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SEEKING COMMENTS:
VA Seeking Comments on Proposed Rural Program - The Veteran’s Administration (VA) is proposing to establish a new program to provide grants for providing medical transportation services to veterans in highly rural areas. This program was authorized in the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-163). Highly rural areas are considered to be counties with a population density of less than seven individuals per square mile. Transportation would be provided to assist veterans with accessing care at VA facilities or to provide medical care. Comments must be received by Monday, February 28, 2012. View the Federal Register notice here. For more information, contact David Riley, Director, Veterans Transportation Service, Chief Business Office (10NB), Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 2957 Clairmont Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, 404.828.5601.
ARTICLES:
Reviving Small and Mid-Sized Manufacturing With Technology: Learning From Best Practices Around the Globe - A discussion of how leading nations are helping their SME manufacturers become more productive, innovative and competitive.
LEARNING:
- Cooperatives Start-up – skills and processes to make happen - February 14, 2012
This webinar is free and open to anyone interested in learning more about the co-op start-up process. With limited time and energy, it is essential that startup groups work effectively. This webinar highlights constructive skills and processes that help teams work together and make decisions, so more time and energy can be devoted to building your co-op! To register, go to: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/630954873. http://www.extension.org/pages/62555/webinar:-effective-boards-and-teams:-teamwork-process-and-decisionmaking-cds-consulting
- Webinar: Starting a New Buying Club, Food Co-op Initiative - February 21, 2012
This webinar is free and open to anyone interested in learning more about the co-op start-up process. What is a buying club and how is that different from a food cooperative? When might one be better than the other? What do new buying clubs need to do to get started? Are there software or other resources out there that can make the effort easier and more successful. If you’re starting a new buying club, you might have these questions and others. Please register early so that FCI can send you a preparation survey to ensure the webinar will better suit your goals. To register, go to: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/641221592 - View article...
- Challenges Facing Small and Medium Sized Entrepreneurs in Emerging Cool Climate Wine Regions
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 - 3:00 PM (Eastern Time) http://breeze.msu.edu/ncrcrd/
About the webinar- In the last decade we have observed the rapid establishment of new small- and medium-sized wineries in non-traditional, cold-climate wine regions. These rural entrepreneurs include grape growers that have decided to vertically integrate into winemaking and also non-farmer investor-entrepreneurs who have opted for an alternative lifestyle. As a result of this entrepreneurial activity, wine clusters are emerging in non-traditional regions such as in the states of Michigan, Missouri and Northern New York. These wine clusters might become economic vectors of rural development as they have the potential to foster the development of related industries (e.g., tourism) as is the case of established wine regions such as Napa Valley.
This research seminar examines the barriers that wineries and emerging wine regions must overcome to be successful vectors of rural development. In particular, we will present the results of an exploratory survey of Michigan, Missouri, and New York wineries. These results reveal the key challenges facing rural entrepreneurs in these regions with emphasis on economic, business and marketing issues at two interrelated levels – the firm (i.e., the winery) and the industry (or region). Furthermore, we conduct a comparative analysis of these challenges across the three regions and highlight several significant similarities and differences. The seminar concludes by introducing a conceptual framework for addressing the two most significant challenges: grape procurement and wine distribution.
Registration: There is no fee for attending this webinar.
About the Speaker(s):
Brent Ross, assistant professor of food industry management, joined the Michigan State University faculty in June 2008. Brent has expertise in business strategy, entrepreneurship, finance and simulation modeling, and he is particularly interested in applying his expertise to improve management decision-making within the context of the global agri-food system. His current research focuses on the role of entrepreneurial behavior in enhancing firm performance. He also conducts research on network formation and governance, agri-food value chains, and food sustainability among other projects. In addition to his research program, Brent also teaches courses in business strategy, food marketing, entrepreneurship and organizational economics.
Fabio Chaddad is an assistant professor of agricultural economics at the Division of Applied Social Sciences, University of Missouri. Fabio’s research activities focus on the organization and boundaries of the agribusiness firm, with applications to strategy, finance, contracting, governance and inter-firm collaborative arrangements. In addition to this project on wineries, his current research projects include (1) the estimation of profit persistence determinants in agrifood firms; (2) the organizational architecture of corporate farming and producer networks; (3) the analysis of collective action and governance challenges in multistakeholder organizations; and (4) the examination of corporate governance practices in farmer-owned cooperatives.
Miguel Gomez is an assistant professor at the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management since 2008. Miguel concentrates his research program on three interrelated areas under the umbrella of food marketing and distribution. The first is Supply Chains Competitiveness & Sustainability. His work in this area involves multi-disciplinary collaborations and his primary contribution is the development of normative optimization models to assess supply chain performance in multiple dimensions - economic, social and environmental. The second is Retailing & Channel Relationships. Here, Miguel combines microeconomic theory with quantitative marketing research, emphasizing key concepts such as customer satisfaction, demand response, and retail performance. The third is Price Analysis. Miguel's research here sheds light on the impact of pricing tactics in food retailing; on price transmission in the supply chain; and on models to forecast prices.
Instructions for Accessing the Webinar:
Following is the link you will use to access this free webinar: http://breeze.msu.edu/ncrcrd/
After opening the link, you will notice “enter as a guest” is by default already chosen. Please type your name into the text box provided, and click on “enter room.” You are now in the meeting room for this webinar and the facilitator will guide you with any next steps.
If you have never attended a Connect Pro meeting before:
Test your connection: http://breeze.msu.edu/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm
Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/go/connectpro_overview
This meeting will deliver audio through your computer speakers or headset. Please connect to the meeting space five minutes prior to the start time to verify your connection and audio volumes. If you’ve never used Adobe Connect on the computer you will be using, please use the “Test your connection” link above and do a test connection to the actual meeting space well in advance of the scheduled meeting time. If you have technical difficulty connecting, please call the Library Help Desk at 1-800-500-1554 or 5-2345 (MSU campus) and indicate you are having trouble connecting to the Adobe Connect meeting space at http://breeze.msu.edu/ncrcrd/.
Keep in mind that many people will be linked into this conference. To facilitate Q&A’s, participants submit questions via the Chat Function in Adobe Connect.
To receive these announcements directly, or to correct errors in our distribution list, please email soliz@anr.msu.edu.
NCRCRD webinars are recorded and posted online, go to our webinar archives http://ncrcrd.msu.edu/ncrcrd/chronological_archive
- Ripple Effect Mapping - February 28, 2012, 2:00 PM (Eastern Time)
http://breeze.msu.edu/ncrcrd/ - Note: While focused on extension’s work, I see possible links to work we do in RD and community development.
About the webinar - This webinar will introduce a promising follow-up participatory group process designed to document the results of our efforts within complex, real-life settings. The method, known as Ripple Effect Mapping, uses elements of Appreciative Inquiry, mind mapping, and qualitative data analysis to engage program participants and other community stakeholders to reflect upon and visually map the intended and unintended changes produced by Extension programming. The result is not only a powerful technique to document impacts, but a way to engage and re-energize community members to keep moving toward their community development goals.
Registration: There is no fee for attending this webinar.
About the Speaker(s):
From 2003 to 2011, Dr. Lynette Flage served as a community leadership specialist for the North Dakota State University Extension Service. Her work involved directing the North Dakota Horizons program which focused on building local leaders to tackle difficult issues and build prosperity in rural and tribal areas. Lynette’s program and research interests include sense of community, rural leadership, social capital, and community change processes. She maintains her connection to community leadership work but as of September 2011 also serves as the northeast district director for NDSU Extension.
Dr. Scott Chazdon is evaluation and research coordinator for the Center for Community Vitality, University of Minnesota Extension. His work with Extension has focused on community social capital assessment, community readiness, as well as use of the community capitals framework to conduct impact studies of Extension programs. He has demonstrated experience in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies; participatory evaluation strategies; and in conducting evaluation and research with diverse cultures.
Instructions for Accessing the Webinar - Following is the link you will use to access this free webinar: http://breeze.msu.edu/ncrcrd/
After opening the link, you will notice “enter as a guest” is by default already chosen. Please type your name into the text box provided, and click on “enter room.” You are now in the meeting room for this webinar and the facilitator will guide you with any next steps.
If you have never attended a Connect Pro meeting before:
Test your connection: http://breeze.msu.edu/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm
Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/go/connectpro_overview
This meeting will deliver audio through your computer speakers or headset. Please connect to the meeting space five minutes prior to the start time to verify your connection and audio volumes. If you’ve never used Adobe Connect on the computer you will be using, please use the “Test your connection” link above and do a test connection to the actual meeting space well in advance of the scheduled meeting time. If you have technical difficulty connecting, please call the Library Help Desk at 1-800-500-1554 or 5-2345 (MSU campus) and indicate you are having trouble connecting to the Adobe Connect meeting space at http://breeze.msu.edu/ncrcrd/.
Keep in mind that many people will be linked into this conference. To facilitate Q&A’s, participants submit questions via the Chat Function in Adobe Connect.
To receive these announcements directly, or to correct errors in our distribution list, please email soliz@anr.msu.edu
FUNDING:
DOT Announces Fourth Round of TIGER Grants
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the availability of funds for the next round of the TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Grant program. The FY2012 TIGER grant program will make $500 million available for projects having a significant impact on the nation, a metropolitan area or region. Up to $100 million may be made available to intercity and high-speed rail and $120 million will go toward rural areas. In addition, as in prior rounds of funding, this year’s TIGER grants are for capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure and are to be awarded on a competitive basis. Projects will be evaluated on primary criteria that include safety, economic competitiveness, livability, environmental sustainability, state of repair, and short-term job creation.
The DOT pre-application system will open on or before February 13. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit pre-applications and applications in advance of the application deadlines. The deadline for pre-applications is February 20, 2012 and the deadline for final applications is March 19, 2012. Click here for the Federal Register Notice. Additional information is available at http://www.dot.gov/tiger/.
EPA Announces New Brownfields Multipurpose Grants, Combining Cleanup and Site Assessments -
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a notice of funding availability for new brownfields multipurpose grants. Under this competition, EPA is piloting a new grant program that will provide a single grant to an eligible entity for both assessment and cleanup work at a specific brownfield site. The total expected funding available under this competitive opportunity is approximately $5.5 million, subject to availability of funds, quality of proposals received, and other applicable considerations. EPA anticipates selecting approximately 10 pilot projects through this competitive opportunity and intends to make one award in each region. Only applicants who have received an EPA Brownfields grant in 2003 or later are eligible to apply for the multipurpose pilot grant. Applicants who received a brownfields grant prior to 2003 are not eligible to apply. The proposal deadline is February 10, 2012. For complete details and guidelines on this opportunity, click here.
USDA Secretary Announces Pilot Program to Aid Rural Homeowners - On January 31, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a new, two-year pilot program to aid rural homeowners with loans made or guaranteed by USDA Rural Development. Designed to provide those who currently have loans insured by USDA with a low-cost, streamlined process for refinancing to lower rates, the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Rural Refinance Pilot Program will operate in 19 states that are among those most affected by the housing market downturn: Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Tennessee. For more information on the pilot program, click here.
Federal Transit Administration has announced its intention to fund a second round of grants through the Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative, anticipated to be $25 million through the Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities program. This initiative supports the development of one call/one click centers and related transportation coordination, and eligible applicants include local governments, States, Tribes, and recipients of funding through the Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula program. A Notice of Funding Availability should be released in the next few weeks and will be announced in NADO News. For more information on the program, visit http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/13094_13528.html.
KaBOOM! and Dr Pepper Snapple Accepting Applications for Playground Construction Grants - Professional artists of exceptional talent and demonstrated ability working in the craft, literary, media, or music arts in Washington State are invited to apply for fellowship awards of $7,500.... Deadline: March 16, 2012
First Nations Development Institute Seeks Letters of Intent for Native Youth and Culture Fund - Funding will be awarded to tribal governments, tribal programs, and Native nonprofits for projects that focus on youth and incorporate culture and tradition to address social issues.... Deadline: March 2, 2012 (Letters of Intent)
MetLife Foundation and Local Initiatives Support Corporation Seek Applications for Community-Police Partnership Awards - Grants of $15,000 to $30,000 will be awarded to recognize and support innovative partnerships between community groups and police departments to promote neighborhood safety and revitalization.... Deadline: March 11, 2012 (Preliminary Applications)
Dollar General Literacy Foundation Invites Applications for Youth Literacy Grants - Grants of up to $15,000 are available to nonprofit organizations, schools, and public libraries providing adult and family literacy programs and summer reading programs in states in where Dollar General operates.... Deadline: May 16, 2012
TogetherGreen Accepting Applications for Conservation Fellowships and Innovation Grants - Conservation Fellowship grants of $10,000 and Innovation grants of up to $80,000 will be awarded to nonprofits and National Audubon Society organizations working to support conservation action in their communities.... Deadline: Various
Knight Community Information Challenge Invites Community Foundations to Apply for Media Project Matching Grants - Matching grants are available to community and place-based foundations in the U.S. working to fund news and information projects serving local residents.... Deadline: February 27, 2012
Independent Sector Invites Applications for American Express NGen Fellows Program - Twelve emerging leaders age 40 and under will be selected to participate in the nine-month leadership development initiative.... Deadline: February 27, 2012
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