Innovation Matters Education Opportunities 8/18/2020

Publications

Data Gems
The U.S. Census Bureau offers a series of short videos for data users who are looking for an easy and quick way to enhance their knowledge of Census data and concepts.

Regulations for Opportunity Zones and Brownfields Redevelopment
The Internal Revenue Service provides an overview of information to help local governments meet goals for sustainable and equitable development. 

How to Prepare for Natural Disasters: A Pre-Disaster Toolkit for Small to Medium-Sized Communities
U.S. EPA Urban Waters Federal Partnership toolkit designed to help small- to medium-size communities jump-start their natural disaster planning process.

Conservation at Work
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service video series consists of short videos that highlight common conservation practices. Videos spotlight farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners across the United States who tell their conservation stories, and how practices are helping them protect and improve resources and save time and money.

The Food Assistance Landscape: Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report
USDA's Economic Research Service publication offers research data on USDA’s 15 domestic food and nutrition programs.

Event Opportunities

OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative Listening Session
Virtual | Wednesday, Aug 19, 2020 at 1:30 PM EDT
USDA is seeking public comment on a series of regulatory reforms known collectively as the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative. Under the initiative, USDA will eliminate duplicative processes and launch a single platform for four key loan programs.

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Education and Workforce Development
August 19 | Webinar
USDA’s NIFA offers and information session regarding the AFRI EWD Program which addresses the need for training or retraining of agricultural workforce and focuses on developing the next generation of research, education, and extension professionals in the food and agricultural sciences. AFRI EWD RFA.

Providing Perspective during COVID-19 Using Census Data
August 19 | Webinar
The U.S. Census Bureau and the Local Employment Dynamics Partnership in collaboration with the Council for Community and Economic Research and the Labor Market Information Institute unveil data relative to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spawning Sustainable Tourism Initiatives via Regional Collaboration
August 20 | Webinar
National Extension Tourism Design Team features Michigan State University Extension’s case study of best practices for successful collaboration, lessons learned and benefits to work regionally and produce deliverables.

Agri/Ecotourism: Put Your Surroundings to Work
August 20 | Virtual Conference
International Economic Development Council learning session to highlight how supporting agritourism and ecotourism resources will create business retention & expansion and more.

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.

Innovation Matters Education Opportunities August 4, 20202

• Publications

Community Prosperity Resource Matrix
The Centers of Community Prosperity offers a resource to provide easy access to information about USDA programs, tools, and data sources that foster hope and opportunity, asset building and wealth creation in rural and underserved communities.

Pathway to Recovery
The U.S. Department of Labor, through WorkforceGPS, offers workforce tools and tips for communities, business, individuals and stakeholders to support job creation, job stabilization, infrastructure and workforce support. Quick Start Action Planner.

The Wind Energy Workforce in the United States: Training, Hiring, and Future Needs
National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s technical report outlining evidence that there are dynamics beyond supply and demand at play, there is a Workforce Gap. Collegiate Wind Competition.

Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI) - Tools and Resources
U.S. Department of Treasury online resource offering tools and links and a list of current certified CDFIs, many of which make loans to small businesses and provide technical assistance.

Event Opportunities

USDA Resources in Agriculture: Supportive Options for Native Farmers & Ranchers in the Time of COVID-19
August 5 | Webinar
Oweesta Corporation is hosting a panel discussion highlighting USDA resources that can be used to support Native farmers and ranchers during this pandemic.

Connect Americans Now: Bridging the Digital Divide for Rural & Underserved Communities
August 5 | Webinar
National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health offers this session for State Offices of Rural Health and their stakeholders interested in forming health partnerships with the community development sector to support positive impacts with rural health initiatives.

Building Community Capacity Around Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
Session 1 | August 5 at 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. CT / 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET
Session 2 | August 6 at 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. CT / 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET
USDA’s Office of Partnerships & Public Engagement, in collaboration with the Regional Rural Development Centers and the Rural Development Innovation Center, offers a multi-day virtual workshop on Building Community Capacity around Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers.

Exploring Census Data Webinar Series: New Businesses Statistics
August 11 | Webinar
Census Bureau’s subject matter experts will provide practical ways to use our business data from economic programs to dive into business expansions and contractions.

National Tribal Broadband Summit
September 21 – 25, 2020 | Virtual
The Department of the Interior, in collaboration with USDA and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, will offer a unique opportunity to showcase creative solutions to some of the biggest barriers to tribal broadband development to move to close the digital divide in Indian Country by connecting community leaders with information and resources to identify opportunities for public and private sector solutions on tribal lands.

Innovation Matters Education Opportunities 07/22/2020

Publications

USDA Podcast: Food Safety During the Coronavirus
USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue talks about the safety of America’s food amidst the coronavirus pandemic with the Food and Drug Administration Deputy Commissioner Frank Yiannas and USDA’s Under Secretary for Food Safety Mindy Brashears on this podcast episode of The Sonnyside of the Farm. USDA offers additional food resources on their Nutrition.gov site including a Recipe Collection, Farmers Markets site and the Food Storage and Preservation guide for tips to find, taste and keep food fresh.

Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America
USDA’s Economic Research Service resource has been updated to feature broad categories of socioeconomic factors to view the diversity of challenges and opportunities across America's counties.

State of the Cities Report 2020
National League of Cities report offers an analysis on how cities plan to continue to provide residents and businesses the tools and targeted investments needed to sustain and strengthen their economies to best serve residents.

Low-Income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool fact sheet
U.S. Department of Energy provides this interactive platform to help stakeholders make data-driven decisions on their energy goals. This platform offers household energy characteristics and downloadable visuals based on income, energy expenditures, fuel type, and housing type.

Community Innovation Stories
FEMA captures how many communities are responding to COVID-19 in innovative ways that highlight the best of American ingenuity and highlighting excellent links to share resources.

Event Opportunities

Still Open for Business: Working with Minority-Owned Rural Firms
July 22 | Webinar
The Aspen Institute offers this session as a part of their Rural Opportunity and Development (ROAD) series targeting minority entrepreneurs to share their recent experiences, in partnered conversation with the regional intermediaries who have been helping them with technical assistance, funding and advocacy.

Rural Innovation Stronger Economy Virtual Listening Sessions 
Register - July 28 at 2 p.m. EDT
Register - July 30 at 2 p.m. EDT
USDA is seeking feedback to launch a new program to help create high-wage jobs in rural communities and strengthen regional economies. Under the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) program, USDA intends to make grants available to help eligible entities build, finance and improve Innovation Centers to support the rural workforce.

USDA Assistance for Small Scale Meat Processing
July 28 | Webinar
Join USDA for an overview of programs and funding options to support small scale meat processing. Rural Development offers loans, grants, and loan guarantees and Food Safety and Inspection Service provides inspection services that broaden the marketplace for processors who are looking for more retail and commercial outlets.

“Responding to COVID-19, A Webinar Series for Local Governments Serving Small Communities – Summer 2020”
July 28 | Webinar 
HUD’s Distressed Cities Technical Assistance Program offers a unique opportunity for rural communities featuring webinars to provide digestible information to small and local governments regarding access to public funding, data, and other resources.

How to Create Partnerships to Advance Tribal Energy Projects
July 29 | Webinar
The Office of Indian Energy is hosting a free webinar on how to create partnerships to help tribes meet their energy goals.

Council of Development Finance Agency (CFDA) Food Systems Finance Webinar Series
July 30 | Neighborhood Revitalization Through Food Systems Finance
Sept 29 | Financing Food Systems Entrepreneurs
CDFA is providing a free online series to advance opportunities and leverage capital financing that scale local and regional food systems, increase access to better food, and create new living wage jobs in communities across the country.

Connect Americans Now: Bridging the Digital Divide for Rural & Underserved Communities August 5 | Webinar
National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health offer this session for State Offices of Rural Health and their stakeholders interested in forming health partnerships with the community development sector to impact rural health initiatives.

Building Community Capacity Around Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
Session 1 | August 5 at 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. CT / 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET
Session 2 | August 6 at 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. CT / 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET
USDA’s Office of Partnerships & Public Engagement, in collaboration with the Regional Rural Development Centers and the Rural Development Innovation Center, is inviting you to join a multi-day virtual workshop on Building Community Capacity around Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers. This event is designed for community organizers and planners that work on this important topic on a state or community level, such as: Community Planners/Organizers, Cooperative Extension Service Professionals, Elected/Appointed County and City Officials, National/State Forestry Associations, 2501 Recipients Working with Landowners and Land Trust and Conservatory Organizations.

Innovation Matters, Educational Opportunities, July 7, 2020