Innovation Matters, Educational Opportunities, October 20, 2020

Publications

USDA Co-ops 101 Booklet
USDA offers this easy to follow publication to support cooperative development outlining how the co-op business model is highly flexible and can address a wide variety of needs including rural utility services, credit and financial services, food services, education, farmer-owned, construction, recreation, daycare and health services.

OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative Lender Guide
USDA Rural Development published a new guide to assist lenders applying for Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantee Program; Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program; Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program; and Rural Energy for America Guaranteed Loan Program under the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative which streamlines the application process by implementing standardized requirements for credit reviews, loan processing, loan servicing and loss claims.

Building Native CDFIs’ Sustainability and Impact II
To meet the needs of today's Native CDFIs, the CDFI Fund partnered with ICF Incorporated, LLC and First Nations Oweesta Corporation to deliver a comprehensive technical assistance training platform for the Native CDFI industry with resources from the training series, recordings of the webinars and useful links are available in the Training and Technical Assistance section of the CDFI Fund’s website.

America’s Seed Fund: Women’s Inclusion in SBIR & SBTT Programs
The National Women’s Business Council, a non-partisan federal advisory committee created to serve as an independent source of advice and policy recommendations to the President, Congress, and the U.S. Small Business Administration, commissions the first comprehensive study examining the factors that may influence women’s participation in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, also known as America’s Seed Fund.

Podcast: Heroic Co-op Employees Go Above and Beyond
National Rural Economic Developers Association’s podcast episode of Along Those Lines features three riveting stories from co-op employees whose routine workdays turned into lifesaving rescue missions.

Event Opportunities

Main Street Lending Program
Oct. 21 | Webinar
This Federal Reserve Bank webinar is designed to help borrowers learn about the Main Street Lending Program and provide an opportunity for borrowers to get answers to specific questions.

OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative Lender Office Hours
Oct. 28 | Webinar
USDA Rural Development is hosting a webinar for lenders to answer questions about the new processes under the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative.

Tribal Microgrids: Exploring Why and How
Oct. 28 | Webinar
The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy is hosting a free webinar on tribal microgrids to share case studies and explore benefits to tribal communities to develop microgrids.

Smart Regions Innovation, Recovery, and Resilience Virtual Workshop
Oct. 29-30 | Webinar 
Participants are invited to join discussions on best practices in smart regions investments and partnerships, navigating equity issues during a disaster, regional data sharing, unique issues facing rural areas, the education and health response to disasters, and a look at a more resilient future that smart region projects can help us achieve. This event is hosted by the Global City Teams Challenge (GCTC) Smart Regions Collaborative, the National Telecommunications & Information Administration, the National Association of Regional Councils, and US Ignite and sponsored by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

2020 Rural Workforce Development Southern Region Summit: Innovation in Times of Change
Nov. 5 - 6 | In-person and Virtual
Created in partnership with the University of Arkansas Rockefeller Institute, the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton, and USDA Rural Development’s Innovation Center, this summit creates space for educators, businesses, legislators, health care workers, nonprofit professionals, and public servants to convene and share innovative practices or resources to address changes and needs to strengthen the rural workforce.

Building Community Capacity around Housing
Nov. 5 - 6 | Webinar
USDA’s Office of Partnerships & Public Engagement, in collaboration with the Regional Rural Development Centers offer a multi-day virtual event designed to serve as a ‘Train the Trainer’ opportunity for community development practitioners as a multi-dimensional overview of the challenges encompassing rural housing through a national lens. Meet the Trainers.

2020 Cooperative Network Annual Meeting
Nov. 17 | Virtual
The Cooperative Network welcomes all to join their annual meeting to hear from their Board and learn about proposed resolution changes.

Innovation Matters Education Opportunities 10/06/2020

Publications

USDA Launches Webpage to Announce Rural Broadband Projects Seeking Funds Under the Electric Program
USDA has launched a webpage to notify the public when the Department has received applications from rural electric cooperatives and utilities for loans and loan guarantees in which up to 10 percent of the funds will be used to deploy broadband service. This website supports a final rule authorized by Section 6210 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (The 2018 Farm Bill) to allow the use of funds under select programs to help expand access to broadband services in rural America. For additional information, see page 57077 of the Sept. 15 Federal Register.

Electric Co-ops Celebrate 25 Years of Commitment to Community, Core Values
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, a national service organization for more than 900 not-for-profit rural electric cooperatives and public power districts providing retail electric service to more than 42 million consumer-members in 48 states, offers a re-cap of success stories highlighting the 7th Cooperative Principle or Concern for Community. Downloadable posters: Seven Cooperative Principles.

Powering the Future of Rural America
National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, a nonprofit cooperative that provides an array of financial services to electric cooperatives nationwide, published an annual report outlining their dedication to the universal principles of cooperatives.

Expanding Community College Apprenticeships
U.S. Department of Labor funded national initiative, led by the American Association of Community Colleges, published state by state data showing significant advances in its first year of their three year plan to increase the number of apprentices and services throughout the U.S.

Event Opportunities

Co-op Impact Conference – National Cooperative Business Association
October 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 | Virtual Conference
NCBA CLUSA’s Co-op IMPACT Conference is a national, cross-sector event elevating the national conversation on Co-ops offering a platform to reenergize the cooperative movement and galvanize its champions around building the next economy.

Local Foods, Local Places: Application Assistance
October 9 | Webinar
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and USDA invite communities to join to learn about the program and get technical assistance to help revitalize their economy, promote local foods, improve health, and protect the environment by revitalizing neighborhoods through the development of local food systems. (Application deadline is October 30)

National Association of Development Organizations 2020 Annual Training Conference
October 20 - 22 | Virtual
NADO annual event featuring sessions on economic development, housing, environment, workforce, broadband and more.

2020 NREDA Annual Conference: Keys to Holistic Economic Development
November 4 - 6 | Virtual Conference
National Rural Economic Developers Association, a professional organization dedicated exclusively to the advancement of rural development, will gather economic developers, electric and telephone co-op representatives, federal partners and others to network and learn the latest in the economic development industry. 

Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities
November 9 - 13, 2020 | Virtual Conference
Hosted by a team of University Extension Offices, this community development initiative brings together entrepreneurs, business leaders, economic development professionals, decision makers, and community champions to strengthen and broaden regional entrepreneurial networks.

CDF National Home Care Cooperative Conference
February 22 – 25 | Virtual Conference
Cooperative Development Foundation event for home-care worker cooperative members and developers.

NTIA’s Minority Broadband Initiative-USDA Rural Utilities Service Technical Assistance Webinar Series
This technical assistance webinar series provides Historically Black Colleges and Universities an overview of the grant application process, guidance for narrative preparation, and how to prepare budget/financial statements for USDA’s Distance Learning & Telemedicine, Community Connect, and Reconnect programs. Recorded webinar links are below:

• Session 1 | Introduction to USDA Telecommunication Programs
• Session 2 | Community Connect
• Session 3 | ReConnect Program Overview
• Session 4 | Distance Learning & Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program Overview
• Session 5 | Telecom Mapping Tools
• Session 6 | Success Stories and Lessons Learned

Educational Opportunities, September 18, 2020

Publications

OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative: Annual Notice for FY21 Rates and Terms
Ahead of Fiscal Year 2021, USDA is providing guarantee percentages, annual fees, periodic retention fees, and optional construction fees to help lenders apply for the Agency’s four flagship loan guarantee programs under the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative.

Agriculture Innovation Agenda
USDA announced this department-wide initiative to align resources, programs, and research to help position American agriculture to better meet future global demands and stimulate innovation in order increase production by 40 percent while cutting the environmental footprint in half by 2050.

Outdoor Recreation Industry Helps Drive the Economy
The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable offers a review of data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis on the Outdoor Recreation Industry noting significant positive impacts in this sector as a major generator of quality American jobs in industries ranging from manufacturing to retail to tourism.

Small Business Pulse Survey
This new survey from the U.S. Census Bureau is designed to collect real-time data on the rehiring of laid-off or furloughed employees, work from home data, the use of online platforms to offer goods or services, changes in capacity of businesses, tax deferrals and credits, and data on the Federal Reserve’s Main Street Lending Program.

HHS Rural Action Plan
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services developed a plan to strengthen coordination within the Department and to best serve rural communities through a four-point strategy designed to transform rural health and human services: (1) building a sustainable health and human services model for rural communities, (2) leveraging technology and innovation, (3) focusing on preventing disease and mortality, and (4) increasing rural access to care.

Event Opportunities

National Tribal Broadband Summit
September 21 – 25 | Virtual Summit
The Department of the Interior, in collaboration with USDA and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, will showcase creative solutions to support tribal broadband development by connecting community leaders with information and resources to help identify opportunities for public and private sector solutions on tribal lands.

National Small Business Week: Virtual Conference
September 22 – 24 | Virtual Conference
The U.S. Small Business Administration takes its annual event virtual this year. The event will feature educational panels providing retooling and innovative practices for entrepreneurs as our nation’s small businesses look to pivot and recover toward a stronger economy.

Talent Finance Series
September 22 | Forum 1: Kickoff Event
September 24 | Forum 2: Building Partnerships
September 29 | Forum 3: Public-Private Innovations
October 1 | Forum 4: Enabling Infrastructure
October 13 | Forum 5: Capstone Event
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and its partners (Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Greater Houston Partnership, WorkingNation, Cognizant U.S. Foundation, Google.org, JPMorgan Chase, MSFT Philanthropies, Schmidt Futures, and many more) offer a free series to explore new public-private approaches to support talent management and workforce development.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Fast-Forward Summit
September 29 – 30 | Virtual Summit
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation offers this free summit to educate the public about private-sector innovations that are redefining the future. The summit offers a forum for deep-dive conversations and will explore the future of sports, aging, housing, and food.

The SNAP E&T National Work Forum
October 13-14 | St. Louis, MO or Virtual
USDA’s first-ever SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) National Forum brings together SNAP E&T stakeholders from across the country to share and learn best practices to promote and increase employment among SNAP households through state SNAP E&T programs.

Educational Opportunities, September 1, 2020

Publications

Recreation Economy at USDA: Economic Development Resources for Rural Communities
This USDA resource guide addresses key factors necessary to build a sustainable recreational economy including natural resource management, conservation activities, infrastructure investment, business development and more.

Living at Home in Rural America: Improving Accessibility for Older Adults and People with a Disability
USDA, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Housing and Urban Development released a joint informational bulletin on improving accessibility for adults and people with a disability in rural America.

Food Expenditure Series
USDA Economic Research Service provides comprehensive data on the U.S. food system with research quantifying the value of food acquired by type of product, outlet, and purchaser.

Technology Based Learning in Workforce Development & Education: A Review of the Research Literature
U.S. Department of Labor published a workforce report that explores technology-based learning in the public workforce system with highlights on employability, basic literacy, technological literacy, job search skills and occupational training and certification availability.

Educational Resource Library
The U.S. Census Bureau published a virtual library housing a variety of training resources including presentations, recorded webinars and tutorials.

Event Opportunities

NTIA’s Minority Broadband Initiative-USDA Rural Utilities Service Technical Assistance Webinar Series
This technical assistance webinar series will provide Historically Black Colleges and Universities with an overview of the grant application process, guidance for narrative preparation, and how to prepare budget/financial statements in an application for USDA’s Distance Learning & Telemedicine, Community Connect, and Reconnect programs. Register for each webinar below. Recordings will be provided in a later issue of Innovation Matters.

• September 1 | Introduction to USDA Telecommunication Programs
• September 3 | Community Connect
• September 8 | ReConnect Program Overview
• September 10 | Distance Learning & Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program Overview
• September15 | Telecom Mapping Tools
• September 17 | Success Stories and Lessons Learned

How to Supercharge Your Grant Research
September 15 | Webinar
CharityHowTo offers this free webinar to strengthen grant research skills and discuss the best use of tools to create and support a grant seeking plan and winning strategy.

Advancing the Response to COVID-19: Sharing Promising Programs and Practices for Racial and Ethnic Minority Communities
September 17 | Webinar 
HHS Office of Minority Health will host a virtual symposium to highlight state, Tribal, territorial, and community-based efforts to address COVID-19 among racial and ethnic minority populations.

National Tribal Broadband Summit
September 21 – 25, 2020 | Virtual Summit
The Department of the Interior, in collaboration with USDA and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, will showcase creative solutions to support tribal broadband development by connecting community leaders with information and resources to help identify opportunities for public and private sector solutions on tribal lands.

Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities
November 9-13, 2020 | Virtual Conference
Hosted by a team of University Extension Offices, this community development initiative brings together entrepreneurs, business leaders, economic development professionals, decision makers, and community champions to strengthen and broaden regional entrepreneurial networks.

Expanding CDFI Coverage in Underserved Areas
Pre-recorded | Webinars
The U.S. Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institute Fund (CDFI) offers a practical guide to market analysis including reasons and timing for doing one and the steps to take in conducting a successful analysis include defining research goals, scoping the target market, understanding the research design and methodology, setting concrete timelines and budget, and implementation goals.