A weekly update for the S.C. Lowcountry Promise Zone
In this post, you can find descriptions of new events, webinars, resources and funding opportunities that may be helpful to Promise Zone partners and supporters.
In this update are grant opportunities for rural construction projects, AmeriCorps volunteers, rural hospital improvements and several other projects. This update also offers lots of new resources that could be helpful to Promise Zone partners and supporters.
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COMING EVENTS
WEBINAR: DOE Loan Program Support for Distributed Energy Projects
Nov. 5, 2015, 1 p.m.
The US Department of Energy, the American Council on Renewable Energy, Stern Brothers, The Willdan Group and B2BWebinars.com are pleased to announce the upcoming webinar, DOE Loan Program Support for Distributed Energy Projects.
WEBINAR: Brief on telehealth and intimate partner violence
Nov. 5, 2015, 2 p.m.
Following the Fall 2014 meeting in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services sent two policy briefs to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. One policy brief covered the use of telehealth in rural areas and how this technology aligns with the emerging focus on value in healthcare and the second covered the impact of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) on families and communities in rural areas. Speakers include former Miss. Gov. Ronnie Musgrove.
NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
FY 2016 Economic Development Assistance Program
Under this Federal Funding Opportunity, Economic Development Administration (EDA) solicits applications from applicants in rural and urban areas to provide investments that support construction, non-construction, technical assistance, and revolving loan fund projects under EDA’s Public Works and EAA programs. Grants and cooperative agreements made under these programs are designed to leverage existing regional assets and support the implementation of economic development strategies that advance new ideas and creative approaches to advance economic prosperity in distressed communities. EDA provides strategic investments on a competitive- merit-basis to support economic development, foster job creation, and attract private investment in economically distressed areas of the United States.
Health Resources and Services Administration: Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program (SHIP)
This announcement solicits applications for the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program (SHIP). The purpose of the SHIP is to help small rural hospitals of 49 beds or less, do any or all of the following: 1) enable the purchase of equipment and/or training to help hospitals attain value-based purchasing provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA); 2) aid small rural hospitals in joining or becoming accountable care organizations, or create shared savings programs per the ACA; and 3) enable small rural hospitals to purchase health information technology, equipment, and/or training to comply with meaningful use, ICD-10 standards, and payment bundling.
Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design™
Deadline: Jan. 12, 2016
The Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design™ 2016-2017 Request for Proposals is now open for rural communities facing design challenges, from main street revitalization to art-based community development. CIRD will select up to six communities, with populations 50,000 or less, to host a two-and-a-half-day design workshop aimed at solving local design challenges and planning for the future. Selected communities receive a CIRD stipend of $10,000 dollars and in-kind professional assistance to organize the workshop and follow up activities. The workshops are interdisciplinary and feature a wide range of design, planning, and creative placemaking professionals, bringing together local leaders from non-profits, community organizations, and government agencies to develop actionable solutions to a community’s pressing design challenges. To apply and learn more, click here.
NMEF Launches $200 Million College and Career Readiness Strategy
The Nellie Mae Education Foundation has announced a five-year, $200 million initiative to reshape public education so that 80 percent of high school graduates are college and career-ready. According to the foundation, by 2018 more than 60 percent of all jobs will require some level of postsecondary education and training. But data from the New England Secondary School Consortium shows that while more students are graduating from high school, only 50 percent of graduates overall and 32 percent of low-income graduates have the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed after high school.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Services: Assets for Independence
Deadline: The application due dates for FY 2016 have changed to December 15, 2015 and May 13, 2016.
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Community Services (OCS) will be accepting applications for grants to administer projects for the Assets for Independence (AFI) demonstration program. AFI grantees administer projects that provide individual development accounts (IDAs) and related services to low-income individuals. Participants open an IDA and save earned income that is matched by project funds. The combined participant savings and project matching funds will be used for an allowable asset: a first home, a business, or post-secondary education or training. Projects also assist participants in obtaining the skills and information necessary to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Grantees are encouraged to tailor the strategies and services they offer to the needs of their project participants and the opportunities in their community. Examples of activities in this area include financial education, asset-specific training, financial coaching, credit-building services, credit/debt counseling, and assistance with tax credits and tax preparation.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Pay for Success Permanent Supportive Housing Demonstration Program NOFA
Deadline: February 12, 2016
In 2010, the Obama Administration released Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, in which federal partners set goals to end veteran and chronic homelessness by 2015, and end family and youth homelessness by 2020. However, there were still 84,291 individuals identified as chronically homeless in the United States in 2014. These individuals are persons with disabilities who experience long-term homelessness, and who typically cycle in and out of a variety of crisis services, including hospital emergency departments and inpatient stays, psychiatric centers, jails, and prisons. This cycling between services not only has negative impacts on health and well-being, but also incurs high costs to the public. Permanent supportive housing (PSH) is a proven solution to chronic homelessness, not only helping to increase housing stability and improvements in health, but also lowering public costs by stopping the revolving door between crisis services. DOJ and HUD are partnering to advance Pay for Success (PFS), one promising model for financing services that can attract additional, non-traditional sources of funding.
FIND PAST FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES: Click here
NEW RESOURCES
Obama hosts discussion on criminal justice reform
Click this link to see a video of an Oct. 22 panel discussion on criminal justice reform that was held at the White House.
Federal Communications Commissioner Ajit Pai discusses the critical need to expand broadband deployment in rural communities and the promise that broadband holds for rural healthcare.
Senior Housing and Services: Challenges and Opportunities in Rural America
Summary report of a panel of housing and health experts convened to discuss needs, barriers, and experiences with aging in place, and feasibility of programs to support independence for rural seniors. Includes discussion of emerging trends and potential service models.
USDA’s new Farmer guide offers a compilation of resources for new and beginning farmers. With the average age of American farmers exceeding 58 years and almost 10% of farmland changing hands in the next five years, the USDA has set a new goal of increasing beginning farmer and rancher participation by an additional 6.6% with $5.6 billion in investments. The new updates include feedback from many beginning farmers and ranchers citing unfamiliarity with programs and resources as obstacles to beginning farm operations.
2015 Annual Good Food Org Guide
Food Tank and the James Beard Foundation, feature the nearly 1000 food-related nonprofits across the United States. These organizations include those addressing childhood obesity and food insecurity, social entrepreneurship, protection of food and restaurant workers, indigenous culture advocacy, human wellness, and the environment.
Care coordination has great potential to improve rural health access and quality, as well as health outcomes. This new guide looks at opportunities, barriers, and models related to coordinating care in rural settings. Topics covered include Accountable Care Organizations, patient-centered medical homes, the role of HIT in care coordination, and more. The guide was developed by Brandon Baumbach, RAC’s Rural Health Policy Specialist, with guidance from Clint MacKinney, RUPRI, and Karla Weng, Stratis Health.
Policy paper describing the process of rural proofing in policy development, strategic planning, and implementation. This structured approach ensures that government policy and legislation recognizes the unique needs of healthcare in rural communities.
FIND PAST RESOURCE INFORMATION: Click here
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