Innovation Center Letter, July 30, 2019

Innvation Center letter, July 15, 2019

Publications

https://www.policymap.com/2019/07/what-makes-a-resilient-city/">What Makes a Resilient City?
Published article run by https://www.policymap.com/">Policy Map demonstrates that areas can be ready when disasters strike by identifying their strengths and weaknesses, with new Baseline Resilience Indicators for Communities (BRIC) data.

https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/Comparison%20BI%20REAP%20SBA%202018.pdf">Comparison of the Rural Development B&I and REAP Programs with the SBA 7(a) and 504 Programs
USDA Rural Development and the Small Business Administration developed this joint publication to support entrepreneurs and small businesses to succeed as both agencies offer resources and financial assistance to start or grow businesses in rural America.

https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10441">Broadband Deployment: Status and Federal Programs
Congressional Research Service addresses the availability of broadband in rural, urban, and tribal areas of the U.S.; percent of households with broadband; and federal programs supporting broadband development and adoption.

https://assets.campbell.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2019/05/PhilanWorx_CaseStudy_REV_2_19-2.pdf">Building a Field of Rural Philanthropy: The Case for Creating a Rural Philanthropic Network
Report by PhilanthropywoRx outlines rural philanthropic networks, how they can benefit rural communities and provides guidance for setting up networks and establishes key stakeholders in rural communities.

https://mthcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/THIP-Resource-Guide_WEB.pdf">Resource Guide: Promising Programs in Native American Communities
Highlights from the Montana Healthcare Foundation feature programs to support mental health and suicide prevention, substance abuse, social determinants of health, and diabetes prevention, among other rural issues.

Event Opportunities

https://www.sbir.gov/node/1584185">NATIONAL SBIR ROAD TOUR SCHEDULE 2019
August 12 – 16 | Tucson, Arizona; El Paso, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico and Boulder, Colorado
Small Business Administration’s Road Tour connects entrepreneurs working on advanced technology to the country’s largest source of early stage funding with a focus on next generation research & development.

http://www.cvent.com/events/national-rtap-2019-technical-assistance-conference/event-summary-d36eb0ba0ccf47e280033c1f46e01d0c.aspx">National Rural Transit Assistance Program Technical Assistance Conference
September 15 – 18, 2019 | Portland, OR
The National Rural Transit Assistance Program’s 4th Biennial Technical Assistance Conference offers learning opportunities from industry experts and peers. https://files.constantcontact.com/7bcb0b81101/37303c24-c96b-4141-a0be-c8ceabddcab0.pdf">Tribal Scholarship available to attend.

http://ruralartsandculturesummit.com/">The Rural Arts and Culture Summit
October 3 – 5 | Grand Rapids, MN
Biennial, practitioner-driven gathering that celebrates and expands the field of rural arts-based community development.

https://extensiontourism.net/">Sustainable Tourism & Outdoor Recreation Conference
October 8 – 11, 2019 | Astoria, Oregon
Conference designed to enhance sustainable tourism development nationally by providing research, training, resources and networking opportunities in tourism and recreation marketing, management and development.

https://aceee.org/conferences/2020/rural">Rural Energy Conference
February 25, 2020 | Chicago IL
ACEEE hosts event to explore how energy efficiency and clean energy are increasing rural prosperity featuring interactive sessions, panels, and networking with leaders from utilities, government, industry, nonprofits, financial institutions, and academia. https://aceee.org/conferences/2020/rural#registration">Registration.

Innovation Center's Letter, June 7, 2019

Publications

https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2019/subcounty-population-estimates.html?utm_campaign=20190531msdvzs1ccdtanl&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery">Where Housing Units Are Changing
The Census publishes key housing changes as the nation’s housing stock increased by 6.8 million units since April 1, 2010, showing North Dakota as the fastest-growing state, in terms of housing units.

https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=93025">Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators, 2019
USDA, https://www.ers.usda.gov/">Economic Research Service’s new Publication describes trends in economic, structural, resource, and environmental indicators in the agriculture sector which provide assessments of important changes in U.S. agriculture industry development and implications for economic, social, and environmental sustainability. 

https://www.ntia.gov/press-release/2019/ntia-releases-comprehensive-guide-federal-broadband-funding">NTIA's New Comprehensive Guide to Federal Broadband Funding
The NTIA introduced a new https://www.usda.gov/topics/rural/rural-development-innovation-center">searchable database of 50 federal broadband programs, spanning a dozen federal agencies with billions of dollars for broadband grants, loans and other resources. The database, created with help of participating federal agencies, fulfills a goal set out in the American Broadband Initiative announced in February to make it easier for community leaders to find federal funding and permitting information.

https://www.minneapolisfed.org/indiancountry/resources/reservation-profiles">The Center for Indian Country Development Reservation Profiles
The Center for Indian Country Development updated its http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001lI9uTkzi957mN-KpYT2l0mqPEnOTHAyneNIxG4tvT-zv62cbNOdDqaYcvO5885ZTT8xvxYLChVE5TfWaTXQ1YZlbUrjCFOrOYtvh-8sd_fvIzkGa3WNBx4dc5-KNraA_hABn6o1dy0UbY0c9IZxd3IiYTu3EPvNKkHNVajxFeNCVwXEgZ9uDqIx6e0kkL4dTUjByPMXF-qSZf8L_AY2904IMNuRe783Ma1vng5Zk77r88Cnv8w1eXA==&c=Vk00Pf_Nl8WUKJ_Q4KVSXu11s1N4lbxRFpjcJAtdSOM4ekRhgwGAuQ==&ch=5AvpIvJ4OXnWdLNEIB3wDGd44bLXco8AVwN2x-fuzQbbVcxYl20VDw==">Reservation Profiles with new data from the American Community Survey (ACS) (2013-2017) and its broadband usage rates.

Event Opportunities

https://rossstrategic.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ywOL52ZPQGWM1xvD9za79Q">Federal Financing for Nutrient Reductions: Grants and Lending Opportunities
June 12, 2019 | Free Webinar (space is limited)
USDA and EPA will be co-hosting a 4 part webinar series on federal grants and innovative financing options including approaches for funding point source and non-point source control for nutrient reductions.  

https://www.census.gov/data/academy/webinars/2019/income-poverty/06-13-2019.html">Income & Poverty Related Statistics
June 13, 2019 | Free Webinar
Learn how to use the Census’ Income & Poverty data along with an illustration outlining easy-to-use tools including maps to capture key statistics related to income & poverty.

https://readytalk.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1245375&sti=sba-newsletter-promo&tp_key=8ddf21ea36&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery">Understand Basic Financial Statements to Better Your Business
June 13, 2019 | Free Webinar
SCORE, a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration, explains how to become more informed and make better financial decisions simply by understanding these 3 basic financial statements: profit & loss, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

https://www.cham.us/2019-annual-conference">The Consortium for Housing and Asset Management 2019 Annual Conference
June 18-19, 2019 | Nashville, Tennessee 
Leaders from across the affordable housing industry will gather to explore and discuss emerging topics and trends within the asset management discipline.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rural-homeless-conference-tickets-59004272367">Rural Homeless Conference
June 19, 2019 | Oak Ridge, Tennessee
https://ruralhomeless.org/">Rural Homeless Institute is offering an opportunity to meet and develop fresh ideas for securing housing and health care for those in rural areas.

GovDelivery, February 25, 2019

American Broadband Initiative Milestones Report 
USDA highlights steps for the federal government to take to increase broadband access and increase private-sector investments in broadband. Discusses broadband and mobile broadband deployment and adoption in the U.S. and offers statistics by urban, rural, and tribal lands. Provides recommendations discussing strategies, objectives, and overcoming barriers to increase broadband in urban and rural areas and tribal lands.

USDA Launches High-Speed Broadband e-Connectivity Resource Guide 
This e-Connectivity Toolkit features 27 USDA programs that support broadband deployment. The easy-to-use resource is a simple guide that allows customers to identify their type of e-Connectivity project and locate resources the federal government offers for planning, equipment, construction, research and other e-Connectivity projects. A resource matrix illustrates resources such as grants, loans and technical assistance that are available from multiple Mission Areas at USDA, including Rural Development, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Forest Service. The toolkit also highlights examples of how e-Connectivity resources are being used to increase access to broadband services in rural communities.

Strengthening Economic Resilience in Appalachia
 A new study released by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) recently identifying factors common across communities experiencing persistent economic growth in the aftermath of the 2008 Recession and other economic disruptions. The research includes a statistical analysis of key factors common to economic resilience, as well as a guidebook featuring ten communities that have rebounded after experiencing significant economic shocks. In the accompanying Guidebook for Practitioners, case studies from counties in the Region and across the country offer additional insight into how communities have rebounded from the Recession and other economic disruptions in mining, manufacturing, hospitality, education, transportation or similar industries.

Measurement and Verification Made Easy with Three New DOE Publications supporting energy savings. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) developed three technical assistance resources in partnership with the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) to help state and local governments achieve successful ESPCs with effective M&V: Get all these resources on the Evaluating ESPC Results web page and Better Buildings ESPC Toolkit.

• The Business Case for Applying M&V in State and Local Government ESPC Projectshighlights the substantial, cost-effective benefits of incorporating well-documented M&V of savings in state and local ESPC projects.
• Energy Savings Performance Contracting for State and Local Governments – Strategies for Successful M&V provides ESPC program administrators with a selection of tested strategies to support successful M&V for state and local ESPC projects.
• Understanding your ESPC Savings Guaranteeprovides key details about the savings guarantee in ESPCs and a list of resources to further understand savings guarantees.

The Wind Innovations for Rural Economic Development (WIRED) Workshop Report summarizes perspectives from participants and key findings. The DOE Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) held a workshop to better understand how the office can best support rural electric utilities and communities with evaluating and integrating distributed wind systems. The Wind Innovations for Rural Economic Development (WIRED) Workshop invited representatives from the U.S. government, national laboratories, rural electric utilities from around the country, national associations, the wind energy industry, and the financial community to participate and share information about their unique needs, challenges, and experiences with distributed energy resources and distributed wind energy systems, especially in rural areas.

Chambers of Commerce and Entrepreneurship, 
Community or regional entrepreneur-led development and entrepreneurial ecosystem building requires host organizations. Historically local chambers of commerce have played this role of supporting local businesses and growing a supportive business climate. Download this month's white paper, which explores how today’s chambers of commerce can become the hub for entrepreneur-focused development and entrepreneur ecosystem building.

USDA launched the Community Opioid Misuse Toolbox. This initiative includes the Community Resource Guide, a comprehensive directory of federal resources that can help rural communities address the opioid crisis, and the Community Assessment Tool, an interactive database to help community leaders assess how and why the opioid epidemic is impacting their regions. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/topics/opioids.

Filling the Rural Gap With Good Recruiting, Telemedicine
This story focuses on the rural health workforce shortages and touches on the impact of telemedicine and the launch of the AAFP's Rural Health Explorer, which includes a rural population health mapper and a healthcare workforce mapper.

Data Points:

• Long-term Population Loss. New research from the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire finds that a third of rural counties in the United States have experienced protracted and significant population loss over the last century.
• The Geography of America's Distressed Communities. This articleby Visual Capitalist shows the states and major metro areas that are struggling the most. Locate your distressed communities index by zooming in on your zip code on the interactive map.
• Richest and Poorest Counties in the U.S. Find your state's counties and how they rank based upon median household income on this map created by Visual Capitalist.
• The U.S. Census Bureau has announced updates to the 2019 economic indicator release schedule in coordination with other agencies and the Office of Management and Budget.
• USDOL’s Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program created a set of maps and data for hurricane flood zones on the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. Also see the flood zone FAQ page.