Rural community development resources related to rural health and human services, with information provided by the Rural Assistance Center Copyright 2012 Rural Assistance Center http://www.raconline.org/topics/communities/ Published two times each year, Rural Connections focuses each issue on a particular topic of interest to residents in the Western U.S. Contributors include researchers, faculty, and professionals from throughout the nation. Focuses on topics such as health communities, water, food security, sustainability, and renewable energy. -- Western Rural Development Center https://wrdc.usu.edu/htm/rural-connections Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:27:55 CST https://wrdc.usu.edu/htm/rural-connections Daily Yonder article reports that for the first time since March, unemployment in rural America moved ahead of urban counties in December 2011, according to data just released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. http://www.dailyyonder.com/rural-unemployment-ticks/2012/02/05/3743 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:07:02 CST http://www.dailyyonder.com/rural-unemployment-ticks/2012/02/05/3743 MSNBC article tells how fueled by an economic downturn that has curtailed the upward mobility of many corporate jobs, general dissatisfaction with suburban stresses and growing discontent with what they see as the ills of industrialized agriculture, thousands of families across the United States have left suburban cul de sacs and headed to the countryside - forging a new demographic of family farmer. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46282123/ns/business-retail/ Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:19:34 CST http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46282123/ns/business-retail/ Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced that USDA has selected 298 recipients in 44 states and Puerto Rico to receive business development assistance through the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. http://www.raconline.org/news/details.php?news_id=17292 Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:50:28 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/details.php?news_id=17292 Most of rural America has not recovered from the recession that began four years ago, a Daily Yonder analysis of federal jobs figures has found. http://www.dailyyonder.com/rural-jobs-four-years-after-recession/2012/02/05/3741 Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:17:21 CST http://www.dailyyonder.com/rural-jobs-four-years-after-recession/2012/02/05/3741 This notice by the Rural Business-Cooperative Service announces the Guarantee Fee Rates for Guaranteed Loans for Fiscal Year 2012, the Maximum Portion of Guarantee Authority Available for Fiscal Year 2012, and the Annual Renewal Fee for Fiscal Year 2012. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/02/06/2012-2559/guarantee-fee-rates-for-guaranteed-loans-for-fiscal-year-2012-maximum-portion-of-guarantee-authority Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:53:38 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/02/06/2012-2559/guarantee-fee-rates-for-guaranteed-loans-for-fiscal-year-2012-maximum-portion-of-guarantee-authority Daily Yonder article discusses how rural transportation leaders are speaking out against a proposal before Congress that would cut funding for needed public transit programs. http://www.dailyyonder.com/transportation-bill/2012/02/02/3737 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:01:52 CST http://www.dailyyonder.com/transportation-bill/2012/02/02/3737 Daily Yonder article tells how from the Blues Trail through the Delta to the Walter Anderson Museum on the Gulf Coast, rural Mississippi's economy is buoyed by what they call the "creative economy." http://www.dailyyonder.com/worth-rural-creative-economy/2012/01/30/3727 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:56:17 CST http://www.dailyyonder.com/worth-rural-creative-economy/2012/01/30/3727 Thompsonville MI April 16, 2012 http://michiganruralcouncil.org/ Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:54:02 CST http://michiganruralcouncil.org/ iGR, a market strategy consultancy focused on the wireless and mobile communications industry, today announced a partnership with RCA (Rural Cellular Association) to provide a series of webinar sessions dedicated to addressing the unique challenges rural and smaller operators face in today's competitive consumer markets. http://rca-usa.org/featured-home-page-feed/igr-partners-with-rca-to-deliver-educational-webinar-series-to-discuss-key-issues-facing-u-s-rural-operators/917587 Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:57:13 CST http://rca-usa.org/featured-home-page-feed/igr-partners-with-rca-to-deliver-educational-webinar-series-to-discuss-key-issues-facing-u-s-rural-operators/917587 The Rural Business-Cooperative Service is making several technical amendments to correct the Rural Business Investment Program (RBIP) regulation, including one to conform to the 2008 Farm Bill provision that allows a Rural Business Investment Company two years to raise its capital. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/02/01/2012-1969/rural-business-investment-program Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:51:55 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/02/01/2012-1969/rural-business-investment-program Tucson AZ March 28, 2012 -- Arizona Center for Rural Health http://crh.arizona.edu/calendar/287 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:42:49 CST http://crh.arizona.edu/calendar/287 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that loans and grants provided through USDA's Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program will be provided to applicants in 10 states to support businesses, improve the quality of medical care, and create or save hundreds of jobs. http://www.raconline.org/news/details.php?news_id=17247 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:33:19 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/details.php?news_id=17247 Daily Yonder article reports that the percentage of people living in poverty was higher in rural America than in either exurban or urban counties in 2010, according to the U.S. Census, and these rates have increased since the recession began in 2007. http://www.dailyyonder.com/recession-hikes-poverty-rates-rural-america/2011/12/17/3648 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:47:02 CST http://www.dailyyonder.com/recession-hikes-poverty-rates-rural-america/2011/12/17/3648 Daily Yonder article tells how communities in Vermont and rural Lancashire, England, have kicked off efforts to finance rural broadband networks. http://www.dailyyonder.com/score-two-rural-broadband-teams/2012/01/25/3712 Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:40:04 CST http://www.dailyyonder.com/score-two-rural-broadband-teams/2012/01/25/3712 Peoria IL March 6, 2012 -- Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1046980&memberID=Fls+XOV8clUAhLpXkwuxnw==&jobId=1323078&isTest=0 Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:20:38 CST http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1046980&memberID=Fls+XOV8clUAhLpXkwuxnw==&jobId=1323078&isTest=0 Supports activities that establish or expand local programs in health, science, and education that serve identified needs of local communities. -- North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation http://www.raconline.org/funding/details.php?funding_id=1768 Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:18:13 CST http://www.raconline.org/funding/details.php?funding_id=1768 An overview of rural poverty and income. -- Housing Assistance Council http://www.ruralhome.org/storage/documents/info_sheets/povertyamerica.pdf Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:26:01 CST http://www.ruralhome.org/storage/documents/info_sheets/povertyamerica.pdf Daily Yonder article tells how the rural town of Columbus, Nebraska, lists 1,288 jobs available within 10 miles of their town, but it can't find workers to fill them even though they have gone on recruiting missions out of state to find new residents. http://www.dailyyonder.com/getting-workers-columbus/2012/01/19/3699 Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:59:59 CST http://www.dailyyonder.com/getting-workers-columbus/2012/01/19/3699 Daily Yonder article tells how a small town in South Dakota has become a model of community planning, thanks to an inspired high school assignment and continued leadership of local youth. http://www.dailyyonder.com/youth-driven-hopes-drive-howard-ahead/2012/01/19/3702 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:05:13 CST http://www.dailyyonder.com/youth-driven-hopes-drive-howard-ahead/2012/01/19/3702 This NOFA announces the acceptance of applications under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for Fiscal Year 2012 for financial assistance as follows: grants, guaranteed loans, and combined grants and guaranteed loans for the development and construction of renewable energy systems and for energy efficiency improvement projects; grants for conducting energy audits; grants for conducting renewable energy development assistance; and grants for conducting renewable energy system feasibility studies. http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/01/20/2012-755/notice-of-funding-availability-for-the-rural-energy-for-america-program Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:41:27 CST http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/01/20/2012-755/notice-of-funding-availability-for-the-rural-energy-for-america-program Discusses the potential impacts to the currentUSDA‐RD eligible area designations that could result from statutory changes linked topopulation figures from the 2010 Decennial Census. -- Housing Assistance Council http://www.ruralhome.org/storage/documents/usdaeligibilityreport.pdf Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:37:45 CST http://www.ruralhome.org/storage/documents/usdaeligibilityreport.pdf Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the launch of a USDA energy website that will provide stakeholders fast and efficient access to USDA energy efficiency and renewable energy data. http://www.raconline.org/news/details.php?news_id=17191 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:27:29 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/details.php?news_id=17191 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack yesterday provided highlights of USDA Rural Development fiscal year (FY) 2011 investments in job-creating businesses, infrastructure and housing for Americans living in rural communities across the nation. http://www.raconline.org/news/details.php?news_id=17184 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:12:49 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/details.php?news_id=17184 NRHA Rural Health Voices blog reports that six months after President Barack Obama created the White House Rural Council to address challenges in rural America, the National Rural Health Associations Rural Roads magazine asked Doug McKalip, White House senior policy advisor for rural affairs, to explain how the council has and hopes to impact rural health. http://blog.ruralhealthweb.org/2012/01/white-house-outlines-progress-plans/ Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:06:46 CST http://blog.ruralhealthweb.org/2012/01/white-house-outlines-progress-plans/ Houston TX April 18, 2012 http://depts.washington.edu/ccph/conf12-overview.html Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:57:52 CST http://depts.washington.edu/ccph/conf12-overview.html Daily Yonder article tells how the rural community of Cambridge, Nebraska came together to open the local investor - owned Cambridge General Store after their regional retailer closed. http://www.dailyyonder.com/store-closing-no-problem-cambridge/2012/01/11/3680 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:57:06 CST http://www.dailyyonder.com/store-closing-no-problem-cambridge/2012/01/11/3680 Moline IL August 6, 2012 -- Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs http://www.midwestcdi.org/ Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:18:21 CST http://www.midwestcdi.org/ Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants support those communities that have undergone a comprehensive local planning process and are ready to implement their Transformation Plan to redevelop the neighborhood. -- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development http://www.raconline.org/funding/details.php?funding_id=2755 Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:29:30 CST http://www.raconline.org/funding/details.php?funding_id=2755 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that it is making available $110 million in grants to transform public and assisted housing and to revitalize communities. http://www.raconline.org/news/details.php?news_id=17149 Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:07:36 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/details.php?news_id=17149