Innovation Matters Education Opportunities 01/19/2021

Publications and Resources

FEMA Resource Roadmaps
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Get help navigating some of the challenges and resources available to address the COVID-19 pandemic. This resource roadmap allows the searcher to find potential solutions and applicable resources, including federal funding support and technical assistance.

New $10,000 EIDL Grants (Advance): Do you Qualify?
SCORE
Supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), offers this resource to outline the basics for small businesses on grants (advances) associated with SBAs Economic Injury Disaster Loan.

ASCENT
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
SBA launched an interactive digital platform packed with resources designed for the “missing middle” or growth-oriented female entrepreneur looking to grow their business.

Business Response Survey to the Coronavirus Pandemic Top of Form
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
This information, combined with data collected by other current BLS surveys, made aid in understanding how businesses responded during the pandemic and show changes in employment, wages, job openings and terminations, employer-provided benefits, and safety and health.

Event Opportunities

What's New with PPP and Other Relief Options for Small Businesses
Jan. 21 | Webinar
SCORE’s Mentor Program offers current information to learn about what’s in the new relief package with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) featuring a Q&A section to discuss what this could mean for your small business.

Healthcare Redefined: Transforming the Future of Health IT
Jan. 26 | Webinar
Nextgov and Cisco present a webinar on innovations in telehealth, electronic health records and 3D printing as the federal government is utilizing emerging technology to improve everything from contact tracing to vaccine approval processes. They will discuss how agencies can ensure that these devices and large swaths of critical data remain secure as government continues to modernize for mission success.

Agritourism around the US: Findings from a National Survey of Farms Open to Visitors for Education, Entertainment, Recreation, Hospitality and Product Sales
Jan. 28 | Virtual Meeting
National Extension Tourism Team plans to share research from a multi-state team of specialists gathered from farms, ranches, and vineyards on their tourism activity ranging from overnight stays, tastings, events, community supported agriculture (CSA), tours, to hunting. Survey questions included products and experiences offered, motivations, challenges, profitability measures, and plans for the future. They received 1834 responses representing all 50 states and they plan to share the survey findings with a focus on regional differences across the US. Registration is required.

Registration is Open for NARC’s Virtual National Conference of Regions!
Feb. 8 - 12 | Virtual Conference
Join the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) for the 2021 National Conference of Regions.

The Agricultural Outlook Forum  
Feb. 18 - 19 | Free Virtual Conference
The 97^th annual Agricultural Outlook Forum theme is “Building on Innovation: A Pathway to Resilience”. This is the largest annual meeting and premiere event, independent of commercial interests, organized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It aims to facilitate information sharing among stakeholders and generate the transparency that supports well-functioning open markets and will feature a panel of distinguished guest speakers and breakout sessions.

Innovation Matters, Educational Opportunities 1/6/2021

Publications and Resources

HHS Report: Strengthening the Entry-Level Health Care Workforce
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
This report provides an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities for this segment of the health care workforce and identifies entry-level positions as one option for expanding community-level capacity while also increasing employment opportunities.

FDIC’s 2020 Community Banking Study
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
FDIC released a new large-scale study on the state of the nation’s community banks and find community banks played a critical role in providing access to credit in several key areas of the U.S. economy, particularly through lending to support commercial real estate, small businesses and agriculture.

Energy Data Management Guide
U.S. Department of Energy
The Department provides states, local governments, and K-12 school districts with a step-by-step approach to establish a robust and sustainable energy data management program to reduce energy use, save taxpayer dollars, and improve the efficiency of operations. Get started today and join the public-sector organizations featured in the guide that have achieved sustained energy savings of at least 2% per year.

USDA Programs in the Local Food Supply Chain
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
This publication highlights more than 30 USDA grants, programs, and services in support of local food economies featuring grants, research, education, and technical assistance opportunities.

Event Opportunities

Rural America at a Glance, 2020 Edition
Recorded | Webinar
USDA's Economic Research Service presents findings from their recent publication Rural America at a Glance: 2020 Edition.

Grow with Google: Helping Jobseekers Kickstart Their Careers in High-Demand Fields
Recorded | Podcast
National Association of Workforce Boards program featuring a discussion with Google who is looking to partner with local workforce boards through their “Grow with Google” program that creates opportunities for nontraditional talent to kickstart careers in high demand fields, including IT.

National Tribal Listening Session on Community Reinvestment Act Modernization
Jan. 14 | Virtual Event
The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System offer this virtual event for tribal nationals to learn about Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) modernization and offer feedback to ensure the modernized CRA is responsive to the needs of tribal nations and Indigenous people.

The Agricultural Outlook Forum
Feb. 18 - 19 | Free Virtual Conference
The 97^th annual Agricultural Outlook Forum theme is “Building on Innovation: A Pathway to Resilience”. This is the largest annual meeting and premiere event, independent of commercial interests, organized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It aims to facilitate information sharing among stakeholders and generate the transparency that supports well-functioning open markets and will feature a panel of distinguished guest speakers and breakout sessions.

Innovation Matters Education Opportunities 12/15/2020

Publications and Resources

AskUSDA Contact Center
USDA launched the AskUSDA Contact Center to transform how the public interacts with USDA to provide a streamlined approach to improve customer service. Contact AskUSDA by phone at (833) ONE-USDA. Representatives are available 9:00 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. EST on weekdays. The website is available 24/7 and includes live chat agents available 10:00 a.m. -6:00 p.m. EST on weekdays. Inquiries may also be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Job Quality Tools Library
The Aspen Institute, with support from Prudential Foundation, developed a library of online tools to support leaders working in a variety of fields related to economic opportunity to engage in practical action to improve jobs offering tools, resources, and guidance to help leaders strengthen job quality across labor markets.

Using Data Systems To Improve Workforce Development Outcomes in A Changing Landscape
U.S. Department of Labor’s WorkforceGPS program features three new publications in support of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act with information on data integration and continuous program outcome improvement: A Changing Workforce Development Landscape; Registered Apprenticeship Program RAP; and Putting Data to Work.

Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success Applicant Toolkit
U.S. Department of Transportation offers a new resource to support the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success initiative. This toolkit helps support communities to better identify and navigate agency grant funding opportunities.

A Research Strategy for Enhancing Sustainable Recreation and Tourism on Public Lands
USDA Forest Service, in collaboration with the Igniting the Science of Outdoor Recreation Working Group, developed a research-based strategy for outdoor recreation and tourism on public lands.

Event Opportunities

Supporting Solar
Dec. 17 | Webinar
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office hosts a stakeholder webinar to give an overview of work supporting solar entrepreneurs and commercialization pathways of new solar technologies, with special guests from the American-Made Solar Prize, the Small Business Innovation Research program, and a competitive funding program.

Tourism Discussions: A Lesson in Flexibility
Dec. 17 | Webinar
This webinar is part of the National Extension Tourism (NET) webinar series and features real-time tourism and community development tips on flexibility and re-planning coming straight from the leadership of the 2020 Coastal Georgia Tourism Conference. It will feature online facilitated discussions around development with outdoor recreation, local grown food/drink, and heritage and culture.

USDA ERS Rural America at a Glance, 2020 Edition
Dec. 18 | Webinar
USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) will present findings from their 2020 publication which summarizes population trends, employment, poverty, income in rural areas and recent demographic and economic conditions in rural areas resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic recession.

The Agricultural Outlook Forum
Feb. 18-19 | Free Virtual Conference
The 97^th annual Agricultural Outlook Forum theme is “Building on Innovation: A Pathway to Resilience”. This is the largest annual meeting and premiere event, independent of commercial interests, organized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It aims to facilitate information sharing among stakeholders and generate the transparency that supports well-functioning open markets and will feature a panel of distinguished guest speakers and breakout sessions.

2021 Cultural Wealth Conference: “The Role of the Arts and Cultural Capital in Rural Innovation and Entrepreneurship”
Feb. 23 – 25 | Virtual Conference
The Rural Policy Research Institute, with the support of USDA, is hosting this conference on the important role that arts and cultural capital play in rural innovation, community well-being, and rural community sustainability, while also exploring the role of arts and culture in rural communities through both qualitative and quantitative studies.

How Community Development Organizations Change When They Embrace Arts and Culture
Recorded Webinar
PolicyLink developed a series of webinars to support ArtPlace America’s Community Development Investments initiative to share experiences and lessons for community development corporations, nonprofit housing developers, health services providers, park associations and economic development agencies.

Innovation Matters Education Opportunities 11/17/2020

Publications and Resources

USDA’s Rural Health Subscription List
If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development to receive updates related to rural health, join the Agency’s Rural Health subscription list.

Telemedicine Technologies in Rural Washington Spark Long-Term Advancement in Health Care Delivery
USDA Rural Development Washington State Director Kirk Pearson writes about the impacts of USDA's Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant program in rural Washington. (In celebration of National Rural Health Day on Thursday, Nov. 19, USDA is highlighting stories throughout the week of how we are working with rural leaders and our partners to increase access to critical health care across rural America. To access stories as they're posted, visit https://www.usda.gov/media/blog.)

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Celebrates National Rural Health Day
HRSA recognizes the annual event with online activities throughout the week including a virtual rural job fair and many webinars focused on the rural health care, social determinants of health and telehealth.

Rural Action Plan
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides an overview of the current rural health care landscape featuring a strategy to leverage technology, focus on preventing disease and mortality, and rural access to care.

Guidebook and Research Plan to Help Communities Improve Transportation to Health Care Services
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine provides guidance to help health care and transportation agencies work together to increase transportation services and improve health outcomes.

Event Opportunities

Mental Health Roundtable Discussion
Nov. 18 | Webinar
USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement offers a virtual platform to have a conversation with subject matter experts, practitioners, and community leaders on the importance of mental health.

How Broadband Enhances Local Economies
Nov. 18 | Webinar
BroadbandUSA, National Telecommunications and Information Administration offers a new webinar featuring success stories on real partnerships, plans and actions used to stabilize and strengthen economies through increased broadband adoption.

National League of Cities Virtual City Summit
Nov. 18 - 20 | Virtual Summit
National League of Cities offers a virtual opportunity for cities to learn, build, grow and renew through panel discussions, keynotes, networking and workshops.

2020 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Rural Health Seminar: Rural Health Challenges in the Era of COVID-19
Nov. 19 | Webinar
NIHpresents this seminar to explore the impact of COVID-19 on and response for rural populations, systems and workforce issues and community engagement.

Rural Housing Symposium: Recovery Through Resiliency
Dec. 2 - 3 | Virtual Symposium
The Housing Assistance Council offers a virtual meeting to discuss the state of rural housing and strategize replicable approaches that drive equitable rural development.

OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative Lender Office Hours
Dec. 9 | Webinar
USDA Rural Development is hosting a webinar for lenders to answer questions about the new processes under the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative.