers, public buildings and parks, murals, or other visual impact projects. Projects that do not qualify include churches, city maintenance, privately owned facilities, or schools (with the exception of mural projects).  If individuals have questions or need to request a hard copy of the application, call the Northland Foundation at (218) 723-4040 or 1-800-433-4045 or email Jan Amys, Program Associate. jan@northlandfdn.org

–MetLife Foundation and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) are partnering for the eleventh year to recognize, sustain and share the work of innovative partnerships between community groups and police to promote neighborhood safety and revitalization.  Awards will honor partnerships that exhibit tangible accomplishments.  Deadline is 3/11/2012.  http://tinyurl.com/yf7gp5p

–The United States Tennis Association (USTA) awards grants to nonprofits that support efforts in tennis and education to help disadvantaged, at-risk youth and people with disabilities for programs designed to improve health, build character and strive for academic excellence.  Deadline to apply is 3/15/2012.  http://tinyurl.com/7on9hzq

–The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) is offering grants to community coalitions working to prevent and reduce substance use among youth.  Deadline to apply is 3/22/2012.  http://tinyurl.com/7dtl5kl

–HUD is offering Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grants to Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), local governments, nonprofits, tribal entities, and for-profit developers that apply jointly with a public entity.  These grants support those communities that have undergone a local planning process and are ready to implement their transformation plan to redevelop the neighborhood.  Deadline: 4/1/2012.  http://tinyurl.com/6vezkob

–The East Central Arts Council (ECRAC), serving Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties, has the following funding available with application due dates of April 1, 2012.

- Small Grants for Organizations - Grants of up to $500 for organizations to sponsor an art project.  A 1:1 match is required for this grant. Grant application materials for this program are online at: http://www.ecrac.org/grants/small-grant-project

-Art and Cultural Heritage Fund Grants for organizations and individuals – Up to $15,000 for organizations or $2,500 for individual artists for art activities with high artistic merit, ability, and need.   Outcome evaluation and a community component are required. Grant application materials for this program are online at: (organizations)  http://tinyurl.com/7ykb7we and (individuals) http://tinyurl.com/7npxbn3

-Art in Our Schools – Grants of up to $1,000 for schools to sponsor a special art activity. Grant application materials for this program are online at: http://tinyurl.com/7no45r2

-Individual Artist Grants – Grants of up to $1,000 for artist project grants.

Grant application materials for this program are online at: http://tinyurl.com/72wamg3

ECRAC grant workshop offering information on ECRAC grant applications, grant reviews, and grant funding procedures will be held March 22 held in partnership with Braham Community Education. This is in preparation for the upcoming art grant application deadlines. Application forms and information will be available at the seminar. To register contact the ECRAC office at 320-396-2337 or info@ecrac.org.

– Grants for specialty crop growers from the MN Department of Agriculture.  The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has received $700,000 in federal funding to help promote and enhance the specialty crop industry. Fruit, vegetable and other specialty crop farmers can apply for Specialty Crop Block Grants to help them compete in today’s marketplace.  Grant projects may include outreach to increase consumers’ nutritional knowledge about specialty crops, assistance in the development of good agricultural practices, investment into specialty crop research, development of new and improved seed varieties, and pest and disease control.

Growers of fruits, vegetables, culinary herbs and spices, medicinal plants, tree nuts, flowers, and nursery plants are eligible to apply. MDA will accept grant applications through April 20, 2012.  Questions regarding the grant program or the application process can be directed to David Weinand at 651/201-6646 or email David.Weinand@state.mn.us.   A list of eligible and ineligible commodities can be found at: www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp  A grant manual is available on the MDA website at: http://tinyurl.com/6otykzq

TRAINING/MEETINGS

– A Risky Proposition: Crop Insurance and Climate Change.  A webinar will be held from 11 – 12noon CST on February 21 hosted by IATP.  For more information and to register go to: http://tinyurl.com/7aprr6m

– Housing Assistance Council (HAC) will host a webinar presentation on February 21 about how President Obama’s budget will impact rural housing programs.  To register, http://tinyurl.com/6txr4xq

–Novogradac & Company is offering a LIHTC Webinar Series.  On February 29, 2012 they will offer “LIHTC 101: The Basics” from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time.  To register, http://tinyurl.com/73oxrvx

– Join us for the MNREM Broadband for Business Webinar Series

Business Texting
Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/310152262

There are 4.2 billion texters worldwide. We’ll talk about how you can use texting to reach potential customers and to communicate with employees. It’s fast and efficient but needs to be channeled to be useful.

Title:     Business Texting
Date:    Thursday, March 1, 2012
Time:    12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CST

–The 2012 Nonprofit Technology & Communications Conference, presented by MCN and MAP for Nonprofits, is the place to go to stay up to speed with tools and trends now and looking into the future. It will be held Friday, March 16^th in Minneapolis.  Participants will dive into nonprofit strategies for everything from mobile marketing to cloud computing, from digital inclusion to website design, and much more. The conference will offer more breakout sessions than ever before, for all roles and levels of experience, http://tinyurl.com/7rawqvn

–Multicultural Forum on Workplace Diversity: A Time For Innovation
 will be held on March 20-22 at the University of St. Thomas. 
This conference is for professionals who manage a diverse workforce, work in a diverse environment, are responsible for diversity within organizations of all sizes, or who deal with a diverse clientele. http://tinyurl.com/83qpjlm

–The Symposium on Small Towns, hosted by the Center for Small Towns (CST), will be held on the University of Minnesota, Morris campus June 13-14, 2012. Hold the date and watch for more info.

–The Minnesota e-Health Summit is June 13-14 in Brooklyn Park http://tinyurl.com/868md4v

–The 2012 Minnesota Rural Health Conference is June 25-26 in Duluth. http://tinyurl.com/27bdm7a

OPPORTUNITIES

–Become a 2012-13 College Health Corps VISTA Host Site!

Minnesota Campus Compact is pleased to invite MNCC member campuses and community-based organizations to apply for a College Health Corps AmeriCorps*VISTA for the 2012-13 program year. VISTAs are national service members who dedicate one year toward alleviating poverty in the United States. The College Health Corps VISTAs are dedicated to increasing health care access and health education for low-income Minnesotans. The deadline for submitting a Host Site Application is February 17, 2012 at 4:30 pm. VISTAs will start their service in June 2012.  For more information, see the Request for Proposals. http://tinyurl.com/7ye35l9 With questions, contact Julie Plaut.

–Upper Midwest Civic Engagement Summit Call for Proposals.  The Minnesota Campus Compact annual summit and awards ceremony on Tuesday, June 5 at Macalester College will precede the first Upper Midwest Civic Engagement Summit presented in conjunction with Iowa Campus Compact and Wisconsin Campus Compact. Please consider submitting a proposal–and encouraging colleagues, student leaders, and partners to submit proposals–in one of four session categories:  Skill-Building, Issue-Focused, Big-Picture, or Poster Sessions.  For details or to submit an online proposal, see the Request for Conference Session Proposals. http://tinyurl.com/7djka92 Proposals are due by February 24.  Please contact Julie Plaut with any questions–and with information about any outstanding alumni you’d suggest be invited to share their perspectives on the lasting impact of civic engagement during a keynote panel.

– Annually the Ash Center at Harvard University solicits applications from U.S. government entities at the federal, state and local level who want to showcase their policy or program innovations. If you work for a government entity and want the rest of the country (and the world) to know about something innovative that you are doing, please consider applying. Or if, as is the case with many on this listserv, you do not work for a government entity but work with one or many, maybe there is one that stands out as doing something innovative. Please send this notice to them and encourage them to apply.  The award notice and application forms can be found at:

www.innovationsaward.harvard.edu.  Applications are due Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. PDT.

– THE BUSH FOUNDATION has announced deadlines for the 2012-13 Bush Fellowship Program is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are at least 24 years old and who have lived for at least one year in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, or the twenty-three Native nations that share the same geography.  The program provides an opportunity for individuals to increase their capacity for and improve their  practice of leadership while working to solve tough problems in their communities.  Deadlines for 2012 are 3/2/2012 or 5/4/2012 or 7/9/2012.  To learn more about this program, http://tinyurl.com/7vh8z92

–The Environmental Initiative Awards annually honor innovative projects that have achieved extraordinary environmental results by harnessing the power of partnership. From large statewide efforts to small-scale locally based projects, many of Minnesota’s most innovative environmental efforts have succeeded as a result of collaboration.

Nominations for the 2012 Environmental Initiative Awards are open and will be accepted for innovative environmental projects based on collaboration and partnership through Friday, March 2. Self-nominations are welcome. Click http://tinyurl.com/8ymjucx for more information on guidelines and eligibility. New this year, each person who submits a nomination will receive one free ticket to attend the awards ceremony and dinner on Thursday, May 24.

– CURA’s Introduction to Program Evaluation. http://tinyurl.com/6smm2vd CURA is offering scholarships to nonprofits who want to attend the two-day workshop on March 26 and 27 in conjunction with the Minnesota Evaluation Studies Institute (MESI) Spring Conference. http://tinyurl.com/7bbgfza Details on how to apply for the scholarship are available the Minnesota Evaluation Studies website. http://tinyurl.com/7u75f5n

– Extension MIRC Workshops available statewide (FREE!)  It is essential that businesses and communities have an effective presence on the Internet. Yet over half the businesses in Minnesota cannot be found on the Internet. This means potential customers cannot find them.  The University of Minnesota Extension is changing this through the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities program. We offer a pair of free workshops to any business or community group outside the Twin Cities metro willing to host them. These workshops have been offered nearly 200 times throughout the state and are well received.  To arrange these workshops or for questions, please contact: Hans Muessig, Program Director, hmuessig@umn.edu or 763-360-0993. For more information please go to the Extension MIRC website. http://tinyurl.com/6r4kyld

– Students and businesses interested in taking part in the SciTechsperience internship program can now complete online applications at MHTA.org.  SciTechsperience is Minnesota’s paid internship opportunity for students studying in STEM fields.  It is a new MHTA program made possible by funding through the Minnesota Science & Technology Authority.  SciTechsperience is a key economic development initiative aimed at expanding Minnesota’s talented STEM workforce by providing hands-on experience for talented college students.  The idea is to keep those students living and working in Minnesota once they graduate in order to strengthen and advance the state’s knowledge-based economy.  Qualified businesses can receive a dollar for dollar match up to 50% of an intern’s wages for a maximum of $2,500.  There are other eligibility requirements students and businesses should check out before they apply to take part in the program.  You can read them and complete the applications at MHTA’s SciTechsperience program page.

– Host a Common Cents Dialogue!  The Citizens League, in partnership with the Bush Foundation, is hosting community conversations around the state and online to share information about budgetary challenges and to ask citizens: What values and priorities are important to solving Minnesota’s budget challenges?  They are eager to engage students and young people in free, interactive, nonpartisan workshops focused on state budget balancing or tax reform. Findings will be posted online at: www.citizing.org/projects/commoncents and presented to the Governor and state legislators.  For more information, contact Lindsey Alexander at lindsey@citizing.org or 651-329-1328. Hosts will have responsibility for meeting logistics and recruiting participants.

MISCELLANEOUS

–BoardSource, http://www.boardsource.org/ based in Washington, DC, has many online resources for board development including publications, http://www.boardsource.org/Bookstore.asp a resource center http://www.boardsource.org/Knowledge.asp and a series of webinars http://www.boardsource.org/Workshops.asp?ID=42 starting in January with Creating Change in Your Board through Self-Assessment. http://www.boardsource.org/Bookstore.asp?Item=1361

–RAC Launches New Online Health Information Technology Toolkitproviding health information technology (HIT) resources to rural health care providers is the purpose of a new online toolkit from the Rural Assistance Center (RAC). A pilot program developed through RAC and the National Rural Health Resource Center (The Center), the toolkit is designed to help rural providers find HIT resources directed at them. http://tinyurl.com/6usd5zo

– Maintaining a Civil Conversation.  Learn some effective ways to keep the discourse moving in a positive direction, even when faced with polarizing issues. For tips on encouraging authentic participation from Ken Snyder of PlaceMatters go to:

http://tinyurl.com/7f8xgpl

– The Housing Assistance Council’s most recent issue of Rural Voices has several articles on affordable housing for low-income senior citizens.  The articles highlight the work being done to provide access to safe housing for seniors, as well as efforts to improve quality of life and increase longevity of the elderly population.  For a free copy of the issue, http://tinyurl.com/794sfl8

–The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University has launched a new website.  You can find a 15-year archive of Joint Center research papers and reports on the site, as well as information about student programs, public events and news article.  They are offering a Brown Bag lunch lecture series featuring leaders in housing and community development.  To go to the site, http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/

–The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has published a report “Active Transportation Beyond Urban Centers” which shows that in large and small rural cores of 2,500 to 50,000 residents, the share of total trips made on foot or by bike is only 20 percent below the rate for larger urban cores, and when it comes to work trips, rural areas fall right in line with the national rates of biking and walking to work.  To read the report, http://tinyurl.com/88ucs24

–The Center for Housing Policy has released a new brief titled More than a Roof: Case studies of public housing agency initiatives to increase residents’ economic security.  Despite budget shortfalls, these agencies are continuing their efforts to use subsidized housing as a platform for economic security and opportunity by implementing programs that combine housing assistance with support for increased earnings and opportunities to build assets.  To get a free copy of the brief, http://tinyurl.com/72ehqqw

–The Aspen Institute manages an information and action network focused on Rural Family Economic Success (RuFES) called the RuFES Action Network.  The network is for individuals and organizations that work in some way to help low-income working families get ahead in rural communities.  To learn more about the network and sign up, http://tinyurl.com/7v2o97c

–HUD has published the results of a study called End of Participation in Assisted Housing: What Can We Learn About Aging in Place? The agency undertook the study to learn more about the demographics of elderly residents the agency assists, the ages at which these residents leave assisted housing, and the strategies that could enhance elderly households’ ability to live safely and comfortably in HUD-assisted housing for as long as possible.  To read the study, http://tinyurl.com/6o46ase

 

January 2012 MRP Rural Round-Up

January 2012– Volume X, Number 1

Edited and complied by Deb Miller Slipek and Ann Treacy.

In this month’s issue:

•  – Across the Field
• – Funding
• – Meetings & Trainings
• – Opportunities
• – Miscellaneous
• – Job Openings

ACROSS the FIELD: Rural development lost a good friend this past week. By Jane Leonard

Don Koverman, our former colleague and former chair at Minnesota Rural Partners, died Friday night less than a month after being diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer. Don was serving as Senior Associate for the Purdue Center for Regional ‎Development, Purdue University, Indiana.

Between a wave of retirements and way-too-early deaths, we have lost so much heart and soul and institutional memory among the baby boomers who literally, over the past 40 years, created the field of community and economic development we practice and study today. My sadness over such loss is allayed somewhat by seeing the many young professionals now coming through the ranks who share the same passion for learning and community building that Don shared with us throughout his deep and wide career.

Don served our state and the country for over 30 years in governmental, educational, ‎and nonprofit organizations in both rural and urban environments. His career experience included working for the ‎City of Indianapolis (14 years), as a city manager in rural Minnesota (11 years), on ‎faculty with the University of Minnesota (2 years), Director of Community Development ‎for the Southeast/South Central Minnesota Initiative Fund, as a county plan director (2 years) for Morgan County, Indiana, and as the ‎Executive Director for the Indiana Rural Development Council (2 years). ‎

I met Don when we were both serving on the Minnesota Rural Partners board in the 1990s. He was the city manager for Plainview and I was working in state government. I had seen him most recently at the 2011 Community Development Society conference in July in Boise, ID. We had been corresponding since then about the Community Change Collaborative that he was coordinating – a loose but determined group of community and economic development researchers and practitioners working on creating a matrix of all the different approaches to managing, measuring and thriving through community change. The work Don helped begin continues, the friendships he fostered will endure, and his memory will inspire us forward. Rest in peace, Don.

FUNDING

–The AgStar Fund for Rural America, a corporate giving program of AgStar Financial Services, is offering $20,000 in scholarships to help students in rural areas continue their education. High school seniors throughout AgStar’s 69 county service area in Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin are encouraged to apply.

Seniors who plan to continue their education and pursue careers in agricultural fields are encouraged to apply for one of the 15 – $1,000 scholarships available. In addition, the fund is awarding five – $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors who have an agricultural background and plan to continue their education in any field of study. Applications will be accepted from Jan. 1, 2012 through April 1, 2012.

Students will be awarded scholarships based on their academic record, vocational promise, community service and leadership qualities. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or better. There will be four students chosen from each of AgStar’s five regions in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Applicants must be residents of one of the 69 counties within AgStar’s territory:

Minnesota Counties: Aitkin, Anoka, Benton, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chisago, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Itasca, Isanti, Jackson, Kanabec, Lake, LeSueur, McLeod, Martin, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Olmsted, Pine, Pipestone, Ramsey, Rice, Rock, St. Louis, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Todd, Wabasha, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Winona and Wright.

Wisconsin Counties: Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Iron, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Rusk, St. Croix, Sawyer and Washburn.

Scholarships may be applied toward tuition at colleges, universities, technical or vocational schools. Students can get scholarship application forms online at http://agstar.com/enhancingamerica/fundforruralamerica/Pages/HighSchoolScholarships.aspx.

–HUD is seeking applications for the Healthy Homes Technical Studies Program.  The goals of the program are to mobilize public and private resources, involving cooperation among all levels of government, the private sector, grassroots community-based organizations and other nonprofits, to develop and implement methods for identifying and controlling housing-related hazards; and to build local capacity to operate sustainable programs that will continue to prevent, minimize, and control housing-related hazards in low- and very low-income residences when HUD funding is exhausted.  Deadline:  1/31/2012.  To learn more about this opportunity and to apply, http://tinyurl.com/7s44b5t

– Minority Nurse Scholarship Program applications are due February 1. http://tinyurl.com/7eon4gx

–DNR Conservation Partners Legacy Grants.  Organizations and governments now can apply for fish and wildlife habitat improvement grants. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting Conservation Partners Legacy (CPL) grant applications for projects ranging from $5,000 to $400,000.

Funds must be used to enhance, restore or protect the forests, wetlands, prairies and habitat for fish, game or wildlife in Minnesota. A total of $3.48 million is available. The application deadline is Wednesday, February 8, 2012.  For more details go to: http://tinyurl.com/7ed4wsm

– 2012 American Forest & Paper Association Recycling Awards.  Each year the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) Recycling Awards recognize outstanding paper recycling efforts. Enter your business, community, or school program today for the chance to win a $2,000 cash prize, original framed artwork, and recognition in local and national media. The entry deadline is Friday, February 10, 2012.  For more details go to: http://www.paperrecyclingawards.com/

–The Department of Veterans Affairs is offering grants to nonprofits to provide supportive services to very low-income veteran families, chiefly those who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless.  Both initial and renewal grants are available.  Deadline:  2/15/2012.  To learn more about this opportunity, http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/SSVF.asp

–Jenzabar Foundation is inviting nominations for University Student Leadership Awards in Community Service.  Grants of $5,000 will be awarded to ten student-led campus groups or projects that have made a significant impact beyond their own institution.  Deadline:  2/20/2012.  To learn more about these awards, http://tinyurl.com/8xzxepn

–US EPA Environmental Justice Small Grants.  The US Environmental Protection Agency’s (US EPA) Environmental Justice Small Grants Program supports and empowers communities working on solutions to local environmental and public health issues. The program assists recipients in building collaborative partnerships to help them understand and address environmental and public health issues in their communities. Successful collaborative partnerships involve not only well-designed strategic plans to build, maintain and sustain the partnerships, but also working towards addressing the local environmental and public health issues.

Grant applications are being accepted through February 29, 2012 for $1 million in funding to support projects designed to research, educate, empower and enable communities to understand and address local environmental and public health issues. Funding is available for grants up to $25,000 each.  For more details go to: http://tinyurl.com/6q7awcr

–The National Endowment for the Arts has announced funding for the 2012 Our Town grants.  The funding supports creative placemaking projects that contribute toward the livability of communities and help transform them into lively, beautiful, and sustainable places.  Grants will range from $25,000 to $150,000.  Deadline to apply:  3/1/2012.  For guidelines and more information, click http://tinyurl.com/73ydc84

–The Tech Museum of Innovation has announced the Tech Awards, which are designed to inspire global engagement in applying technology to humanity’s most pressing problems.  The awards recognize individuals, organizations and companies that are utilizing innovative technology solutions to address urgent issues in the areas of education, equality, environment, health and economic development.  Each year, candidates are nominated and then, if judged eligible, invited to submit applications for funding.  Deadline for nominations:  4/1/2012.  For more information and to apply, click http://tinyurl.com/86kmewa

–Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) Grants.  The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) has issued its 2012 – 2013 Request for Proposal (RFP) for funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund beginning July 1, 2013. Approximately $31 million is expected to be available for projects being sought in environment and natural resource areas that will provide multiple ecological and other public benefits. Proposals responding to the 2012-2013 RFP are due Friday, April 6, 2012.

Proposals are being requested in the following six areas:

1. The Reinvest in Minnesota program as provided in M.S. 84.95, Subd. 2.

2. Research that contributes to increasing the effectiveness of protecting or managing the state’s environment or natural resources.

3. Collection and analysis of information that assists in developing the state’s environmental and natural resources policies.

4. Enhancement of public education, awareness, and understanding necessary for the protection, conservation, restoration, and enhancement of air, land, water, forests, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources.

5. Capital projects for the preservation and protection of unique natural resources.

6. Activities that preserve or enhance fish, wildlife, land, air, water, and other natural resources that otherwise may be substantially impaired or destroyed in any area of the state.

For more details and to access the RFP, go to: http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/

– National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program applications are being accepted until May 15. http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/

– The FCC has announced the Connect America Fund to help extend Broadband services to underserved Americans.  The FCC estimates that expanding high-speed Internet access to rural America over the next six years will increase economic growth by $50 billion over that period.  To read the press release, click http://tinyurl.com/7jx5jfn

–Community Based Care Transition Program applications are being accepted for pilot projects to reduce hospital readmissions, test sustainable funding streams for care transition services, maintain or improve quality of care, and document savings to Medicare. http://tinyurl.com/42ntbsh

TRAINING/MEETINGS

–Explore Minnesota 2012 Tourism Conference is January 24-25, 2012 in Rochester, MN.  Download a copy of the tourism conference brochure, http://tinyurl.com/7nmdbqz or get more details http://tinyurl.com/85hmljs

– Points of interest - Compass Annual Meeting!  Please mark your calendar for Thursday, February 2, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at Wilder Center.  The theme, “Positioning Ourselves for Prosperity,” will delve into the interconnected topics of education, health, and economy and workforce.  An exciting lineup of speakers includes a keynote by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Chancellor and Compass Governance Committee Member, Steven J. Rosenstone, on what a prosperous Minnesota will look like – and how we can work collectively to achieve it. The event is free but space is limited. http://tinyurl.com/87xhon9

–The 28th Annual MRWA Water & Wastewater Technical Conference – March 6-8, 2012 – River’s Edge Convention Center (Civic Center) in St. Cloud, MN.  For more information go to: http://www.mrwa.com/TechConf2012.htm

– Evaluation in a Complex World: Changing Expectations, Changing Realities will be held March 28 – 30, 2012 at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus Continuing Education and Conference Center.  The Minnesota Evaluation Studies Institute (MESI) http://evaluation.umn.edu/ will be hosting the interdisciplinary evaluation conference http://tinyurl.com/7bbgfza designed for professional evaluators, program directors and staff in nonprofit and for-profit organizations, students and others interested in conducting or using evaluations. MESI provides a unique opportunity to learn and reflect on contemporary issues in evaluation with national experts and practitioners in a small setting. The institute brings together faculty expertise from the College of Education and Human Development, the School of Public Health, the Humphrey School for Public Affairs, the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) and Extension. Additional conference and registration information can be found on the conference website. http://evaluation.umn.edu/mesi-conference/

–Save the dates for the Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) Spring Conference on April 25 at the Minneapolis Convention Center and November 1, 2012 for the Tekne Awards also at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

–Save the Date! Grassroots & Groundwork 2012 Conference will be held June 6-8, 2012 at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, MN.

– Coffee Break Webinars.  http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org/ Nonprofits Assistance Fund explains important financial management topics in easy-to-digest, 15-minute webinars http://tinyurl.com/72pb5as available on demand! It’s perfect for board members, executive directors and nonprofit staff.

• Balance Sheet Basics: What We Have, What We Owe, What We’re Worth http://tinyurl.com/7bgyxab

• Cash vs. Accrual Accounting: See the Future and Not Just the Past http://tinyurl.com/7asmu2l

• Income Statement Basics: What’s Behind the Bottom Line http://tinyurl.com/8xkqpct

• Managing Restricted Funds: Catch, then Release http://tinyurl.com/c368odu

• Off the Shelf and into Practice: Using Your Annual Audit http://tinyurl.com/7gts9o7

OPPORTUNITIES

– 2012 Work for Water Art and Design Contest.  Freshwater Society presents 2012 Work for Water Art and Design Contest. This year’s contest is a call to action. The contest seeks high school students to inspire Minnesotans to take action to protect our waters. High school students have two opportunities to graphically and creatively convey the issue of Urban Runoff and motivate others to respond through simple behavior change, while understanding why their actions are so important.

The Work for WaterArt and Design Contest will not only highlight the importance of water in our lives, but also educate and provoke citizens to take simple everyday steps to protect our waters. 2012 Work for Water Design Contest asks students to create graphic design, short videos, photos, paintings, drawings, etc. to be used as messaging tools for Freshwater Society’s Work for Water Campaign, a multi-year campaign to engage Minnesotans in protecting water. Winning entries will be featured on billboards, in PSAs, websites, yard signs, t-shirts, etc. throughout the state. They will become tools inspiring change.

The design contest is open to all public, private and home schooled 9th – 12th
grade students in Minnesota.   All entries must be submitted to http://freshwater.org/ArtDesignContest/  by midnight on:

2nd Contest: April 30, 2012.

$500, $300 and $200 prizes will be awarded to the three top state competition winners in each contest.   For more details, see http://www.freshwater.org/index.php/art-contest

–MINNESOTA RURAL HEALTH CONFERENCE is June 25-26 in Duluth. Presentation proposals are due February 3. http://tinyurl.com/6qw5883

- HUD is seeking comments by February 14, 2012 on a proposed rule to amend its HOME Investment Partnerships program regulations.  The proposal would update property standards for housing assisted by HOME funds.  To read the Federal Register notice, http://tinyurl.com/6oufp93

–2012 Reuben Youngerberg Memorial Biodiesel Essay Scholarship Contest.  This scholarship contest is open to all Minnesota high school seniors.  All high school seniors in Minnesota with plans to attend postsecondary education are eligible to submit entries to the Reuben Youngerberg Memorial Biodiesel Essay Scholarship. Essays entered must be about topics related to biodiesel.

Two scholarships will be awarded. The first place essay writer will receive a $1,600 scholarship; the second place essay writer will receive a $500 scholarship.

All entries must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 30, 2012 to the American Lung Association in Minnesota. For more details, see http://www.cleanairchoice.org/fuels/scholarship2012.cfm or http://tinyurl.com/7xachll

–Rural health professionals deserve recognition for going “above and beyond.” Nominations for the 2012 Minnesota Rural Health Awards are due April 20. One individual and one team will be honored at the Minnesota Rural Health Conference June 25-26 in Duluth. http://tinyurl.com/8xvnxrv

MISCELLANEOUS

– The Home Depot Foundation (THDF) has created the Sustainable Cities Institute (SCI), which is grounded in the belief that a sustainable community effort consists of a long-term, integrated and systematic approach to developing and achieving a healthy community by jointly addressing economic, environmental, and social issues.  SCI is a tool that individuals and cities can utilize for a holistic, long-term approach to sustainability planning and implementation of healthy communities. The very comprehensive SCI website is a dynamic online toolbox that was initially built by THDF, but is shaped by its users, who post, comment and contribute to the website. It was developed based upon input from sustainability directors, city leaders and technical experts.

From its homepage, you can navigate through topic areas including Economic Development, Water, Materials Management, Land Use and Transportation; as well as through classrooms, communication labs, a planning center and a library. In addition, there are forums, webinars, a calendar, City Profiles and an interactive “Sustainable City” map.  Memberships to SCI are free, and include a useful e-newsletter. Visit: http://tinyurl.com/75ey8vm

–The Aspen Institute, in collaboration with the Democracy Collaborative, convened practitioners, investors, foundation donors, elected officials, scholars and reporters to generate ideas on how to advance community wealth building efforts.  To get a copy of the report that provides highlights of the discussion, http://tinyurl.com/7pwo8db

–Designing for Healthy Communities: Active Living and Comprehensive Community Development is a paper from the Institute for Comprehensive Community Development.  It offers a summary of empirical evidence that can be used by community developers to add a public health component to their work.  To read the paper, http://www.instituteccd.org/library/3258

–Aging in Place: A State Survey of Livability Policies and Practices is a report by the National Conference of State Legislatures and AARP, that suggests State policies, such as land use, housing and transportation, home services, etc. that are needed to help seniors age in place.  To get a free copy, http://tinyurl.com/7jv49a8

–Supporting Sustainable Rural Communities is a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that identifies how the federal government can help rural areas be economically vibrant and environmentally sustainable.  To download a free copy, http://tinyurl.com/782p9mf

–Novogradac & Company LLP has released the final version of the Rent & Income Limit Calculator that uses HUD 2012 rent and income limit data.  This tool can calculate IRC Section 42(i)(3)(A) low-income housing tax credit rent and income limits for every county in the United States.  You can access the calculator http://tinyurl.com/cvwhrpx

–The Center for Housing Policy has released an update of its Paycheck to Paycheck database, and a report that finds that many workers in five common jobs related to the holiday retail season cannot afford to rent or own a home.  To see the database and the report, http://tinyurl.com/8yw29gc

–The impact of healthy food access on rural and urban communities is discussed in Policy Link’s Healthy Food, Healthy Communities: Promising Strategies to Improve Access to Fresh, Healthy Food and Transform Communities.  For a free copy, http://tinyurl.com/7p8a6s4

–The Institute for Comprehensive Community Development has published the third issue of its Journal featuring a series of articles that explore how community development can have the best impact in a complex world.  To download a copy, http://tinyurl.com/7k6cx47

–United States agriculture is notorious for its “golden eras.” In the 1910s and the 1970s, strong global demand and rising exports boosted agricultural commodity prices and farm incomes. These golden eras, however, were soon tarnished as economic and financial market conditions changed. Today, U.S. agriculture appears to be in the midst of another golden era. Robust export activity, strong bio-fuels demand and low interest rates have spurred another farm income and farmland value boom. Despite the vast similarities to past booms, subtle differences suggest that this time could be different.  The latest issue of the “Main Street Economist” explores the foundations of the current and past farm booms. Read the complete article at: http://tinyurl.com/7rgayrw.

–2011 Bicycle Tourism Summit Presentations Posted.  Presentations by several of the speakers at the Bicycle Tourism Summit held in Mankato on November 3, 2011 have now been posted on the website. In addition, the entire resource manual and the Mississippi River Trail Marketing Tool Box can also be downloaded. Go to http://tinyurl.com/7zjhk25 to access these great resources.

––CDFI Fund Announces Capacity Building Initiative’s First Resource Bank.  The Financing Healthy Food Options Resource Bank makes the training and resource materials used for the Financing Healthy Food Options training series available to the general public and members of the community development industry.  To learn more about the bank, click http://tinyurl.com/89fpvam

- The Farm Program Atlas is an online interactive mapping tool that displays payment and participation data by county for seven key Federal farm programs. The tool enables users to view maps, see how data vary across counties, and download the data.  See http://tinyurl.com/74d83to

– Rural America has a role to play as the nation addresses challenges around how we sustainably feed, fuel, and connect with one another.  This year’s gathering of the National Rural Assembly in St. Paul focused on building a more inclusive nation where all the people and all the places can make a difference.   http://tinyurl.com/6o2t2qf

– A 128-page Renewable Energy in Schools guide was prepared by the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society in June 2011. Available for free download from the web site above, this is a step-by-step guide for evaluating, acquiring, installing, promoting and using renewable energy systems in K-12 schools.  This guide describes a process that will help schools learn from the experiences of other schools, identify clear goals and provide tools to achieve those goals. It provides an approach to help navigate the sometimes obscure process of creating a successful renewable energy project that meets the school’s educational, sustainability, fiscal and environmental goals.

The guide lays out a general process, but also provides examples of details and technical information, as well as educational, financial, and technical resources available to schools. Readers need to be aware, however, that the renewable energy landscape is evolving rapidly and the resources noted in this guide will also change. The guide’s emphasis, therefore, is on helping identify types of resources rather than specific programs, curricula or grants. This guide specifically focuses on wind and solar systems.

For more details or to download the guide, go to: http://bit.ly/vdN5EO

–The new Minnesota Health Care Reform Task Force website is a clearinghouse for health reform efforts. http://tinyurl.com/7zr5aab

– FederalGrants.com is dedicated to helping you find information on United States Federal Grants. We aim to provide accurate information on how to qualify for these government grants, the processes related to applying for a grant, and what to do once you are approved.  Go to: http://www.federalgrants.com/

–Research Investments and Market Structure in the Food Processing, Agricultural Input, and Biofuels Industries Worldwide.  Meeting growing global demand for food, fiber, and biofuel requires robust investment in agricultural research and development (R&D) from both public and private sectors. This study examines global R&D spending by private industry in seven agricultural input sectors, food manufacturing, and biofuel and describes the changing structure of these industries. In 2007 (the latest year for which comprehensive estimates are available), the private sector spent $19.7 billion on food and agricultural research (56 percent in food manufacturing and 44 percent in agricultural input sectors) and accounted for about half of total public and private spending on food and agricultural R&D in high-income countries. In R&D related to biofuel, annual private-sector investments are estimated to have reached $1.47 billion worldwide by 2009. Incentives to invest in R&D are influenced by market structure and other factors Agricultural input industries have undergone significant structural change over the past two decades, with industry concentration on the rise. A relatively small number of large, multinational firms with global R&D and marketing networks account for most R&D in each input industry. Rising market concentration has not generally been associated with increased R&D investment as a percentage of industry sales.  See:  http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/err130/

JOB OPENINGS

– Executive Director for the West Central/Southwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnership. In Minnesota, we have a set of Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, which focus on sustainable development in agriculture, natural resources and tourism.  Each of the partnerships has a strong board of very engaged people representing community and university stakeholders.  These partnerships are part of Extension and there is an opening for the Executive Director for the West Central/Southwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnership.

This is an excellent position for making an impact on sustainable development in Greater Minnesota.  Please see the job posting at the link below and feel free to forward
Direct link to job posting http://employment.umn.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=100211

– Director of Grants, Blandin Foundation.  Copies of the position description can be found at http://www.blandinfoundation.org/who-we-are/careers.php

 

December MRP Rural Roundup

December 2011 – Volume IX, Number 11

Compiled and edited by Deb Miller Slipek & Ann Treacy

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

–ACROSS THE FIELD

–FUNDING

–TRAINING/MEETINGS

–OPPORTUNITIES

–MISCELLANEOUS

Across the Field – Celebrating the Compendium – by guest writer Jane Leonard

The MRP Round-Up is about to reach its 10^th year of compiling, digesting and disseminating (hopefully) useful information. Although Minnesota Rural Partners is no longer an active organization, volunteers continue to publish the MRP Rural Round-Up. It’s pretty easy to do and it seems to help so many folks out there. Please thank Deb Miller Slipek and Ann Treacy for their monthly dedication to this task over the past nine years.

As the 10^th year of the Round-Up comes into view, I thought I should share some of the inspiration for this monthly compendium (a concise summary or abridgement). I learned about words like “compendium” when I was writing my master’s thesis in journalism way back in the 1980s. My thesis covered the importance of agricultural journals of the 1800s. Well before the creation of electronic information technologies, Americans used agricultural fairs, experiment farms, and agricultural journals to share rural know-how. These information dissemination methods offered incredibly rich ways to connect personally and remotely. They also inspired the official start and eventual cabinet-level creation of the United States Department of Agriculture (which celebrates its 150^th anniversary in 2012).

If you want to see an example of 19^th century information sharing technology here in Minnesota, go to the Oliver Kelley Farm in Elk River. According to the Minnesota Historical Society, “although he knew little about farming in 1850, Oliver H. Kelley staked a claim at the new town of Itasca on the Mississippi River near present-day Elk River. He became a “book farmer,” learning the latest farming techniques from agricultural journals and by corresponding with other “scientific-oriented” farmers. In a short time, he became an expert on farming in Minnesota…. He went on to start the National Grange, a fraternal organization of farm families.”

One of the premier agricultural journals of Oliver Kelley’s day was the national American Agriculturist (“Designed to improve the farmer, the planter, and the gardener.”). A sentiment I read in the March 1856 issue has guided me in my career over the years and inspired me to help start the online Rural Round-Up a decade ago.

Here it is, shared in the spirit and generosity of knowledge dissemination 150 years ago; the words remain helpful and relevant today: “Gentility is neither in birth, wealth, manner nor fashion—but in the mind. A high sense of honor, a determination never to take a mean advantage of another, an adherence to truth, delicacy, and politeness towards those with whom we have dealings, are its essential characteristics.”

– American Agriculturist, March 1856.

FUNDING

– The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has begun accepting applications from investors and businesses that want to participate in the Minnesota Angel Tax Credit Program in 2012.  The agency will have $12 million in angel tax credits available to qualified investors next year. DEED had $16 million in angel tax credits available in 2011, but those credits ran out this week because of the strong response to the program.

Under the program, qualified investors can receive a tax credit of 25 percent on investments of at least $10,000 in emerging companies that specialize in high technology or new proprietary technology.  Businesses that receive angel funding must be headquartered in Minnesota and have fewer than 25 employees, with at least 51 percent of the workers and total payroll based in the state. Businesses must have been operating for no more than 10 years and cannot have received previous equity investments exceeding $2 million.

Investors and businesses can begin the application process for 2012 participation at: www.PositivelyMinnesota.com/angelcredit. Other details about the program are available from Jeff Nelson at 651-259-7523 or Angel.Credit@state.mn.us.

– MPCA begins accepting applications for $350,000 in clean diesel grant funding.   The MPCA will be seeking applicants to use its federal Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) grant funding to improve a wide range of fleets. Applications must be received by Dec. 22, 2011, and projects must be completed by Aug. 31, 2012.

The MPCA’s new target will be public and private on-road and off-road diesel fleets older than 2007 that operate in Minnesota, with preference given to those operating in the seven-county Twin Cities metro area. Focus remains on the Twin Cities because air quality there is close to exceeding the national air quality health standards for fine particles and ozone.

The current Request for Proposal (RFP) will fund EPA-approved technologies, including idle reduction, emission controls, hybrid replacement and engine re-powers. Vehicle and equipment examples include on-road class 5 (16,000 lb. gross vehicle weight) or larger delivery trucks, off-road construction equipment, generators of 100-300 horsepower, and refrigeration units for delivery trucks.

The minimum award is $10,000 and the maximum award is $150,000. Vehicles and equipment must be in working order to be eligible for grant funding and no work can begin until a contract agreement is approved by the MPCA. For a copy of the Request for Proposal (RFP), contact Martina Cameron at contracts.pca@state.mn.us or at 651-757-2259. Applicants will need to give an email address to receive the RFP application and supporting materials electronically. The email subject line should read: “CR5220, Clean Diesel RFP.” More information can be found online on the MPCA’s Grants/Financial Assistance for Clean Diesel Projects page.

– Calling your attention to an opportunity for $5,000 planning grants that can lead to possible three-year implementation grants from Women’s Foundation of Minnesota. http://www.wfmn.org/  Deadline for planning grant application is January 19, 2012 with grant period from April 1 – August 30, 2012.

The Foundation’s Social Change Fund awards grants to Minnesota nonprofits seeking to remove barriers to equality for women and girls in their communities through “social change” – shifting attitudes and behaviors, or institutions and policies that limit equality.  For more information on how to apply click here. http://tinyurl.com/cnxd5l6 Also note that a webinar http://tinyurl.com/bnmrwwt is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on December 15 to learn more about the social change fund, grant application and opportunity for questions.  This funder awards grants throughout Minnesota, including organizations and projects in Greater Minnesota.

–Upcoming East Central Regional Arts Council (ECRAC) deadlines:

Art Project Grants for Organizations- January 15, 2012 information is online at: http://www.ecrac.org/grants/organization-project-grant 

Small Grants for Organizations – February 1 & April 1, 2012 information is online at: http://www.ecrac.org/grants/small-grant-project 

Art and Cultural Heritage Fund Grants for organizations and individuals -February 1 & April 1, 2012.  Grant application materials for this program are online at: (organizations) http://tinyurl.com/c8rxy3t and (individuals) http://tinyurl.com/cpxurb7

Art in Our Schools – February 1 & April 1, 2012 information is online at: http://www.ecrac.org/grants/art-our-school-grant 

Individual Artist Grants – February 1 & April 1, 2012.  Grant application materials for this program are online at: http://tinyurl.com/ccb5aeg

TRAINING/MEETINGS

– Plan on the 2012 Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference.  Registration and lodging information is now available for the 2012 Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference at the Kahler Grand Hotel in Rochester, January 24-25. Cost for the conference remains the same as last year. Early rate registration is $179 (registration and payment must be postmarked by January 10, 2012) and the second/subsequent attendees from the same organization will remain at $159.  Go to: http://tinyurl.com/cv26sbm for a more complete description of the sessions. Online registration is preferred. Contact Gayle Junnila at 651-757-1852 or gayle.junnila@state.mn.us for more information.

–Save the Date! Grassroots & Groundwork 2012 Conference will be held June 6-8, 2012 at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, MN.

OPPORTUNITIES

– A new initiative called Lend for America (www.lendforamerica.org) was launched by a collective of student-powered microenterprise organizations called the Campus Microfinance Alliance.  Summer internships for university students committed to bringing microenterprise to their local campus communities are being offered. You can read about the interesting work being done around the country by these organizations by visiting the Lend for America website.  If you know of university students interested in this internship opportunity, they can apply online or attend a virtual information session on December 16th: http://tinyurl.com/d4zkzmh.

– The East Central Regional Arts Council (ECRAC) is accepting applications from individuals wishing to serve on the Board of Directors. There are currently openings for Chisago, Isanti, and Pine County representatives.  ECRAC is looking for individuals with knowledge of various art forms and perspectives. Those encouraged to apply are:  arts advocates; past grantees; active artists working in all disciplines; artists from communities of color; arts supporters/collectors; or individuals with knowledge of their local arts community.

The deadline for submitting a nomination is December 31, 2011. Interested individuals may contact the ECRAC office at director@ecrac.org or 320-396-2337 for more information about responsibilities, the council and its grant programs, and to receive a self-nomination form.

MISCELLANEOUS

–At the recent Jump$tart National Educators Conference, the Financial Services Roundtable provided a list of 36 free, comprehensive financial education curricula; most are for high school. It was compiled with Operation HOPE. It is very helpful to see them all in one place. http://tinyurl.com/dyc6295

–Can Brazil Meet the World’s Growing Need for Ethanol?  Brazil is a major supplier of ethanol due to its natural advantage in sugarcane production, productivity gains in both sugarcane production and ethanol processing, and supportive government policies. While Brazil has the potential to fill the growing world demand for ethanol, the country’s ability to supply the world ethanol market also depends on domestic ethanol demand, relative prices of ethanol, sugar, and crude oil, the Real’s exchange value, and improvements to infrastructure.  See: http://tinyurl.com/c4onjp5

– The NAFTA Countries Build on Free Trade. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is an integral part of the North American agricultural economy. Efforts to strengthen agricultural trade under NAFTA are focusing on regulatory cooperation, long-haul trucking, dispute resolution in produce trade, and refining NAFTA’s rules of origin. Recognizing market opportunities outside North America, each NAFTA country is seeking more open trading relationships with non-NAFTA countries.  See: http://tinyurl.com/cwhkcxj

– Local Foods Marketing Channels Encompass a Wide Range of Producers. The size of the U.S. local food market was $4.8 billion in 2008. Local food marketing channels varied with farm size, region of the country, and proximity to population centers. Operators of small and medium-sized farms with local food sales spent more hours farming and are more likely to list farming as their primary occupation than similarly sized farms without local food sales.  See: http://tinyurl.com/d5eay32

–U.S. Food Safety Policy Enters a New Era.  In late 2010, Congress passed the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the most comprehensive reforms to Federal food safety laws since 1938. The preventive approach embodied in the Act reflects an established scientific/managerial consensus on how to improve food safety systems. Economic research on similar food safety initiatives by industry and government can help guide implementation of the FSMA.  See: http://tinyurl.com/6u83o9x

–Changing Farming Practices Accompany Major Shifts in Farm Structure. While the number of farms and land in farms has remained relatively stable over the past 3 decades, agricultural productivity has grown significantly. Changes in the way farmers produce and market agricultural commodities have allowed many farmers to increase the size of their operations, facilitating technological and organizational changes that, in turn, have helped increase productivity. On net, these changes in farm structure and practices have resulted in a smaller environmental footprint for the average unit of output produced.  See: http://tinyurl.com/bqvws79

–AMBER WAVES, DECEMBER 2011, VOL. 9, NO. 4.  Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS’s research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print four times a year (March, June, September, and December). The Internet edition, or “eZine,” includes links to web-only resources, such as podcasts and additional articles.  See:  http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/December11/

–Recognizing Risk in Global Agriculture: A Summary of the 2011 Agricultural Symposium can be viewed at: http://tinyurl.com/ckff288

– Winona NANOprep Grant
Southeast Technical has received a large NSF grant to develop nanotechnology programs aimed at rural students.  http://www.mhta.org/MHTA-newsletter.php

–Harnessing the Power of Biomass Energy in the Midwest. The Midwest’s abundant agricultural and forestry biomass residuals have the potential to provide new opportunities for economic development, energy security, and environmental conservation. “Harnessing the Power of Biomass Residuals: Opportunities and Challenges for Midwestern Renewable Energy,” The Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ newest Heartland Paper, http://tinyurl.com/24rchpy examines these opportunities and identifies key challenges limiting current biomass energy technologies. The report concludes with a framework for making better use of these residuals in the region.

– FEDERAL FUNDS.  This product contains information from the Census Bureau’s Consolidated Federal Funds Reports on Federal expenditures and obligations for grants, salaries and wages, procurements, direct payments, direct loans, guaranteed loans, and insurance obtained from Federal Government agencies. ERS screens the data for each Federal program for accuracy at the county level and then presents the data by function and type of program for each county and State. Data for fiscal 2010 are now available.  See: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/FederalFunds/

–THE CHANGING ORGANIZATION OF U.S. FARMING.  Innovations in farm organization, business arrangements, and production practices have allowed farmers to produce more with less. Fewer labor hours and less land are used today than 30 years ago, and practices such as the use of genetically engineered seeds and no-till have dampened increases in machinery, fuel, and pesticide use. Likely aided by the increased use of risk management tools such as contracts and crop insurance, U.S. agricultural productivity has increased by nearly 50 percent since 1982. Future innovations will be necessary to maintain, or boost, current productivity gains in order to meet the growing global demands that will be placed upon U.S. agriculture.  See http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EIB88/

– A front-line perspective on the economic health of low- to moderate-income communities.  The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis has released the results of a new survey designed to provide a read on the economic health of the Ninth Federal Reserve District’s low- to moderate-income (LMI) communities.  A total of 335 community organizations serving more than 180 cities and townships took part in the Ninth District Community Insight Survey that was piloted in second quarter 2011.  For an in-depth analysis of the information provided by respondents, including state-level comparisons and an LMI Economic Index, http://tinyurl.com/br2osf5

–
Report Examines Census Changes.
 Data from the 2010 Census show that rural areas in the Great Plains and Midwest continue to lose population, while smaller cities and metropolitan areas continue to expand.  http://www.cfra.org/node/3695

– Workshop materials from Utilizing Data to Manage Neighborhood Change, a daylong exploration of using data to stabilize neighborhoods and serve them better, are now available at:
 http://tinyurl.com/c84d5gm

 

November MRP Rural Roundup

November 2011 – Volume IX, Number 10

Compiled and edited by Deb Miller Slipek & Ann Treacy

Editors’ Note: We’re publishing a shorter issue this month but wanted to get the info below out on time! We hope to have a jam-packed issue for the year-end in December and as we enter our tenth year of publishing these missives, we want to thank all the past and current supporters of Minnesota Rural Partners. MRP is all volunteer now but we’ll keep publishing the Round-Up as long as folks think it’s useful.

IN THIS ISSUE:

–Funding

–Training/Meetings

–Opportunities

–Miscellaneous

FUNDING

– The Minnesota Department of Health announces the 2011 Minnesota e-Health Connectivity Grant Program for Health Information Exchange (HIE).  This program will help health care providers, hospitals and pharmacies in rural and underserved areas build HIE capacity and achieve HIE capability. Grant awards range up to $10,000. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated on a first come, first served basis. Visit the Minnesota e- Health Connect webpage for more information on this new funding opportunity include the Program Guidance and Grant Application

–Seed Grant Funding Available for Community-Based Clean Energy Projects Across Minnesota.  CERTs seeks to provide seed grants to support the labor costs for clean energy projects, spurring community development and supporting local jobs in Minnesota.  Project proposals should be for a community-based energy efficiency or renewable energy project, that also provides a forum for community education about energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and their economic, ecological and community benefits.  Since 2006, CERTs has funded more than 150 projects ranging from energy efficiency for city-owned buildings to solar power for schools, from on-farm wind power to renewably-heated greenhouses, and much more. Past projects can be seen at http://projects.mncerts.org, and case studies can be read at http://casestudies.mncerts.org.

CERTs offers many tools and resources to help you plan your project. Proposals must be submitted no later than November 15th, 2011 at 5:00pm.  Visit http://rfp.mncerts.org to learn more and apply.

– HUD has announced the availability of funds for Indian Tribes and nonprofits that serve Indian populations to develop and disseminate one or more sets of “lessons learned” that will inform Native American communities of the issues to be considered when taking on sustainable construction efforts.  Deadline:  11/15/2011.  To learn more and apply, control-click here.

–Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program solicits grant applications.  Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program is soliciting applications by November 18, 2011 for its 2012 annual grant cycle. Approximately $450,000 will be available for non-construction, construction and land acquisition projects that preserve, restore and enhance Minnesota’s coastal resources. 
Priority will be given to projects that focus on public access, coastal community planning and development, coastal hazards, coastal habitat and government coordination.

The Coastal Program preserves, protects, develops and, where possible, restores or enhances coastal resources along Minnesota’s North Shore of Lake Superior.
Local and state governmental entities and nonprofit organizations working in the state’s coastal area, which includes portions of the lower St. Louis River, its estuary, Lake Superior and the North Shore, are eligible to apply.

In general, applicants are required to match 50 percent of the total project costs. Individual requests can vary, but no more than $100,000 per request will be awarded.

Grant funding is available from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972. Funds are administered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.  For more information, see:

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/lakesuperior/grants.html or contact Karla Sundberg, grants specialist, at 218-834-1447 or karla.sundberg@state.mn.us

-Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 23 Palliative Care Rural Initiative Community Partner applications are due November 21.  Eligible applicants are community hospice organizations in VISN 23, which includes Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and portions of Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin and Wyoming (map).

This is an opportunity for community hospice organizations to enhance communication and coordination, and to streamline hospice services for veterans requiring end-of-life care.  Applicants are encouraged to implement one of the Reaching Out Program Models, which enhance end-of-life care to veterans in rural communities.  Complete information is online at https://secure.ruralcenter.org/visn/ or contact Sally Trnka at 218-727-9390, ext. 233 or strnka@ruralcenter.org.

–HUD is offering grants to nonprofit and public agencies for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program: Technical Assistance and Capacity Building.  Grants will provide NSP recipients with the assessment tools and technical and capacity building assistance needed to fully understand their local market conditions, and to increase their capacity to successfully carry out federal assistance programs.  Deadline to apply:  11/21/2011.  To apply, control-click here.

–The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has announced the availability of funds for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.  Applications are due by 11/22/2011.  Approximately $19 million is available and projects will be awarded in 2012.  For more on this opportunity, control-click here.

–Minnesota Rural Flexibility (FLEX) Grant Program applications are due November 28.  Eligible applicants are rural hospitals with 50 or fewer beds, rural hospitals eligible to convert to Critical Access Hospital licensure, Critical Access Hospitals, rural health networks and rural EMS organizations.

This grant is intended to preserve access to needed health services and encourage collaboration and integration of rural community health systems. Grants may be used to develop community, network or strategic plans for preserving or enhancing access to health services. Grants may also be used for implementation activities in the following categories by applicants with completed plans or needs assessments: network development, health system improvements (diversification, new services, workforce development efforts, etc.), strengthening and integrating the EMS system; and quality improvement.  Complete information is online at http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/orhpc/funding/index.html#flex or contact Judy Bergh at 651-201-3843 or judith.bergh@state.mn.us.

–THE EPA has several types of grants available for Brownfield site cleanup for nonprofits, Indian Tribes and public agencies.  Brownfields Assessment Grants provide funds for developing inventories of brownfields, prioritizing sites, conducting community involvement activities and conducting site assessments and cleanup planning.  Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grants are to capitalize a revolving fund and to make loans and provide subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites.  Brownfields Cleanup Grants are available to nonprofit and public agencies to empower states, communities, tribes and nonprofits to prevent, inventory, assess, clean up and reuse brownfield sites.  Deadline to apply for all three grant opportunities is 11/28/2011.  For more information, control-click here.

–Sustainable Agriculture Grants from North Central Region SARE.  North Central Region SARE (NCR-SARE) offers competitive grants and educational opportunities for producers, scientists, educators, institutions, organizations and others exploring sustainable agriculture in America’s Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Two types of grants are currently available from NCR-SARE:

Farmer-Rancher Grants: for farmers and ranchers to carry out Sustainable Agriculture research, demonstration, and education projects on their farms. A total of approximately $400,000 is available for this program. Applications are due December 2, 2011.

Youth and Youth Educator Grants: Grants for on-farm research, demonstration, or education projects by youth ages 8-18 ($400 maximum), and grants for educators to provide programming on sustainable agriculture for youth ($2,000 maximum). A total of $34,000 is available for this program. Applications are due January 12, 2012.

For more details, see: http://www.northcentralsare.org/Grants/Types-of-Grants

–HUD is offering grants to nonprofits with at least five years of tenant outreach and organizing work to help building owners and tenants learn about tenant protection vouchers and programs to prevent the loss of project-based rental assistance for tenants.  Deadline:  12/6/2011.  To learn more, control-click here.

–The Housing Assistance Council is offering grants to affordable housing organizations to support activities that will build, preserve, or advocate for housing for low-income seniors (62 and older) living in rural areas.  Deadline to apply:  12/15/2011.  To learn more and download an application, control-click here.

–AMERICORPS has issued a NOFA for state and national grants for FY 2012 to nonprofits, public agencies and others for programs that can demonstrate community impact and solve community problems through an evidence-based approach.  Deadline:  Letter of Intent 12/15/2011 (optional); applications due 1/18/2012.  To learn more, go to the website here.

–J. JILL COMPASSION FUND is accepting pre-applications for 2012 grants to help disadvantaged and homeless women.  Funding priority is given to nonprofit programs and organizations that provide job training, education, and transitional and/or affordable housing to disadvantaged and homeless women.  Deadline:  12/21/2011.  To learn more, control-click here.

–HUD has funds available for the Community Development Block Grant Program for Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages.  The program provides grants for a variety of community development, economic development and/or affordable housing projects in Indian and Alaska Native communities.  Deadline to apply:  1/4/2012.  To learn more, control-click here.

TRAINING/MEETINGS

– CFED will hold a webinar that presents new Assets & Opportunity Scorecard data on November 17, 2011 at 2:00 PM EST.  The webinar will also highlight trends in legislative changes in 2011.  To register, control-click here.  To get the updated Scorecard, control-click here.

OPPORTUNITIES

– The University of Minnesota’s Carlson Executive Education program is awarding ten scholarships for small Minnesota-based companies or nonprofit organizations. Each scholarship is valued at $3,500 and is intended to provide assistance to small companies and nonprofit organizations that need additional business knowledge to survive and thrive in the current tough economy. Scholarships will be awarded to those applicants who can best demonstrate the positive impact the scholarship will have upon their company or organization. They are for use in 2012. For more information or to apply, visit the Carlson School website.

–Request for Proposal is due November 16 for the purpose of conducting a needs assessment for a health clinic or other health care needs of the Tribal Population in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, with a focus and emphasis on White Earth Nation members. A report to the Legislature documenting the results of the assessment and providing recommendation is required. The draft report is due to the Minnesota Department of Health by February 22.

– Travel Marketing Award Nominations Accepted. Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2011 Tourism Marketing awards, presented by Explore Minnesota Tourism. The awards are intended to recognize significant achievement in the promotion of travel and tourism into and throughout the State of Minnesota. The awards are given annually at the Minnesota Conference on Tourism and will be presented on Tuesday, January 24, at the Kahler Grand Hotel in Rochester, Minnesota.

Competitive awards are presented each year to tourism businesses and organizations for outstanding tourism advertising projects and promotions. Competitive awards are presented in several categories, based on various media efforts.  Special recognition awards are presented to individuals and organizations in recognition of major and lasting contributions to the promotion of the Minnesota travel product or dedication to and development of the Minnesota travel industry.  Nomination forms must be submitted by Friday, November 25, 2011. For more information, contact Dave Bergman at 888-563-7777 or click:
http://industry.exploreminnesota.com/side1/events-conferences/2012-explore-minnesota-tourism-conference/.

–Request for Proposal is due November 28 to identify a survey vendor to collect CAHPS® Clinician and Group Survey (CG-CAHPS) data for a test of equivalency between the CG-CAHPS Visit version (CG-Visit) and a modified version of the new CG-CAHPS Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Survey (CG-PCMH) that includes the core questions from the CG-Visit version.

– InvestWrite Essay Competition.
The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Foundation (SIFMA) needs volunteers to score essays for its InvestWrite national student essay competition. Judging is done entirely online, with no phone calls or meetings. The foundation provides helpful instructions and support. Volunteer judges can make a difference in the lives of many students across the nation who will learn the importance of saving and investing for their futures.

– The Minnesota Department of Human Services currently has six Executive Pathways (paid) internship positions available for students (undergraduate[juniors/seniors], graduate and law students). The Executive Pathways program is a great opportunity for students because it provides abundant policy research and legal writing opportunities, exposure to agency development and opportunities to interact with upper level management. See: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/id_010465.

MISCELLANEOUS

– Resources for nonprofit evaluation can be found at: http://www.minnesotanonprofits.org/nonprofit-resources/management-hr/program-evaluation/resources-for-evaluation

– A New Information Home.  There is a new home for information on nonprofits. It is the National Center for Charitable Statistics at the Urban Institute. The Institute offers hundreds of topics under these headings: Management, Development, Organization, Resources and Regulation. Under each heading are multiple topics. I chose “volunteer programs” and there were 59 FAQs with many leading to another link. This is a good “first step” for anyone learning about the field.

– State Fact Sheets.  The ERS State Fact Sheets provide information on population, income, poverty, education, employment, federal funds, organic agriculture, farm characteristics, farm financial indicators, top commodities, and exports, for each State in the United States. Links to county-level data are included when available. The State Fact Sheets have been updated with measures of household-level food insecurity for States over time.  See: http://www.ers.usda.gov/StateFacts/

– Compass now has Twin Cities Neighborhood Profiles! Using recently-released data from the decennial census, the American Community Survey, and OnTheMap, Compass now has 115 profiles, chock-full of data and trends on housing, employment, household income, and many others, for each of the neighborhoods in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and selected larger communities.

– The White House Rural Council: Feedback from Rural America is available.  The document provides an overview of the challenges and the opportunities rural Americans have voiced during the White House Rural Council’s visits to rural communities.  To get a copy, control-click here.

– Being Active in Your Community is a Cornerstone to Good Health, is a growing national trend in resident-powered comprehensive community development, according to an article from The Institute for Comprehensive Community Development.  In this approach, resident leaders join with professionals to determine a course for community improvement and then work as partners in achieving that vision.  To read the full article, control-click here.

– More Poor Kids in More Poor Places is a report from the Carsey Institute that indicates that since the onset of the recession, poverty levels in persistent child poverty counties have sharply increased.  The authors comment that the overwhelming urban focus of welfare programs means policymakers often overlook needy families in rural areas.  To read more, click here.

– Stock Market Game
Sponsored by the SIFMA Foundation, this online game simulates global capital markets for students in fourth grade through high school. The game introduces students to economics, investing, and personal finance. The goal is to help students become financially independent.

–Direct and Intermediate Marketing of Local Foods in the United States. This study uses nationally representative data on marketing of local foods to assess the relative scale of local food marketing channels. This research documents that sales through intermediated marketing channels, such as farmers’ sales to local grocers and restaurants, account for a large portion of all local food sales. Small and medium-sized farms dominate local foods sales marketed exclusively through direct-to-consumer channels (foods sold at roadside stands or farmers’ markets, for example) while large farms dominate local food sales marketed exclusively through intermediated channels. Farmers marketing food locally are most prominent in the Northeast and the West Coast regions and areas close to densely populated urban markets. Climate and topography favoring the production of fruits and vegetables, proximity to and neighboring farm participation in farmers’ markets, and good transportation and information access are found to be associated with higher levels of direct-to-consumer sales.  See: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR128/

 

October MRP Rural Roundup

October 2011 – Volume IX, Number 9

Compiled and edited by Deb Miller Slipek and Ann Treacy

Across the Field is taking a break this month to enjoy the extended summer we seem to be having…but we’re also glad to be having some much needed rain!

FUNDING

–HUD has funding available for Energy Innovation Fund Multifamily Pilot Program grants for CDFIs, nonprofits, for-profits and special purpose financing entities.  Deadline: 10/20/2011.  Projects should demonstrate financing or applied research showing innovative approaches to increase energy efficiency at existing multifamily properties.  http://tinyurl.com/66d4xfb

–HUD is offering funding for three programs for homeless individuals: 1. Supportive Housing Program; 2. Section 8 SRO Moderate Rehabilitation; and 3. Shelter Plus Care.  Grants are available to nonprofits and public agencies for these programs.  Deadline:  10/28/2011.  http://tinyurl.com/67fcg9m

–The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is offering grants to rural nonprofits or health care entities working to plan a network to expand access to, coordinate and improve the quality of essential health care services and enhance the delivery of health care in rural areas through planning activities.  Deadline: 10/31/2011.  http://tinyurl.com/68gds5b

–Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program is online at: http://tinyurl.com/6y8ne6t State and local governments are eligible. 
Due date is 10/31/11.

– 2012 Organizational Partnership and Scenic Byway Grant Guidelines.  With recommendations from the Partnership Grant Task Force and input from the Tourism Council, a new partnership and scenic byway grant program has been established. Deadline for applications will be November 1, 2011. Go to: http://industry.exploreminnesota.com/side1/grants/ for more information.

–Health care delivery system demonstration proposals are due to the Minnesota Department of Human Services by the revised and extended deadline of November 4. http://tinyurl.com/4xxfjdr

–Youth Service America is offering grants of up to $1,000 to students, teachers, and staff members of community-based organizations working within a public K-12 school, or service learning coordinators, for service-learning projects in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  Deadline:  11/9/2011.  http://tinyurl.com/6y7ynqn

–Eleven top foundations, seven federal agencies and The National Endowment for the Arts have collaborated to establish ArtPlace, a nationwide initiative to accelerate creative placemaking through investments in art, culture and creativity to create vibrant communities.  To be considered for the next round of grants, a Letter of Inquiry is due by 11/15/2011.  http://www.artplaceamerica.org/loi/

–USDA has funding available to nonprofits for grants to plan or implement community food projects that improve health and/or nutrition among disadvantaged and/or low-income populations and communities.  Deadline:  11/17/2011.  http://tinyurl.com/5t9vwuf

–HRSA is offering funds to rural nonprofit and public agencies for the development of new and innovative health care delivery systems in rural communities that lack essential health care services.  Deadline to apply:  11/22/2011.  http://tinyurl.com/3ok49r4

–The Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) is pleased to announce the release of the FY 2012 Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grant Program (announcement number: HRSA-12-083).  ORHP’s Outreach Program supports projects that demonstrate effective models of outreach and service delivery through collaboration, adoption of an evidence-based or promising practice model, demonstration of health outcomes, replicability and sustainability. Proposed projects will have an outcomes-oriented approach that will enhance and sustain the delivery of effective health care in rural communities by tracking specific health indicators that will demonstrate the impact of their project at the end of their grant period. They will be based on evidence-based or promising practice models in order to avoid “reinventing the wheel” and demonstrate health status improvement in rural communities. Proposed Outreach projects can take the framework of an evidence-based or promising practice model and tailor it to their community’s need and organization.  Applicants may propose funding for up to three (3) years from May 1, 2012 to April 30, 2015. The maximum award is up to $150,000 per year.  We expect to fund approximately 80 grantees.

• Link for Funding Opportunity Synopsis : http://tinyurl.com/686qaal
• Link to apply for Funding Opportunity: http://tinyurl.com/6cy7q3w

The deadline to submit an application in grants.gov is November 22, 2011. ORHP strongly recommends that applicants submit their applications prior to the due date to avoid any technological problems. All applications have to be submitted electronically in www.grants.gov. For further questions on this funding opportunity, please contact the program coordinator, Kathryn Umali, 301-443-7444, kumali@hrsa.gov

–Farmers and ranchers with innovative ideas for producing or marketing their crops or products may find funding through the SARE Farmer-Rancher Grants program. Proposals are due December 2, 2011 for up to $22,000.  Go to: http://www.cfra.org/node/3524 .  The North-Central Region Sustainable Ag Research and Education (NCSARE) Program expects to fund 45 farmer-led projects in 2012. These projects can address production, marketing, processing, environmental impacts, and community effects of farming and ranching. Projects would test or demonstrate a new idea and include a way of telling other farmers about it. This year the grant has a new category for partner-applicants. Individuals may apply for up to $7500, partners may ask for $15,000, and groups may ask for $22,500. Interested applicants can find the call for proposals as well as useful information for completing a proposal at: http://www.northcentralsare.org/Grants/. Assistance is available from grant coordinator Joan Benjamin at benjaminj@lincolnu.edu, 573.681.5545 or 800.529.1342.

–Rural Hospital Capital Improvement Grant applications are available now and due December 16. http://tinyurl.com/5ruq5qx

–NIH is offering grants to nonprofit and public agencies for innovative research to identify mechanisms of influence and/or promote positive sustainable health behaviors in children and youth.  Deadline:  Rolling.  http://tinyurl.com/5vloa6 

TRAINING/MEETINGS

– Broadband Pre-Conference Webinars Coming Up.  Leading up to the Fall Broadband Conference, the Blandin Foundation will be hosting a series of free webinars. In the past these sessions have been a great way to bone up on topics before the conference and/or a good taste of the type of topic that might come up at the conference. The first session starts next week. http://tinyurl.com/6a5cmma

Pre-Broadband Conference Webinar – Mobile Broadband – Is it enough? -Wednesday, October 19, 2011 – 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM. 
 Please register at:  https://blandinfoundation.ilinc.com/register/jjszfrm 

Pre-Broadband Conference Webinar – Public-private partnerships in broadband – Wednesday, October 26, 2011 – 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM. 
 Please register at: https://blandinfoundation.ilinc.com/register/wwvhkfv

Pre-Broadband Conference Webinar – Community Transformation via Technology- Wednesday, November 2, 2011 – 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM. 
 Please register at: https://blandinfoundation.ilinc.com/register/rrychss

  – The Governor’s Job Summit will be held Tuesday, October 25, 2011, at the Crowne Plaza Riverfront Hotel, St. Paul from
8 am – 5 pm, networking reception following from 5 – 7 pm.  Attendees can look forward to:

• Hearing Governor Dayton’s remarks on the priorities for Minnesota’s economy
• Panel discussion on what is needed to make Minnesota more globally competitive
• Breakout working sessions covering timely issues/topics
• Keynote presentation from Michael Mandelbaum, co-author of Thomas Friedman’s new book, “That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back” (book released September 5, 2011).

Register now at www.PositivelyMinnesota.com/summit

– Zoom In, Zoom Out with MCN and IABC.  Nonprofit communicators are asked to focus on details with the big picture in mind, while balancing long-term goals with here-and-now strategy.  You are invited to attend the 2011 Nonprofit Communicators Workshop Series, presented by MCN and the Minnesota Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. Zoom In, Zoom Out: Focus Your Communications is a four-part series dedicated to helping you improve your perspective on crafting creative communications. http://mn.iabc.com/

What Comes After Click, Like, Follow?, October 25 http://tinyurl.com/6xxluhd

Un-Risky Business: Protecting Your Organization in the Online World, November 8 http://tinyurl.com/6x42wml

Making Mobile Meaningful and Manageable, November 29 http://tinyurl.com/64ok7ec

Creativity Lab: The Art and Science of Innovation, December 13 http://tinyurl.com/68rw79u

– Webinar: Supporting Rural Economic Vitality through Campus-Community Partnerships will be October 27, 2011 from1:00 – 2:30 PM.  For more information go to: http://ruraleconomies.eventbrite.com/

– Utilizing Data to Manage Neighborhood Change will be held Friday, October 28, 2011 from 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.  Join with fellow community development practitioners, researchers, and policymakers for a daylong exploration of using data to stabilize neighborhoods and serve them better.  Featuring local and regional panelists discussing data collection and analysis efforts to better target neighborhood stabilization efforts; regional partnership efforts that use data to maximize and target scarce resources; and what you need to know about the perils, pitfalls, and costs of gathering and analyzing data.
 Registration link:
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2286751736.  Sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis 
and the University of Minnesota Center for Urban and Regional Affairs. Questions? Contact Michael Grover, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Development Manager, at michael.grover@mpls.frb.org or 612-204-5172.

OPPORTUNITIES

–The East Central Regional Arts Council (East Central RAC) is hosting the 25th Annual IMAGE Regional Art Show. This is a judged art exhibition featuring the work of artists who live in Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine Counties.

Over 100 artists from these counties have entered the show! A variety of art work such as photography, sculpture, painting, drawing, ceramics, and mixed media will be on display. This exhibition is open to the public and is free of charge. The show will be open for viewing: Friday, October 14, from 7 to 9 pm (the opening of the show); Monday through Friday, October 17 – 21, from 10 am to 4 pm each day; and Saturday, October 22, from 10 am to noon. This will also be the open house for the new East Central RAC. The location is 112 Main Street South in Braham, MN.
 This event is made possible with funding provided by the East Central Arts Council and the East Central Regional Development Commission through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature and The McKnight Foundation. For more information contact the East Central RAC at 320-396-2337, by email at info@ecrac.org

–Bigger, Better Broadband: a Video retrospective produced by you!

As a reminder, the Fall Broadband Conference is happening November 16-17 in Duluth. We’re working with Connect Minnesota. The conference will focus on the ARRA Broadband funding efforts that have been underway in Minnesota.  To help highlight the great activity in the state, we’re doing something kind of fun – a film fest! And we’re inviting folks around the state to submit videos… http://tinyurl.com/44qgnxg

The Blandin Foundation is looking for video shorts (less than 10 minutes) on bigger better broadband in Minnesota to showcase at a Broadband Film Festival!

The Film Festival will be part of the 2011 broadband conference: Policy and Progress: Border to Border Broadband, November 16-17. The Film Festival will take place on November 17 from 5:00-9:00 pm at the Zeitgeist small theater in Duluth, Minnesota. The Festival will feature video, food and fun.

We are looking for locally developed videos to showcase what’s happening in broadband adoption, deployment and/or policy in Minnesota. We leave the creativity up to you – we will be showing as many of the best videos intermingled with “broadband classics” as time allows at the Festival.

Here are the details:

• What: We seek videos shorter than 10 minutes that relate to broadband in Minnesota.
• How: Please upload your videos and send a note with your name, contact info, and link to the video to broadband@blandinfoundation.org. Email questions to kpeterson@kpgrants.com

• Where: Please upload to YouTube, Vimeo or other online video sharing site
• Who: Anyone in Minnesota is invited to submit a video
• Why: Because we want to learn about bigger, better broadband in Minnesota from the people who experience it and there are prizes!
• When: Submissions will be accepted until November 1.

Small print: Please do not submit videos that include adult content or language. Please respect copyright and do not include material that is not yours (that includes background music).

–Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED) Scholarships
 Scholarships to rural America’s most accomplished and intelligent students. Application deadline: February 13, 2012 http://tinyurl.com/3c3jxlt

MISCELLANEOUS

–RURAL AMERICA AT A GLANCE, 2011 EDITION.  Rural America At A Glance, 2011 Edition highlights the most recent indicators of social and economic conditions in rural areas for use in developing policies and programs to assist rural areas. This year’s edition focuses on the U.S. rural economy, including employment trends, poverty, education, and population trends.  See: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EIB85/

– Disturbing Trends for Minnesota in New Census Bureau Report.  Poverty and income gaps between whites and communities of color in Minnesota are widening, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report released today. The Census’ American Community Survey showed that Minnesota’s poverty rate has increased significantly. The figures also showed that median incomes are dropping in Minnesota, and the decline is particularly dramatic for communities of color. http://tinyurl.com/4yk5j2k

– Rural Income, Poverty, and Welfare. This briefing room offers a synthesis of ERS research, analysis, and data on rural Americans’ income, poverty and welfare.  See: http://tinyurl.com/3jrbdc6

–State Fact Sheets.  The ERS State Fact Sheets provide information on population, income, poverty, education, employment, federal funds, organic agriculture, farm characteristics, farm financial indicators, top commodities, and exports, for each State in the United States. Links to county-level data are included when available. The State Fact Sheets have been updated with 2010 farm financial indicators and top agricultural commodities.  See: http://wwwers.usda.gov/StateFacts/

– Need a Passport Soon? Minneapolis Passport Agency Can Help.  For anyone experiencing an urgent passport need, the U.S. Department of State operates a passport agency in Minneapolis that can process an application in five business days or fewer. To make an appointment, call 1-877-4USAPPT (877-487-2778). There is a $60 expedite fee, which includes USPS Priority Mail. If your travel is more urgent, you may request Will Call service (you or your rep picking up the passport in person), but then you must show proof of departure, such as a reservation, itinerary, or ticket. Please share this information with your business community, schools and others that plan international travel. The Minneapolis Passport Agency is located at 212 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis 55401 (across the street from the Depot Hotel). The director is Foreign Service Officer Robert DeWitt.

– High-Speed Rail for the Midwest.  The Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ Global Midwest Initiative has released a Global Midwest Policy Brief titled “High-Speed Rail for the Midwest.”  Richard Harnish, executive director of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association and author of the Policy Brief, describes the proposals and funds for rail upgrades available today and outlines the benefits of a complete high-speed rail network in the Midwest.  He argues that the decades-old transportation infrastructure of the Midwest puts the region at a disadvantage when competing in the global economy with other regions in Europe and Asia that have invested in more advanced rail systems.

Global Midwest Policy Briefs http://tinyurl.com/3qzn9kk frame and analyze pressing issues facing the Midwest in the global era and offer recommendations on how to best move forward. The briefs are concise documents that are released as part of the Global Midwest Initiative. This is the sixth brief in the series.  View a PDF copy of High-Speed Rail for the Midwest. http://tinyurl.com/3pvc6cu

–TANF in Rural America: Informing Re-authorization 
Compares rural-urban differences in rates of poverty and welfare receipt. Suggests ways to improve TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) to reduce its limitations for rural families and help bring them out of poverty levels. http://tinyurl.com/3qj4t24

–Jobs and Economic Security for Rural America 
Highlights programs and policies the current administration has implemented in rural America to support economic growth and job creation. Discusses the White House Rural Council which was developed to accelerate the ongoing work of promoting economic growth in rural America and which focuses on spurring agricultural innovation, expanding infrastructure, increasing access to capital in rural areas for small businesses, and creating economic opportunities through conservation and outdoor recreation. http://tinyurl.com/3cw6y52

–HUD is seeking comments on a proposal to designate communities as Safe and Healthy Homes Investment Partnerships (SHHIP).  SHHIP communities could receive bonus points in future HUD NOFAs.  To read the Federal Register notice, control

 

September MRP Rural Round-Up

September 2011 – Volume IX, Number 8

Compiled and edited by Deb Miller Slipek and Ann Treacy

ACROSS THE FIELD – Minnesota Community Pride Day at the Minnesota State Fair on September 3^rd was a GREAT SUCCESS! Take a look: http://www.theuptake.org/2011/08/29/live-at-the-fair-minnesota-community-pride-day/  Congrats to all the Showcase Communities!

FUNDING

Indian Health Grant applications are due September 30. http://tinyurl.com/3dfb7pb

Community Clinic Grant pre-applications are due October 7. http://tinyurl.com/6kq9omw

Minnesota’s Loan Forgiveness applications are due December 1. http://tinyurl.com/m8ge2y

–The Federal Transit Administration is offering funding to Indian tribes or Alaska Native villages, groups, or communities for funding to support planning, capital and operating assistance for Tribal public transit services.  Deadline:  9/26/2011.  For more information, http://tinyurl.com/625zkj5

–Youth Service America and United Healthcare are offering grants of $500 to $1,000 to schools, service-learning coordinators, and nonprofits for programs that demonstrate a clear understanding of the health risks associated with childhood obesity; propose creative solutions to fighting obesity; and can be easily implemented, scaled, and measured.  Deadline to apply:  10/17/2011.  For details and to apply, http://tinyurl.com/5wcys9k

–The Otto Bremer Foundation Announces New Schedule for Grant Proposal Consideration. http://tinyurl.com/69rwqw7 The Otto Bremer Foundation http://www.ottobremer.org/ recently announced a new schedule for grant proposal consideration. Proposals from the Twin Cities metro area will be considered in two of the Foundation’s six grant rounds a year; requests from all other Bremer communities will be considered during the other four grant cycles. December 2, 2011, is the deadline for applications for the March 2012 Twin Cities grant round.  For more information go to: www.bremer.com

TRAINING/MEETINGS

–Webinar: Using the Community Capitals Framework to Understand and Measure Community Impact will be Tuesday, September 27, 2011 from 2:00-3:00 PM.  Do you want to better understand and report the impact that your campus-community partnerships are having on the quality of life in your community?  Are you looking for a way to show how individual partnerships complement each other and contribute to plans to achieve greater overall community and institutional goals?

Community Capitals is a framework that facilitates planning for and measuring community or organizational change.  It is currently used around the world by community development practitioners and by researchers of asset-based development.  Cornelia B. Flora, one of the originators of this framework, will present the concepts of natural, cultural, human, social, political, financial and built capital and how they work together to sustain healthy ecosystems, economic security, and social well-being. To register, http://communitycapitals.eventbrite.com/

–Webinar: Innovations in Green Microenterprise Development in Rural Communities will be Wednesday, September 28th at 2:00 pm EDT.  Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/682715393

Established by The Conservation Fund with a lead grant from the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, ShadeFund enables individuals, companies and foundations to help green entrepreneurs across America grow their businesses and create jobs. Tax deductible contributions to ShadeFund are pooled and lent to qualified small green businesses nationwide. As entrepreneurs repay their loans, those same dollars are recycled to help other entrepreneurs grow their businesses.

– Northern Regional Broadband Networks Forum: Driving Business Development and Innovation will be held Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at the Holiday Inn Duluth Downtown Conference Center.

– Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Annual Conference Great Expectations: Our Community, Our Future, http://www.greatexpectations2011.org/ will be held October 6-7 in St. Paul. Registration is now open.  http://tinyurl.com/3mtrrqf

– Forecast Public Art Grant Workshop – Thursday, October 6, 2011, from 5 to 7 pm at the East Central RAC office. Forecast Public Art provides grants that give artists the chance to develop and create public art projects. In addition, the East Central Regional Arts Council, through Forecast Public Art, is supporting artists, and civic and community organizations in the planning and implementation of public art projects in the region.

The grant workshop for this program will provide an overview to the field of public art, facilitate brainstorming sessions, and will introduce the Forecast Public Art application process.  The workshop will be held at the new East Central Regional Arts Council office, 112 Main Street South in Braham.  This Forecast/East Central Regional Arts Council grant program supports public art projects located in Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs or Pine Counties.

This workshop is being held at no charge but please register in advance by calling 320.396.2337 – get more info at http://www.ecrac.org.

For more information on Forecast Public Art and the annual grant program please visit the website at http://www.forecastpublicart.org/grants-program-info.php

–Annual Conference on Policy Analysis – Defining the Public Good: What is the Role of Government in Minnesota?, will be October 12 at the University of Minnesota College of Continuing Education. http://tinyurl.com/653s4ef

– The 25th Annual Minnesota Venture & Finance Conference will be held on October 12-13 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.  For more information go to:     http://tinyurl.com/6zdoes4

–Rural Economic & Wellness Regional Symposium is a free virtual conference October 13. http://tinyurl.com/3mq6fuf

  –Governor Dayton’s Job Summit 2011 will be held October 24-25 in St. Paul.  This will be the 16^th Annual Development Conference.

– Webinar: Supporting Rural Economic Vitality through Campus-Community Partnerships will be October 27, 2011 from1:00 – 2:30 PM.  For more information go to:  http://ruraleconomies.eventbrite.com/

OPPORTUNITIES

–Scholarship program benefiting Minnesota businesses returns.  Carlson Executive Education is awarding 10 scholarships, valued at up to $3,500 each, to Minnesota-based small businesses, nonprofit organizations and entrepreneurs who best articulate how their organization could overcome challenges or capitalize on opportunities by acquiring new knowledge and skills.  The scholarships can be used to explore a variety of topics taught at the Carlson School including finance, marketing, operations, strategy, leadership and personal performance improvement.

Scholarship winners will be able to attend one of Carlson Executive Education’s open enrollment programs, which typically consist of two or three days of instruction. The scholarship is available for small companies or nonprofits that have fewer than 100 employees, as well as individual entrepreneurs.  Visit http://tinyurl.com/6xv6f3e for more information or to apply online. The deadline for scholarship applications is Dec. 9.  Additional information is available from Steve Rudolph, Carlson School of Management, skr@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8770.

–Be a MN Office of Rural Health and Primary Care grant reviewer. Please contact Doug Benson at doug.benson@state.mn.us or 651-201-3842 or Cindy LaMere at cindy.lamere@state.mn.us or 651-201-3852 with your name, profession, place of employment and contact information.

MISCELLANEOUS

–Travel Widget Feature Can Add Explore Minnesota Info to your Website.  Explore Minnesota Tourism’s new travel information widget builder, launched in June, it allows Minnesota tourism businesses and organizations to easily add to their websites custom-built Minnesota travel information features, leveraging the power of exploreminnesota.com to serve their visitors. The information is pulled from the listings on exploreminnesota.com, and can appear as a narrow sidebar on a website page, or as more detailed, full-width version on single or multiple pages within a website. Each widget can be customized to display lodging, attractions, or upcoming events, for any particular city or region in the state.

This free tool was developed so communities and tourism businesses can offer visitors to their own websites expanded information of interest to Minnesota travelers. It also broadens the audience for the listings on the Explore Minnesota website, and increases awareness of this detailed travel website. Though the feature was developed for the tourism industry, it’s available to anyone who wants to include selected Minnesota travel information on their website.  Instructions and tips are provided online at www.exploreminnesota.com/feedbuilder.

–NEW report!  Health Status of Rural Minnesotans is on the Rural Health Advisory Committee website. http://tinyurl.com/6deeppa

–A new website, http://www.creatingruralwealth.org/ has been launched which is devoted to sharing the Wealth Creation in Rural Communities framework.  In addition, a new publication has also been released, Learning Journey Debriefing: Emerging ChangeMakers Network visits Coastal Enterprises, Inc.   Its focus is sharing perspectives on connecting with motivated investors, picking good investments, balancing running businesses as well as funding them, and strategies for targeting loans and nurturing investments with a triple-bottom line approach.  To read the report, http://tinyurl.com/67kmp7k

– Toolkit for Recruiting and Supporting Job-Seeking Volunteers. http://tinyurl.com/6y8ydex Check out the new toolkit on supporting job seekers http://tinyurl.com/5tkdhad as volunteers from the Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration (MAVA). http://tinyurl.com/5tkdhad The toolkit is packed full of ideas on how to maximize the benefits of job seekers as volunteers for both the volunteer and the organization. As volunteering becomes an increasingly important means for job seekers to gain skills for employability and as organizations are seeing a growth in job seekers volunteers, this toolkit, developed through a project funded by the Initiative Foundation http://www.ifound.org/ shares successful strategies developed by organizations in Central Minnesota.

– MN Angel Network Takes Off.  After two years of development, organizers are launching the Minnesota Angel Network.  MNAN http://mnan.org/ is a non-profit designed to help accelerate business growth among knowledge-based companies in Minnesota.  It is not a fund and will not conduct due diligence, but rather become a first stop to help entrepreneurs become more effective in landing investments.  Read more about MNAN. http://tinyurl.com/6l5uq3g

–Using GPS to Build Business.  One of the most fun and user-friendly features about today’s GPS devices is the ability to look up restaurants, hotels, attractions, and more that are near your location. It makes life easier for the GPS user and more profitable for listed destinations. But not every destination is listed.

That means while listed destinations can expect a stream of GPS-driven traffic, those who don’t show up on the increasingly ubiquitous devices are missing out. So what can you do to increase your odds of showing up on GPS devices? It’s easy . . . get a D-U-N-S number. It’s a free, simple way you can help ensure maximum traffic. For the process to secure a DUNS number go to http://tinyurl.com/6a6sasj

– Impacts of Higher Energy Prices on Agricultural and Rural Economies.  Agricultural production is sensitive to changes in energy prices, either through energy consumed directly or through energy-related inputs such as fertilizer. A number of factors can affect energy prices faced by U.S. farmers and ranchers, including developments in the oil and natural gas markets, and energy taxes or subsidies. Climate change policies could also affect energy prices as a result of taxes on emissions, regulated emission limits, or the institution of a market for emission reduction credits. Here we review the importance of energy in the agricultural sector and report the results of a case study on the economic implications for the farm sector of energy price increases that would arise from plausible, constructed greenhouse-gas-emission reduction scenarios. Higher energy-related production costs would generally lower agricultural output, raise prices of agricultural products, and reduce farm income, regardless of the reason for the energy price increase. Nonetheless, farm sector impacts were modest for the scenarios and time periods examined. We demonstrate the unique distribution of effects resulting from price (or cost) increases for different types of energy due to pricing their carbon content, as well as the relative use of energy in production of different agricultural commodities. See http://tinyurl.com/6663vz5

–The Ethanol Decade: An Expansion of U.S. Corn Production, 2000-09.  The recent 9-billion-gallon increase in corn-based ethanol production, which resulted from a combination of rising gasoline prices and a suite of Federal bioenergy policies, provides evidence of how farmers altered their land-use decisions in response to increased demand for corn. As some forecasts had suggested, corn acreage increased mostly on farms that previously specialized in soybeans. Other farms, however, offset this shift by expanding soybean production. Farm-level data reveal that the simultaneous net expansion of corn and soybean acreage resulted from a reduction in cotton acreage, a shift from uncultivated hay to cropland, and the expansion of double cropping (consecutively producing two crops of either like or unlike commodities on the same land within the same year). See http://tinyurl.com/3lqn4uo

–Food Spending Adjustments during Recessionary Times.  During the 2007-09 recession, inflation-adjusted food expenditures by U.S. households fell 5.0 percent—the largest decrease in at least 25 years. Spending patterns differed by income level, with middle-income households curbing expenditures the most. Households responded to the recession by cutting back on eating out and by economizing on grocery purchases. See: http://tinyurl.com/3ruh6fh

Why Another Food Commodity Price Spike?  Large and rapid increases have occurred in many food commodity prices during 2010-2011. Many of the long-term trends and short-run shocks contributing to the current price surge also played a role in previous price spikes. The 2010-11 price surge followed the 2007-08 spike and raised concerns about food security and a possible shift in fundamental world agricultural supply and demand relationships.  See:  http://tinyurl.com/6x3kqjy

AMBER WAVES, SEPTEMBER 2011, VOL. 9, NO. 3   Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERSs research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print four times a year (March, June, September, and December). The Internet edition, or eZine, includes links to web-only resources, such as podcasts and additional articles. See: http://tinyurl.com/65q5abc

–How to Do It.  The Institute for Comprehensive Community Development has gathered templates, case studies, handbooks, training videos and other resources for people engaged in community development, and they are offering all of these resources on their website. http://tinyurl.com/65e7dff

–The RUPRI Rural Futures Lab has published a paper called “Transitioning to Renewable Energy: Development Opportunities and Concerns for Rural America.”  The paper explores the benefits and drawbacks of the current energy system and renewable energy. http://tinyurl.com/66soo8b

–The Annie E. Casey Foundation has released 2011 KIDS COUNT Data Book on America’s Children, America’s Challenge: Promoting Opportunity for the Next Generation.  The book examines the impact of recent economic hardship on children and demonstrates why it matters to have children reach their full potential.  You can download a free copy http://tinyurl.com/3lj28b3

–PolicyLink has published Healthy Food – Healthy Communities a report to help advocates, policymakers, community-based organizations, residents, and other stakeholders replicate and create successful models for ensuring that all communities have access to healthy food and the wide range of benefits it brings.  To get a copy, http://tinyurl.com/6ermjjw

 

MRP Rural Round-up August 2011

August 2011 – Volume IX, Number 7

 –ACROSS THE FIELD

–FUNDING

–TRAININGS/MEETINGS

–MISCELLANEOUS

Across the Field – A Busy Summer: Rural Wealth Creation & Minnesota Community Pride!

– The Rural Urban Connections Project Report is completed. It reflects nearly 2 years of study and action by staff and volunteers with Minnesota Rural Partners on rural urban interdependency and innovative connections for rural wealth creation. Researcher Kate Searls and former MRP president Jane Leonard most recently presented findings at the 2011 Community Development Society and Rural Sociological Society annual meeting in Boise, ID last month. Kate will be presenting it again at the Rural Wealth Creation and Livelihoods National Conference in October in Washington, D. C., organized by the USDA Economic Research Service and the Ford Foundation.

Go to http://www.minnesotaruralpartners.org to review the overview and accompanying reports on rural and urban interdependency that show how understanding and leveraging this social and economic dynamic could be a keystone of improved job readiness and job creation in Minnesota.

At the website you can also see the 1968 speech on rural urban balance and economic prosperity by Orville Freeman, former Minnesota Governor and former USDA Secretary of Agriculture under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson.  This speech was the inspiration behind the Rural Urban Connections project. Many thanks to Mrs. Jane Freeman for sharing it with all of us here at MRP several years back. Secretary Freeman’s words remain fresh, relevant, and inspiring for today’s challenges and opportunities. You can read the speech at http://mnruralpartners.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/freeman-rural-urban-balance-speech-1968.docx  (It takes a few more seconds than usual to load…so be patient.)

–Showcase Your Community Pride! Thirty entrants have been selected to display their work in-person at Minnesota Community Pride Day at the Minnesota State Fair on September 3rd. Minnesota Community Pride Day will feature conversations about ways fellow Minnesotans are working to improve community life, great live music performances, and opportunities to hear from and engage with state newsmakers.  For more information about the 2011 Minnesota Community Pride Showcase, go to this site. http://www.incommons.org/MCPS

FUNDING

–USDA’s Rural Housing Service has announced funding for Section 533 Housing Preservation Grants to nonprofit and public agencies to assist very low and low income homeowners to repair and rehabilitate their homes.  Deadline:  8/22/2011.  To learn more and to apply, control-click here. http://tinyurl.com/6yxwskz

–HUD has issued a NOFA for the 2011 HOPE VI Main Street Grant Program for small communities to replace unused commercial space in the central business core or “Main Street” with affordable housing units.  Deadline to Apply:  8/22/2011.  For more information, http://tinyurl.com/3k8wpef

–USDA has announced funding for Sections 514, 515, and 516 Multi-Family Housing Revitalization Demonstration Programs for rural housing authorities and property owners for grants for projects that will preserve and revitalize existing rural rental housing and improve farmworker-occupied housing.  Deadline:  8/22/2011.  To apply, http://tinyurl.com/6ae5usc

–Funds Available for Value-Added Producer Grants.  Applications are being accepted for grants to provide economic assistance to independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives and agricultural producer groups through the Value-Added Producer Grant Program. http://tinyurl.com/oxec7  Minnesota farmers and ranchers have been awarded almost $13 million in Value-Added grants since 2003. Application deadline is August 29, 2011. For further details about eligibility rules and application procedures, see the June 28, 2011, Federal Register. http://tinyurl.com/3sqlcp2

Value-Added Producer Grants may be used for feasibility studies or business plans, working capital for marketing value-added agricultural products and for farm-based renewable energy projects. Eligible applicants include independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives, and agricultural producer groups. Value-added products are created when a producer increases the consumer value of an agricultural commodity in the production or processing stage.

 

Examples of previous Value-Added grants in Minnesota include the processing and marketing of organic beef, design and packaging of milk products, developing new markets for pork products, marketing new health food snacks, introducing new varieties of apples, wind farms, ethanol and bio-diesel plants and marketing compost products.       To learn more about Value-Added Producer Grants, contact a Rural Development specialist in your region. http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/mn/offices.htm

–HUD has announced funding for the Self-Help Ownership Opportunity (SHOP) Program for national or regional non-profits to encourage home ownership through “sweat equity” affordable housing development or rehabilitation.  Deadline:  9/6/2011.  For more information, http://tinyurl.com/3z4h5u8

–Rural Hospital Planning and Transition Grant applications are available and due September 19. http://tinyurl.com/3lcd3xy

–Indian Health Grant applications are due September 30. http://tinyurl.com/3dfb7pb

–THE LAURA JANE MUSSER FUND’s Rural Initiative program wants to encourage collaborative and participatory efforts among citizens in rural communities that will help to strengthen their towns and regions in a number of civic areas including, but not limited to, economic development, business preservation, arts and humanities, public space improvements, and education. Complete proposal packets must be postmarked to the Musser Fund office by November 9, 2011. Funding decisions will be announced February 2012. Check out the program and  application details at: http://musserfund.org or contact Mary Karen Lynn-Klimenko, Grants Program Manager, 612-825-2024, ljmusserfund@earthlink.net

–Minnesota’s Loan Forgiveness applications are due December 1. http://tinyurl.com/m8ge2y

** Please NOTE – The final Minnesota State Budget reflects changes to MN Office of Rural Health and Primary Care ORHPC GRANT and LOAN PROGRAMS http://tinyurl.com/dgu4bp
  • Minnesota’s “designated rural area” definition was amended for the Loan Forgiveness Programs http://tinyurl.com/m8ge2y from outside the seven-county metro to “an area defined as a small rural area or isolated rural area according to the four category classifications of the Rural Urban Commuting Area system developed for the United States Health Resources and Services Administration.” (MN Statute 144.1501, subd. 1 http://tinyurl.com/3l9atxd ).  Map (PDF: 535KB/1pg) More on Rural and Urban Commuting Areas (RUCA) is on the ORHPC website. http://tinyurl.com/3k42ufb
• The Donated Dental Services Program, the Health Careers Promotion Grant and the Migrant Health Grant were eliminated. The Summer Health Care Intern Program is not funded for fiscal year 2012-2013, but may be available in 2014.

TRAINING/MEETINGS

– South West/West Central Volunteer Connections – A Presentation and Discussion on the Leadership Demands of Rural Communities and Implications for Small Town Organizations & Volunteers will be held Tuesday, August 16, 2011 from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the Bremer Bank,  500 Willmar Avenue SE; Willmar.  Ben Winchester, Research Fellow with the University of Minnesota Extension Center for Community Vitality, will be our guest to share his thoughts and research on what it takes to run and maintain the organizations that comprise our small town infrastructure; many of these organizations rely on volunteers and volunteer leaders to make things happen.  There is no charge for this event, but space is limited.  Please RSVP SW/WC Volunteer Connections Chair, Sharon Mace at sjsmace@yahoo.com

– Northern Regional Broadband Networks Forum: Driving Business Development and Innovation will be held Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at the Holiday Inn Duluth Downtown Conference Center.

– Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Annual Conference Great Expectations: Our Community, Our Future, http://www.greatexpectations2011.org/ will be held October 6-7 in St. Paul. Registration is now open.  http://tinyurl.com/3mtrrqf

–Rural Economic & Wellness Regional Symposium is a free virtual conference October 13. http://tinyurl.com/3mq6fuf

  –Governor Dayton’s Job Summit 2011 will be held October 24-25 in St. Paul.  This will be the 16^th Annual Development Conference.

MISCELLANEOUS

–The Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America is a mapping application that provides a spatial interpretation of county-level, economic and social conditions along four broad categories of socioeconomic factors: people (using newly released data on population size, race and ethnicity, and immigration from the 2010 Decennial Census and other demographic data from the American Community Survey, including age, race and ethnicity, migration and immigration, education, household size and family composition), jobs (using economic data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other sources, including information on employment trends, unemployment, industrial composition, and household income), agriculture (using indicators from the 2007 Census of Agriculture, including number and size of farms, operator characteristics, off-farm income, and government payments), and county classifications (using typologies such as the rural-urban continuum, economic dependence, persistent poverty, population loss, and other ERS county codes). Maps are interactive and also provided for download; raw data are provided for download. Data from the 2010 Census have been recently added. See: http://www.ers.usda.gov/data/ruralatlas/

–The FCC has released Bringing Broadband to Rural America: Update to Report on a Rural Broadband Strategy. The report confirms the need to continue the Administration’s comprehensive investments and policy framework to ensure that rural communities and tribal nations receive the same access to the economic, educational, health care and public safety opportunities and services that broadband delivers in urban communities. http://tinyurl.com/66na4rl

–The Role of Public Safety in Community Development.  This report discusses the results of safety initiatives that organizations have incorporated into community development projects across the country. http://www.instituteccd.org/library/2730

–Land Bank Authorities: A Guide for the Creation and Operation of Local Land Banks, written by Emory law professor Frank Alexander, is a guide for community leaders and public officials on how to take control of problem properties in order to meet community needs.  This free book shows how unoccupied land and buildings can be a potential resource for economic recovery through community development and strengthening real estate markets. http://tinyurl.com/3mqwuhj

–The New Way Forward: Collaborations and Partnerships for Greater Efficiency and Impact is a paper that examines strategies for cross-sector collaboration, the federal government’s policy agenda, and how to coordinate these resources.  The authors offer a tri-sector (government, business, and social) approach to problem solving, and include models for collaboration and case studies. http://tinyurl.com/3lbubva

–Financial Matters Initiative BestPrep, in partnership with the Foundation for Financial Planning and the Financial Planning Association of Minnesota, sponsor the Financial Matters Initiative. The goal is to educate Minnesota students on the importance of managing money wisely. Four interactive PowerPoint presentations—Money Matters, Budgeting Matters, Credit Matters, and Investing Matters—are available to financial services volunteers willing to use the slides in Minnesota classrooms. The presentations have been developed and tested with input from financial planners and teachers. http://tinyurl.com/3txbo3f

–Today's soaring farmland values have boosted farm wealth and driven the U.S. farm balance sheet to its strongest level since the 1970s farm boom. If farmland values were to fall sharply, as they did in the farm crisis of the 1980s, both farm balance sheets and farm wealth could suffer, especially for farmers with high levels of non-real estate debt. The Main Street Economist explores the effects of the falling farmland values on farm balance sheets, wealth and insolvency.  Read the full report at: http://tinyurl.com/3c7ktmo

–Grassland to Cropland Conversion in the Northern Plains: The Role of Crop Insurance, Commodity and Disaster Programs.  Native grasslands in the U.S. Northern Plains, particularly those located in the Prairie Pothole Region, are excellent breeding habitat for migratory birds. The conversion of grassland to crop production could damage this habitat and affect bird populations. We focus on three questions: How fast are grasslands being converted to cropland in the United States and especially in the Northern Plains? Can a temporary (5-year) ban on crop insurance purchase for converted grassland slow grassland to cropland conversion? More broadly, what has been the role of crop insurance and other farm programs in grassland to cropland conversion? We find that: (1) roughly 770,000 acres (1 percent) of 1997 rangeland acreage in the Northern Plains were converted to cultivated crops by 2007; (2) a 5-year ban on crop insurance purchase for converted grassland could slow but is unlikely to stop grassland to cropland conversion; and (3) the benefits of crop insurance, disaster assistance, and marketing loans increased cropland acreage by about 2.9 percent between 1998 and 2007. See: http://tinyurl.com/454qlts

–Why Have Food Commodity Prices Risen Again?  The report describes the factors that have contributed to the large and rapid increase in agricultural prices during the past year. The report focuses particularly on food commodity prices—which have risen 60 percent since June 2010. See: http://wwwers.usda.gov/Publications/WRS1103/

–The Effect of Food and Beverage Prices on Children’s Weights. One factor that may be important in explaining rising childhood obesity is food prices. This report explores the effect of food prices on children’s Body Mass Index (BMI) using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K) and the Quarterly Food-at-Home Price Database. On average, higher prices for soda, 100 percent juices, starchy vegetables, and sweet snacks are associated with lower BMIs among children. In addition, lower prices for dark green vegetables and lowfat milk are associated with reduced BMI. The effect of subsidizing healthy food may be just as large as raising prices of less healthy foods. See: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR118/

–Geographic Differences in the Relative Price of Healthy Foods.  Although healthy foods can be affordable, if less healthy foods are cheaper, individuals may have an economic incentive to consume a less healthful diet. Using the Quarterly Food-at-Home Price Database, we explore whether a select set of healthy foods (whole grains, dark green vegetables, orange vegetables, whole fruit, skim and 1% milk, fruit juice, and bottled water) are more expensive than less healthy alternatives. We find that not all healthy foods are more expensive than less healthy alternatives; skim and 1% milk are less expensive than whole and 2% milk and bottled water is generally less expensive than carbonated nonalcoholic drinks. We also find considerable geographic variation in the relative price of healthy foods. This price variation may contribute to geographic variation in diet and health outcomes. See: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EIB78/

–The Community Development Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis has released a new issue of Community Dividend that features articles on community development impact measurement, the economic slowdown’s effects in Indian Country and recent changes to the Community Reinvestment Act rules.  To read more, visit Current Issue page or click on the headlines below:

—Measuring the impact of community development: A conversation with Paul Mattessich of Wilder Research Community Dividend speaks with Paul Mattessich, executive director of Wilder Research, about how to effectively and affordably measure the impact of community development work. http://tinyurl.com/3d3ac39

–Recent demographic data reveal effects of economic slowdown in Indian Country
New data from the U.S. Census Bureau confirm that economic trends on American Indian reservations in the Ninth District worsened or stagnated during the recent recession. http://tinyurl.com/3fvqpsl

 

Recent MRP Research on Rural Urban Connections

For the past 18 months Minnesota Rural Partners, through a USDA Rural Development agreement, has been investigating various aspects of rural urban connections in Minnesota. The intention is to create greater understanding, appreciation, and mutual support among rural and urban communities. Here are some of the products of that research:

• INNOVATIVE CONNECTIONS FOR RURAL WEALTH CREATION Final Report & Case Study August 2011
• Rural-Urban Connections and Job Readiness: Education and Workforce Development
• Pilot Study: Estimating Rural and Urban Minnesota’s Interdependencies
• Local and Regional Foods in Minnesota
• Rural Urban Balance – Whose Responsibilities – a 1968 speech by USDA Secretary Orville Freeman