USDA Rural Development Partners with Community College Alliance for Agriculture Advancement to Strengthen America’s Rural Workforce
As part of a memorandum of understanding, USDA Rural Development will coordinate with the Alliance to help students develop leadership and job skills through agency internships and networking opportunities. Through this partnership students gain skill sets to help them advance in careers. The partnership will also help to ensure rural communities have skilled leaders and workforce to thrive in the future.

USDA Proposed Rule-Manufactured Housing Provisions
Published in the Federal Register, USDA Rural Development is seeking comments on proposed changes to Handbook 1-3550 and Handbook 1-3555 that would make existing manufactured homes, which meet specific criteria, eligible for financing. In addition, the proposal reduces regulatory burdens related to manufactured housing requirements and provides flexibilities for energy efficient manufactured and modular homes located in land lease communities operating on a non-profit basis. Comments due by October 16, 2023.

Success Story of the Month

Recorded: USDA RD Rural Business and Cooperative Service - “How – To” Video Series. This series is designed to help applicants apply for funding and provides consistency and equity in the application process. The series offers “bite-sized” tips for completing application forms plus support for submitting a successful application!

8/30: Virtual | USDA and University of Kentucky to Host Webinar to Expand Placemaking Resources in Rural Communities

USDA Rural Development and the University of Kentucky offer a webinar for rural leaders to learn about creative placemaking approaches. Creative placemaking integrates arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities. Community leaders and public and private grant funding organizations interested in rural placemaking are encouraged to attend. Register.

8/29: Virtual | CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series: Investment Tools & Food Systems. Explore how programs at the state and federal levels can offer unique financing solutions and catalyze investment in local and regional food systems.

8/31/23: Virtual | Farm to School Local Foods: Institute of Child Nutrition Webinar on Procuring Local Foods. Learn how to procure and incorporate locally sourced foods into the school meal programs. Featuring strategies for sourcing local foods, establishing community partnerships, and addressing procurement challenges. 

9/6-8: Atlanta, Georgia | SSTI 2023 Annual Conference. Made possible in part by the EDA supported TBED Community of Practice, will convene practitioners and policymakers working to create a better future through science, technology innovation and entrepreneurship.

10/25-27: Bentonville, Arkansas | Rural Renaissance Roadshow, presented by Groundswell. Program topics will include energy resilience, solar and land use, energy efficiency and housing preservation, regenerative agriculture, and main street economic development.

10/24-27: Washington, DC | The 2023 National Rural Housing Conference: Build Rural.

11/7: Cleveland, Ohio | The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Annual Training Conference.