Rural economic development resources related to rural health and human services, with information provided by the Rural Assistance Center Copyright 2008 Rural Assistance Center http://www.raconline.org/info_guides/communities/econ_dev.php Associated Press article via Post-Bulletin, (MN) reports that on Wednesday 100 Republicans abandoned President Bush as the House overwhelmingly passed the latest five-year farm bill, a $290 billion measure sent to the Senate with more than enough supporters to override his promised veto. http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?a=342741&z=16 Thu, 15 May 2008 08:56:33 CST http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?a=342741&z=16 Watertown Daily Times, (SD) article reports that Congress is set to begin debate today on a $300 billion, five-year farm bill that expands some farm and food programs and shrinks payments to some of the wealthiest farmers but that still drew a veto threat from President Bush on Tuesday. http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20080514/NEWS02/656562582 Wed, 14 May 2008 09:28:04 CST http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20080514/NEWS02/656562582 Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer today reminded America's farmers and ranchers that they should still plan to respond to the 2007 Census of Agriculture either by Internet or postal mail. http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8648 Tue, 13 May 2008 09:09:21 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8648 Daily Yonder article reports that the largest drops in personal income in rural counties between 2005 and '06 were clustered in farming counties in the Great Plains; the declines appear to have been caused, in part, by lower federal crop payments. http://www.dailyyonder.com/rural-personal-income-falls-behind-cities Mon, 12 May 2008 09:52:39 CST http://www.dailyyonder.com/rural-personal-income-falls-behind-cities Findings and lessons from an evaluation of the Appalachian Regional Commission's Entrepreneurship Initiative, 1997-2005. -- Rural Policy Research Institute http://www.energizingentrepreneurs.org/content/cr_11/2_000272.pdf Tue, 06 May 2008 15:05:33 CST http://www.energizingentrepreneurs.org/content/cr_11/2_000272.pdf The Center for Rural Affairs' Rural Brief April 2008 Issue takes a close look at Rural Development funding for FY09, pointing out that as with previous budgets, the FY09 budget recommends termination of numerous federal rural development and rural asset-building programs. http://www.cfra.org/newsrelease/2008/04/22/federal-government-walking-away-rural-america Tue, 06 May 2008 07:39:56 CST http://www.cfra.org/newsrelease/2008/04/22/federal-government-walking-away-rural-america This publication establishes the funding criteria for the FY2008 Rural Housing and Economic Development Program. Because HUD is required by statute to competitively award RHED assistance by September 1, 2008, HUD has decided to publish this NOFA separately and in advance of its FY2008 Notice of Funding Availability for HUD's Discretionary Programs (SuperNOFA). http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-9273.htm Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:28:28 CST http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-9273.htm The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the selection of 10 organizations in nine states for $5.8 million in loans to spur economic development. http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.retrievecontent/.c/6_2_1UH/.ce/7_2_5JM/.p/5_2_4TQ/.d/0/_th/J_2_9D/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?PC_7_2_5JM_contentid=2008%2F04%2F0111.xml&PC_7_2_5JM_parentnav=LATEST_RELEASES&PC_7_2_5JM_navid=NEWS_RE Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:54:48 CST http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.retrievecontent/.c/6_2_1UH/.ce/7_2_5JM/.p/5_2_4TQ/.d/0/_th/J_2_9D/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?PC_7_2_5JM_contentid=2008%2F04%2F0111.xml&PC_7_2_5JM_parentnav=LATEST_RELEASES&PC_7_2_5JM_navid=NEWS_RE SBA's listing of free available online courses for starting and planning a small business. Available in Spanish. -- U.S. Small Business Administration http://www.sba.gov/services/training/onlinecourses/index.html Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:33:10 CST http://www.sba.gov/services/training/onlinecourses/index.html Center for Rural Affairs reports that President Bush's proposed budget for 2009 zeros out funding for 20 important rural development programs, according to findings in their recently published Rural Brief. http://www.cfra.org/weeklycolumn/2008/04/22/we-can%E2%80%99t-afford-walk-away-rural-america Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:00:16 CST http://www.cfra.org/weeklycolumn/2008/04/22/we-can%E2%80%99t-afford-walk-away-rural-america A national research, consulting, and legal organization dedicated to building economic health in vulnerable communities. Develops and promotes solutions that help people and communities become economically secure. http://www.insightcced.org/ Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:46:54 CST http://www.insightcced.org/ Discusses economic impact of hospitals to communities, including rural communities. -- American Hospital Association http://www.aha.org/aha/trendwatch/2008/twapr2008econcontrib.pdf Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:35:40 CST http://www.aha.org/aha/trendwatch/2008/twapr2008econcontrib.pdf Daily Yonder article tells of a report from the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank that showed that 2007 was relatively good for the rural economy, as rising prices for oil, gas, coal and ag products propelled those industries, and wages for rural jobs rose more than for jobs in the cities. http://www.dailyyonder.com/2007-was-good-rural-economy-kc-fed-reports Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:45:08 CST http://www.dailyyonder.com/2007-was-good-rural-economy-kc-fed-reports Associated Press article via OregonLive.com reports that at a time of record agricultural profits, concerns are mounting that American farmers could be edging toward a financial crisis not seen since the 1980s farm-economy collapse. http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/business-82/1208714946190180.xml&storylist=business Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:45:24 CST http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/business-82/1208714946190180.xml&storylist=business Bismarck Tribune, (ND) article tells how high energy prices have led to languishing economic growth and continued job losses in 10 Midwestern and Plains states, according to a survey of rural bankers. http://bismarcktribune.com/articles/2008/04/19/news/state/153733.txt Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:38:21 CST http://bismarcktribune.com/articles/2008/04/19/news/state/153733.txt Duluth Tribune, (MN) article discusses if the merger of Delta and Northwest airlines will result in better or worse service for rural areas in the upper Midwest. http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/politics/index.cfm?page=article_bureau&id=42816&legislative_tag=1 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:12:32 CST http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/politics/index.cfm?page=article_bureau&id=42816&legislative_tag=1 Summarizes what is known about farmworkers immigration status, housing, and other factors. -- USDA Economic Research Service http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/April08/Features/HiredFarm.htm Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:47:56 CST http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/April08/Features/HiredFarm.htm Funding that provides communities with a source of financing for economic development, housing rehabilitation, public facilities, and large-scale physical development projects. -- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=1870 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:08:27 CST http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=1870 Focuses on rural prosperity that occurs in some communities to provide answers and insights on the rural condition and rural policy. -- USDA Rural Development http://www.ace.uiuc.edu/Reap/IssermanFeserWarren_070523_RuralProsperity.pdf Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:15:52 CST http://www.ace.uiuc.edu/Reap/IssermanFeserWarren_070523_RuralProsperity.pdf Looks at the characteristics of who operates farm-based recreation enterprises, an important niche market for farmers. Statistics are from the 2004 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) and the 2000 National Survey on Recreation and the Environment. -- USDA Economic Research Service http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR53/ Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:27:46 CST http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR53/ Anaheim CA May 20, 2008 -- Association for Enterprise Opportunity http://www.microenterpriseworks.org/index.asp?bid=3002 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:16:49 CST http://www.microenterpriseworks.org/index.asp?bid=3002 Loans and grants are to assist in economically developing rural areas. -- USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=1822 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:33:29 CST http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=1822 Offers a snapshot of how self-employment isplaying out in different locales across the country, with particular focus on rural areas. Documents the numbers of self-employed and their wages relative to standard wage and salary workers. -- Rural Sociological Society http://ruralsociology.org/pubs/RuralRealities/RuralRealities2-3.pdf Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:32:00 CST http://ruralsociology.org/pubs/RuralRealities/RuralRealities2-3.pdf Discusses economic development strategies used by rural communities in the Great Plains. Covers environmental, energy, agricultural, microenterprise, and other economic development activities. Includes examples of state initiatives. -- Center for Rural Affairs http://www.cfra.org/files/Promising%20Opportunities.pdf Wed, 02 Jan 2008 10:43:45 CST http://www.cfra.org/files/Promising%20Opportunities.pdf Reports on how southern rural communities can achieve greater economic prosperity. -- Southern Growth Policies Board http://www.southern.org/pubs/pubs_pdfs/rfs2005.pdf Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:06:49 CST http://www.southern.org/pubs/pubs_pdfs/rfs2005.pdf Publishes academic and community-based research, commentary, and policy articles focused on the Great Plains. http://www.ojrrp.org/ Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:33:47 CST http://www.ojrrp.org/ Fund hopes to fund projects where citizens work together towards improving their rural communities. http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=1730 Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:16:48 CST http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=1730 Helps improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America through programs that support essential public facilities and services, encourage economic development and offer technical assistance and information. http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:45:32 CST http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ A loan Initiative for veterans and members of the military community wanting to establish or expand small businesses. -- U.S. Small Business Administration http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=1699 Mon, 24 Sep 2007 08:21:31 CST http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=1699 A clearinghouse of information and material that can be used by Community Action Agencies and others to help low-income persons and families move toward self-sufficiency and to reduce poverty in communities across the United States. -- Office of Community Services http://www.virtualcap.org/ Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:24:33 CST http://www.virtualcap.org/