Publications and Resources

SCORE Black Entrepreneurs
SCORE, supported by the U.S Small Business Administration, celebrates Black History Month by launching a new online resource site designed to promote small business development with a comprehensive collection of resources.

A National Agricultural Library Digital Exhibit for George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver was an agricultural scientist whose importance lies in his practical work supporting African-American farmers and his advocacy for specific crops such as peanuts and sweet potatoes. This exhibit showcases the 38 Tuskegee Institute Experiment Station Bulletins held by NAL that he wrote during his tenure as director.

Enterprising Women of Color Initiative
The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) developed Enterprising Women of Color (EWOC) to focus on the fast-expanding minority women entrepreneur population as revenue-generators for families, communities, and the nation. The vision of EWOC is to ensure women worldwide reach their economic potential. 

MBI Helps HBCUs and TCUs Navigate Distance Learning Regulations
U.S. Department of Commerce NTIA’s Minority Broadband Initiative (MBI), in partnership with the United States Distance Learning Association and the Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education, recently held a teleconference to brief Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Tribal Colleges and Universities on new Department of Education distance learning regulations due to be implemented July 1, 2021.

Outdoor Recreation Roundtable's Rural Economic Development Toolkit
The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable has developed this toolkit designed to help your community build and sustain an outdoor recreation economy.

Event Opportunities

National Entrepreneurship Week
Feb. 13 - 23 | Virtual
Join NatlEshipWeek for a series of free workshops. National Entrepreneurship Week, a non-partisan, congressionally-chartered initiative, was founded in 2006 and takes place the third week of February annually.

Building Resilience in Agricultural & Food Systems through Innovative and Strategic Partnerships
Feb. 17 | Virtual
Held in conjunction with USDA’s Ag Outlook Forum, this event is hosted by USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE) and Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Mission Area to offer attendees a dynamic forum to discuss innovative strategies to build resilience in agriculture and food systems.

Agritourism & Racial Justice in the USA
Feb. 17 | Virtual
The International Workshop on Agritourism presents this opportunity to gather and focus on the role of agritourism within the racial justice movement in the USA featuring panelists from both urban and rural perspectives will discuss the potential for farm-based education and sales of local products to serve as tools in the pursuit of racial equity and social justice in food systems.

Rural Community Development Initiative Webinar
Feb. 18 | Webinar
Join USDA to learn about grants being made available for projects to improve housing, community facilities, and community and economic development in rural areas. This webinar is for potential applicants and anyone interested in learning more about the program.

USDA Consultation on Consultations and Racial Equity
March 9 and March 11 | Virtual
In March, the Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) will be consulting on the 1) Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships, and the 2) Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government which specifically includes addressing impediments to accessing USDA programs and services.

Rural Workforce Innovation Network (RWIN) Workshop: Federal Training Resources to Build a Stronger Rural Workforce
March 11 | Virtual Workshop
Join USDA Rural Development and members of RWIN for the next workshop in our monthly series. In this workshop, representatives from USDA Rural Development, USDA Food and Nutrition Services and the U.S. Department of Labor will explore Federal resources that rural leaders can use to foster workforce training and skill development for individuals in their communities.