October 2010 – Volume VIII, Number 10

Edited and Compiled by Deb Miller Slipek, Ann Treacy, and Emily Kissane

  • ACROSS THE FIELD
  • FUNDING
  • MEETINGS/TRAININGS
  • OPPORTUNITIES
  • MISCELLANEOUS

ACROSS THE FIELD – Rural-Urban Partnering Steering Committee Launched

by Emily Kissane

A new collaboration kicked off on October 1 with the first meeting of the Minnesota Rural Urban Partnering Steering Committee.  The formation of the steering committee is part of a larger project begun last October aimed at strengthening rural-urban connections and understanding. A mapping systems and report on rural urban connections in education, workforce, and enterprise is also underway.

When plans for the possible formation of a Rural Urban Partnering Council were announced during the June 9-10 Symposium on Small Towns and Rural-Urban Gathering at the University of Minnesota Morris, 20 people from across the state generously volunteered to serve as a steering committee.  The Steering Committee has geographic diversity and represents a variety of sectors, including community development, business, economic development, higher education, information services, healthcare and state government.

Committee members gave a variety of reasons for wanting to be involved in shaping a Partnering Council.  From addressing the growing divide between rural and urban policymakers, to helping people understand the economic interdependence of rural and urban Minnesota, to seeing the need for innovative ways for rural and urban youth to connect, the group viewed rural-urban partnering as a more comprehensive frame for statewide discussions and decision-making on a wide range of important issues that are affecting Minnesota’s future.

Over the next few weeks, Steering Committee members will poll their individual networks for reactions to the idea of a Rural Urban Partnering Council and for ideas about possible priorities and goals.  The Committee will then meet to review feedback and incorporate these ideas into the Partnering Council’s structure and agenda.  We will keep you posted on these discussions.  You can also check on the rural urban partnering project at www.rurb.mn.

Many thanks to Steering Committee members for their enthusiasm and support for this project and to the William Mitchell College of Law for hosting the meeting.

FUNDING

–Dept. of Energy Releases 2011 SBIR/STTR Solicitation. The Department of Energy (DOE) has released its 2011 SBIR/STTR Phase I solicitation. The official solicitation is available here. http://tinyurl.com/2bymm96 DOE SBIR/STTR topic areas are available here. http://sbir.er.doe.gov/sbir/Docs/2011TopicDescriptions.pdf To obtain the application packet, go to www.Grants.gov and select “Apply for Grants.”  Enter DE-FOA-0000413 in the “Funding Opportunity Number” box, then select “Download Package.”  Contact Becky Aistrup, Program Director of SBIR/STTR with any questions. You can reach Becky at becky.aistrup@state.mn.us or 651.259.7634.  Visit www.positivelyminnesota.com/scitech for more information.

— Messerli & Kramer Foundation Grants. The mission of the Messerli & Kramer Foundation is to financially assist and support Minnesota communities in their attempts to eliminate the disparities in healthcare and education and to improve the quality of life experienced by low-income and disadvantaged individuals and families. To be considered for a Messerli & Kramer Foundation grant, an organization must be a tax exempt nonprofit and offer solutions in making a difference in the lives of low-income and underprivileged Minnesotans regarding healthcare and education.  The deadline for December grant awards is October 29, 2010. Grant application forms are available for download from http://www.messerlikramer.com/?s=aboutus_mkfoundation

— Excitement has been building for the InCommons Collaboration Challenge, one of the first ways to get involved with InCommons. This Challenge recognizes the innovative local collaborations to solve problems that are happening across Minnesota…Now through October 29, 2010 at InCommons.org/CollaborationChallenge you can:

  • Enter your collaboration into the running for $25,000.
  • Nominate other collaborations you admire.

For more information, check out InCommons.org/CollaborationChallenge.

— Service-Learning in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) grants available. Deadline: October 29, 2010.  Funding provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service through the Learn and Serve America Program and coordinated by the Midwest Campus Compact STEM Consortium (comprised of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin Campus Compacts).

$250,000 is available for grants supporting the integration of service-learning into college and university courses in the STEM disciplines that address local community concerns about food, its production, and its distribution and/or nutrition and related health issues. Proposals may be submitted requesting $15,000-$25,000. At least 10 grants will be made for activities taking place during a nine-month period, from January 1 to December 31, 2011. Depending on performance and availability of continued federal funding, there is a possibility of renewal for one or two additional years.  See the full RFP http://tinyurl.com/2dpxbmw

— Organic Certification Rebates Available.  Minnesota organic farmers and processors can apply now for a rebate of up to $750 toward the cost of organic certification.  Organic certification assures consumers that products are truly organic, and that they are produced in compliance with federal organic regulations. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is accepting applications for the Minnesota Organic Cost Share Program until October 30, 2010. www.mda.state.mn.us/food/organic

Certified operations are eligible for reimbursement of 75 percent of National Organic Program certification-related costs incurred during the period between October 1, 2009 and September 30, 2010, up to a maximum of $750.  To qualify, applicants must submit an MDA application form, proof of certification during the qualifying period, and proof of certification expenses. Additional information is detailed in the program guidelines which are available on the web site above.

—MPCA Environmental Assistance Grants. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency invites applications for 2011 Environmental Assistance Grants. The deadline for submittal of applications is November 1, 2010, by 3:00 p.m., except where specified otherwise.  Approximately $1,208,770 is available for grant awards among the following four focus areas to encourage outcome-oriented, economically driven approaches to pollution prevention, waste reduction, toxicity reduction, water quality protection, and resource conservation:

* Resource Conservation and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction: focus on providing assistance in identified regions of the State for implementing projects achieving measurable outcomes in waste and toxicity reduction, reuse, and/or recycling that advance the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Council and Integrated Solid Waste Management Stakeholder Process goals of a 0% increase in waste generation per capita by 2020, a reduction of 3% in waste generation per capita by 2025, achievement of a 50% recycling rate by 2011 and a 60% recycling rate by 2025.

* Source-Separated Composting: focus on providing assistance to Minnesota political subdivisions to reduce the amount of organic wastes entering disposal facilities that advance the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Council and Integrated Solid Waste Management Stakeholder Process goals of a 10% composting rate by 2012 and 15% by 2020.

* PAH Contaminated Stormwater Pond Sediment: focus on providing assistance to municipalities for the removal and management of stormwater pond sediments contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).

* Metropolitan Landfill Abatement: focus on providing assistance to the seven metropolitan counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington for implementation of projects featuring resource conservation, reuse, waste and toxicity reduction, and recycling activities that advance the goals, policies, and objectives identified in the 2010 Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Policy Plan (applications due by 3:00 p.m. CST, November 15, 2010).

For more information and to access the Request for Proposals go to:  http://tinyurl.com/38u2zem

— $1.5 Million in Grants Available from MPCA for Monitoring Lakes and Streams – apply by November 5, 2010. Water monitoring is often the first step toward protecting or improving water resources. Volunteers across Minnesota have been measuring the health of lakes and streams to see if the waters meet standards set for fishing and other uses since 2007 as part of the Surface Water Assessment Grant program.

Eligible applicants include counties, soil and water conservation districts, watershed districts, water management organizations, nonprofits, Minnesota colleges and universities, and American Indian tribes. No matching or in-kind funds are required under this program.  The MPCA seeks applicants with experience in project administration, water quality monitoring and data management. The agency prefers projects that involve volunteers and that gather data for determining whether lakes and streams meet state water quality standards for aquatic life and/or aquatic recreation such as fishing.

High-priority areas include the following watersheds:

* Cannon River

* Rock River

* Little Sioux River

* Thief River

* Sandhill River

* Redeye River

* Long Prairie River

* Nemadji River

* Lake Superior (South)

* Big Sioux River (Medary Creek near Pipestone)

Go to: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/swagrant.html Applications are due November 5, 2010 at 4:00 pm.  For more information, contact Ron Schwartz, MPCA at (651) 757-2708 or CWLA.surfacewater@pca.state.mn.us

–PUBLIC ART! Workshop and new grant deadline. This is the 2nd year of ECAC’s annual grant program with Forecast Public Art.  This grant program supports emerging, visual artists and interdisciplinary teams led by visual artists located in Region 7E.  These grants provide artists the chance to develop and create projects for a public audience anywhere in region 7E, receive increased recognition, and advance their artistic careers.  In addition, consulting and/or facilitation time is provided by Forecast Public Art staff to the grantees. There are 3 ECAC Planning Grants available at $2,000 each and 2 ECAC Project Grants available at $7,000 each.

The 2011 grant applications are available and have a November 15, 2010 deadline. Go to:  http://forecastpublicart.org/grants-program-info.php for the details.  To attend a grant workshop on Thursday, October 14, 2010 at the ECAC office, 100 Park Street South, in Mora call 320-679-4065 x 33 or e-mail ecac@ecrdc.org. There is no charge but you must register in advance.

— USDA Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program.  $5 million dollars is available from the US Department of Agriculture for community food projects that (1): (A) meet the food needs of low-income people; (B) increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs; and (C) promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues; and/or (2) meet specific state, local, or neighborhood food and agriculture needs for (A) infrastructure improvement and development; (B) planning for long-term solutions; or (C) the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.  http://tinyurl.com/2c72r39

Only private, nonprofit entities meeting the following three requirements are eligible to receive one of these grants: (a) have experience in the area of (i) community food work, particularly concerning small and medium-size farms, including the provision of sustainably produced food to people in low-income communities and the development of new markets in low-income communities for agricultural producers; or (ii) job training and business development activities for food-related activities in low-income communities; (b) demonstrate competency to implement a project, provide fiscal accountability, collect data, and prepare reports and other necessary documentation; and (c) demonstrate a willingness to share information with researchers, evaluators, practitioners, and other interested parties, including a plan for dissemination of results.

Sixteen awards are expected of up to $300,000 per grant. The closing date for applications is November 17, 2010. For more information, see the web site above, or click directly on http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/rfas/community_food.html for the Request for Applications.

— USDA RCDI Grant Applications due by December 22. Over $6.2 million in grants are available through Rural Development’s Rural Community Development Initiative http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi/index.htm (RCDI) program. RCDI grants are made to intermediary organizations. These intermediaries then provide financial and technical assistance to recipients that want to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities and economic development.

Applications must be submitted to the State Office http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/mn/Offices/stateoffice.htm by 4 p.m. on Dec. 22. Changes to the RCDI program for this fiscal year include additional points for projects in local communities, additional points for projects that promote “Great Regions” as outlined in the NOFA, and additional categories added to average recipient median income.  For more information on the RCDI program, contact Rick Jackson at the State Office in St. Paul.

MEETINGS/TRAININGS

–Thursday, October 21, 2010 2-4 p.m. at Winona State University, or Tuesday, October 26, 2010 10 a.m.-Noon at the University of Minnesota Morris – civic engagement’s contributions to student achievement and economic development. Join campus and community leaders for a rich discussion of civic engagement’s positive impact on the critical public priorities. Hear stories of specific, effective efforts across Minnesota. Share your own perspective. Learn about the growing body of literature documenting civic engagement’s contributions to student achievement and economic development. Build the movement advancing higher education’s public purposes. Registration is free and open to all. Simply RSVP from the links above. If you have a powerful success story to share at a forum please email John Hamerlinck or call 320-308-4271. www.mncampuscompact.org/forums

— The 2010 Minnesota Scenic Byways Workshop will be held on October 26 and 27 at Gunflint Lodge, located on the Gunflint Trail, which was recently designated as a National Scenic Byway by the Federal Highway Administration. The workshop will highlight the new Chic Wauk Museum and Nature Center and will feature programs on byway marketing, fundraising, project facilitation and other scenic byways issues. The program will also include an update on grant opportunities through the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. For program and registration information, contact Holly Slagle, Minnesota Department of Transportation, 651-366-3623 or Holly.slagle@state.mn.us.

—Connected: Establishing your Business Online
The question is no longer whether or not you should have a website. The question is now, “how do I get online and what is the best way to use my website.” This workshop focuses on the use of the internet for a business, how to get the most out of your website, setting up e-commerce, and how to market your company online. You will leave this workshop ready to effectively establish your business online. (Fee: $49)

October 19 | Duluth | 1 pm – 3 pm

October 20 | Virginia | 6 pm – 8 pm

October 27 | Grand Rapids | 1 pm – 3 pm

Logged In: Social Media for your Business
The use of social media in marketing is no longer revolutionary. It’s crucial. Social media has positioned itself in our daily lives and has given business owners and marketing teams an effective and interactive way to communicate with their audiences. This workshop focuses on practical guidelines for understanding social media, developing a social media marketing strategy, and implementing social media trends into your marketing campaigns. You will leave this workshop with a strategic plan on how you will use social media to position your business. (Fee: $49)

November 2 | Virginia | 6 pm – 8 pm

November 3 | Duluth | 1 pm – 3 pm

November 10 | Grand Rapids | 1 pm – 3 pm

To register for either of the above trainings go to: www.entrepreneurfund.org or call 1-800-422-0374.

OPPORTUNITIES

— MNREM http://www.mnrem.org (Minnesota Renewable Energy Marketplace) is surveying members (and others) about current use and interest in various broadband-supported business applications. The survey will take less than 5 minutes; we hope you will participate. The answers you provide will help inform our next step towards offering training and consulting to improve use of technology in the Renewable Energy Marketplace. Here is the link to the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KF9NDNQ .  The survey will close October 22, 2010. MNREM is a partner in the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities http://tinyurl.com/2c6mhh4 (MIRC) project. This survey is part of that project.

—MN Council for Nonprofits is looking for your ideas and suggestions for topics to address at the 2011 Nonprofit Technology and Communications Conference, taking place on Wednesday, February 23 in Minneapolis. This conference, sponsored by Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) and MAP for Nonprofits, is a full day event of breakout sessions, plenary sessions, exhibits and new this year – a Genius Bar filled with tech tips and tricks.  Nonprofits of all types and sizes use technology to communicate their organization’s mission and message. From website design and storytelling to social media and database integration, nonprofits face the challenge of understanding how and when to use the right technology to reach and engage their audiences. http://www.mncn.org/nptech/rfp.htm

The theme for the 2011 Nonprofit Technology and Communications Conference is  #MNnptech): Is There an App for That? – A salute to the various tools nonprofits can use for effective communications and higher impact. They are seeking breakout session proposals and ideas that are current, creative and engaging.  See a description and listing of the types of sessions we’re looking for.  http://www.mncn.org/nptech/rfp.htm#sessions

Consider submitting a proposal or idea for the 2011 Nonprofit Technology and Communications Conference. The deadline to submit is Wednesday, October 20. The process is easy. Visit MCN’s website for details and information about how to submit your proposal or idea today! http://www.mncn.org/nptech/rfp.htm

—Call for Presentations for the Midwest Environmental Education Conference, April 7 – 9, 2011 in Rochester, MN – Deadline October 20th.  The Minnesota Association for Environmental Education (MAEE) is hosting the 2011 Midwest Environmental Education Conference, in partnership with the state environmental education associations of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. Individuals from these as well as other states will attend the conference to learn from knowledgeable professionals.

The conference theme, Environmental education: Naturally healthy, was chosen to highlight environmental education’s role in fostering the benefits of human and environmental health. Five strands will focus thinking about these topics: Environment, People, Schools, Organizations, and Current Research.  Those interested in presenting are invited to submit a proposal for a session that provides helpful information, program models and/or resources for helping their organizations and audiences to be part of Naturally Healthy solutions in today’s world.

Applicants will be notified by November 15, 2010 about the status of their application.  For more information and to access application forms, see the Minnesota Association for Environmental Education’s web site at:  http://www.minnesotaee.org/MEEC

—The Community Assistantship Program is pleased to announce a spring 2011 grant program. The grant will allow rural communities to hire a student to work on a project defined by those communities. The deadline for project proposals is October 30, 2010. Approved projects will run from January 13th to May 29, 2011.  Winning communities will review job applications and select the student who best meets their needs. For details on how to apply see the attachment or apply on line: http://www.cura.umn.edu/Programs/ApplicationProcess.php

Eligible organizations include community groups, organizations, and local governments outside the seven county metro. What is CAP? The Community Assistantship Program (CAP) provides applied research assistance to community-based groups outside the Twin Cities Metro Area. The research and technical needs of community organizations are matched with the support of talented students. The idea is simple: get the resources of a great University working with communities to address the significant issues facing the people of Minnesota. CAP projects typically place students in a community defined and directed part time research assistantship for one semester or over the summer. Students are selected by and report to the community organization. Throughout the project students are supported by a community supervisor, faculty and community mentors http://www.cura.umn.edu/cap.php.

— Legal Scholarship for Equal Justice course (spring 2011).  LSEJ is a collaborative project designed to address broad legal issues of current importance to poverty lawyers and their clients. It discerns which systemic problem areas facing legal services clients could be best addressed through a thoughtful legal analysis in a law school journal article or other faculty or law student scholarship.                  http://www.mnjustice.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={2747729C-777B-4BCE-BB14-8E9674E9626C}

As part of LSEJ, 16 students, four from each of the four Minnesota law schools, working singly or in small groups, produce research papers addressing legal issues chosen from a list of issues submitted by local poverty law practitioners (posted on www.lsej.org). Topics vary from semester to semester and may include both civil and criminal law issues that have a significant impact on low-income people. Past topics include Hmong Marriage Legislation, Criminalization of the Mentally Ill, The Connection between Traffic Fines and Poverty, Housing Problems for Evicted Tenants, Mixed Use of Brownfield Reclamation, Using Law and Medicine to Reduce Asthma, Tenant Blacklisting, and Racism in the Child Protection System, to name only a few. Completed works can be found at the LSEJ Completed Works Website. http://www.lsej.org/RTF1.cfm?pagename=Completed%20Works

— CERTs (Clean Energy Resource Teams) http://tinyurl.com/2bg7uq2 recently produced a heartwarming and inspiring 18 minute video about a 9th grader at Mayo High School in Rochester, MN who won local, national, and international awards and scholarships for her clean energy-related science fair project.  She and the program that supported her can be a model for others who want to help young leaders rise up through outstanding and innovative science fair projects. Watch the video to learn more!

The folks at CERTs are interested in working with community members who want to help young people get more involved in solving our energy and environmental problems. If you want to get involved or do more with your local science fairs or to otherwise help youth to become more involved with energy and environmental projects, contact NE CERT Coordinator Bill Mittlefehldt at 218/726-6146 orbill@cleanenergyresourceteams.org

MISCELLANEOUS

–Immigrants and refugees in Minnesota: Today’s students, tomorrow’s workforce
More than 150 leaders in business, philanthropy, education, nonprofit, and government met August 30 to see key findings from a new Wilder Research report on immigration, commissioned by The Minneapolis Foundation, and discuss how communities can work together on this issue. See the report, videos of presentations, and more. http://www.mncompass.org/twincities/event-spotlight-immigration-event.php

—RURAL AMERICA AT A GLANCE, 2010 EDITION.  Rural America at a Glance, 2010 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. The 2010 edition focuses on the U.S. rural economy, including employment trends, poverty, and demographics. See http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EIB68/

— Affordable Care Act websites to help you keep up:

–As part of its ongoing Farm Energy Efficiency Program, the nonprofit Minnesota Project has recently launched its Farm Energy Efficiency Resource Center. This online resource center contains a wide variety of documents related to promoting energy efficiency improvements on farms.

The documents are grouped into the following broad categories:

* Technical Resources and Evaluation Tools

* Buildings

* Equipment

* Crops

* Dairy Specific

* Beef Specific

* Pork Specific

* Poultry Specific

Within each of these broad categories, there are several relevant subcategories, for example HVAC, Motors and Pumps, Grain Drying, Water Heating Systems, Lighting, and many others. The resource center also includes case studies of past successful energy efficiency projects, do-it-yourself farm energy assessment tools, and much more.

There are helpful brief annotations for the actual resources when you click on them. And in addition to the organized category menu at the web site above, one can also search the posted resources at http://www.mnproject.org/e-EE_ResourceCenter.html

—The Role of Agriculture in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions.  Agriculture could play a prominent role in U.S. efforts to address climate change if farms and ranches undertake activities that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or take greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere. These activities may include shifting to conservation tillage, reducing the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied to crops, changing livestock and manure management practices, and planting trees or grass. The Federal Government is considering offering carbon offsets and incentive payments to encourage rural landowners to pursue these climate-friendly activities as part of a broader effort to combat climate change. The extent to which farmers adopt such activities would depend on their costs, potential revenues, and other economic incentives created by climate policy. Existing Federal conservation programs provide preliminary estimates of the costs of agricultural carbon sequestration. See http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EB15/

—New Global Midwest Policy Brief Released:  “The Midwest’s Liquid Gold” http://tinyurl.com/276o39m The Midwest can foster regional economic growth by capitalizing on its vast freshwater resources, argues Sammis B. White, in “The Midwest’s Liquid Gold,” the fifth Global Midwest Policy Brief published by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. White, a professor of urban planning and associate dean of the School of Continuing Education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, highlights Milwaukee’s current leadership in water research and technology and urges regional collaboration to better leverage this $483 billion industry. http://tinyurl.com/276o39m

--In 2008, surging commodity prices triggered promises of a new golden era for agriculture. While prospects dimmed during the recession, the recovery is rekindling hopes with rising commodity prices. More than 180 agricultural business and finance leaders examined agriculture's potential at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's symposium, "Farming, Finance and the Global Marketplace." The latest issue of The Main Street Economist summarizes the 2010 Regional Symposium and is available at:http://www.kc.frb.org/publications/research/mse/index.cfm?ealert=MSE0920
In addition, resources from the symposium, including final papers and remarks available by session or in a compiled publication, are available on the symposium website at: http://www.kansascityfed.org/publications/research/rscp/rscp-2010.cfm.

— Check out the NEW Minnesota Business Resource Guide developed by SBA at: http://www.sba.gov/idc/groups/public/documents/mn_minneapolis/mn_resourceguide.pdf

 

— How to Stop the Yellow Pages from Being Delivered.  Those in Minnesota who wish to request that yellow pages phone books no longer be delivered to their address can use this new web site above. Don’t Trash the Phonebook is sponsored by Conservation Minnesota and yellow pages publishers. It’s simple to use this site for those in either the Twin Cities Metro area or Greater Minnesota.

The site also has instructions about how to recycle directories, which in some parts of Minnesota are now collected with curbside recycling. Note: this depends on the location, and the site allows for you to search for your specific area.  Interestingly, according to the site, Minnesota statute currently requires all telephone directory customers to receive white pages directory. So Don’t Trash the Phonebook is just for yellow pages.  Go to:  http://www.donttrashthephonebook.org/

—HUD Designates Difficult Development Areas For Low Income Housing Tax Credits. The designations of DDAs in this notice are based on final Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Fair Market Rents (FMRs), FY 2010 income limits, and 2000 Census population counts. To read the notice, please see: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-22535.htm.

–The USDA Rural Housing Service has amended its regulations to offer options to reduce foreclosures for section 502 guaranteed homes. The Agency will extend loans for up to 40 years, and will allow lenders to advance funds on behalf of borrowers in amounts necessary to bring defaulted loans current – up to 30 percent of the unpaid principal balance of the loan. To read the Federal Register, please go to: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-21261.pdf.

–“Wealth Creation, Capture and Retention for Low-Wealth People and Places in Regional Systems.” The latest paper from the Wealth Creation Working Group examines several sectors with strong potential for regional wealth creation, highlighting preconditions that are necessary for wealth creation efforts to benefit low-wealth families and individuals. To download a copy, go to: http://www.yellowwood.org/Wealth%20Creation%20Capture%20and%20Retention.pdf.

–An article in The Daily Yonder, called “Community Developers, the Hour’s Late” stems from a meeting of the Community Development Society and the International Association for Community Development held in July in New Orleans. United Kingdom practitioners sounded the alarm that with rural outmigration and globalism, community development is more urgent than ever. To read more, go to: http://www.dailyyonder.com/collins-what-uk-community-has-teach/2010/08/17/2894.

–Rural Transportation. The Rural Assembly released a statement on September 9, 2010 regarding a report from the American Association of State Highway Officials which focuses on building highways to improve rural transportation needs. The statement from the Rural Transportation Policy Group identifies other needs than just roads and highways. To read more, go to: http://www.ruralassembly.org/sites/ruralassembly.org/files/rural_transportation_statement_9-10.pdf.

—The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has launched a journal on Childhood Obesity. The journal will be published bi-monthly as a forum for ideas, best practices, research and narratives to help end the epidemic of childhood and adolescent obesity. The premier issue is available free online at: http://tinyurl.com/2bk8l92

–Walking Away is the title of a report by the Pew Research Group on the practice of homeowners “walking away” from a home mortgage. According to the report, a majority of Americans say it is “unacceptable” for homeowners to stop making their mortgage payments and abandon their homes. But more than a third (36%) say the practice of “walking away” from a home mortgage is acceptable, at least under certain circumstances. To get the report, go to: http://pewsocialtrends.org/assets/pdf/765-walking-away.pdf.

—Rural Income, Poverty, and Welfare.  This is a synthesis of USDA ERS research, analysis, and data on rural Americans’ income, poverty and welfare.  See:  http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/IncomePovertyWelfare/

— Check out the latest edition of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank’s Fedgazette, featuring an interview on small towns by editor Ron Wirtz, with Bart Finzel, Center for Small Towns interim director; Dave Engstrom, executive director of the Minnesota Association of Small Cities; and Jane Leonard, former president of Minnesota Rural Partners, now with the Bush Foundation.- http://www.minneapolisfed.org/pubs/fedgaz/10-10/fedgazette_oct10_smalltown.pdf