4/27 UPDATE: Coming webinar, workshop, opportunities

New funding opportunities and resources for the S.C. Lowcountry Promise Zone

OVERVIEW

logo_updateIn this update, you will find new information and recent news on a variety of topics, including:

RECENT NEWS:  Below you’ll find two broadband briefs — one on a new program offered by AT&T to provide low-cost broadband Internet to qualified households and another from the USDA that seeks grant applications to develop broadband in rural areas.

NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES: Learn about almost a dozen new funding opportunities that to grow jobs, curb substance abuse, build capital in communities and more.

COMING EVENTS Check out the host of new webinars and events that can benefit Promise Zone stakeholders.

RESOURCES Read recent articles and studies that support Promise Zone activities.

RECENT NEWS

New broadband Internet program for low-income households

Access from AT&T is a new low-cost Internet program from the company that’s now available.  It provides qualifying households with affordable home Internet service for just $10 per month.  According to the company, it “will enable more people than ever before to tap into information online and connect with friends and family.”

USDA seeks applications for $11.7 million in broadband grants for rural communities

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that USDA is soliciting applications for grants to establish broadband in unserved rural communities through its Community Connect program. Community Connect is administered by USDA’s Rural Utilities Service and helps to fund broadband deployment into rural communities where it is not economically viable for private sector providers to provide service.

REMINDER:  Scholarship opportunity from Alger program

The Horatio Alger National Career & Technical Scholarship Program is awarding over 500 scholarships of up to $2,500 each to individuals pursuing a career or technical certificate or degree.

Requirements:

  • Completed high school or plan to complete high school by spring 2016 with plans to enroll at a community college for the first time by fall 2016
  • Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a career or technical program at an accredited, non-profit community college in the U.S.
  • Demonstrate critical financial need (must be eligible to receive the Federal Pell grant as determined by completion of the FAFSA)
  • Demonstrate perseverance in overcoming adversity
  • Involved in community service activities
  • Be a U.S. citizen who is younger than 30 years old
  • APPLY online by June 1, 2016

REMINDER:  New Markets Tax Credit workshop to be held April 28

Greenville New Markets Opportunity (GNMO) II and its partners are hosting a New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) workshop in Charleston on April 28.    In addition to information about the basics of NMTC financing, and how to access those funds in South Carolina, we are going to discuss the pros and cons of closing a transaction from both the bank lending partner and the borrower perspectives.  The format will be small group and conversational, with a particular focus on the recently closed Limehouse Produce transaction in North Charleston.

  • Click here to see the invitation. To register, contact molly@smoakpr.com or by hitting the Register Today button on the invitation, which will take you to Eventbrite.

NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

HUD:  FY 2016 Jobs Plus Initiative Grant Program

Deadline:  June 13, 2016

The purpose of the Jobs Plus program is to develop locally-based, job-driven approaches that increase earnings and advance employment outcomes through work readiness, employer linkages, job placement, educational advancement, technology skills, and financial literacy for residents of public housing. The place-based Jobs Plus program addresses poverty among public housing residents by incentivizing and enabling employment through earned income disregards for working families and a set of services designed to support work including employer linkages, job placement and counseling, educational advancement, and financial counseling. Ideally, these incentives will saturate the target developments, building a culture of work and making working families the norm.  HUD is making available approximately $15,000,000 through this NOFA for Jobs Plus Initiative.

Bonus Points:  In support of certain inter-agency initiatives, HUD awards bonus points to projects where the preponderance of work will occur in a designated zone, community or region. These points will be awarded only if the application otherwise meets or exceeds the Program’s minimum fundable score based on the rating factors of this NOFA.  HUD encourages activities in communities with Preferred Sustainability Status (PSS) and/or Promise Zones (PZ). HUD will award two (2) points for qualified activities within a designated zone or area and supporting either or both initiative(s). In no case will HUD award more than two bonus points for these activities.

HHS:  Resiliency in Communities After Stress and Trauma Program

Deadline:  June 7, 2016

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2016 Resiliency in Communities After Stress and Trauma. The purpose of this program is to assist high-risk youth and families and promote resilience and equity in communities that have recently faced civil unrest through implementation of evidence-based, violence prevention, and community youth engagement programs, as well as linkages to trauma-informed behavioral health services. The goal of the ReCAST Program is for local community entities to work together in ways that lead to improved behavioral health, empowered community residents, and reductions in trauma and sustained community change.

For the purposes of this funding opportunity announcement, civil unrest is defined as demonstrations of mass protest and mobilization, community harm, and disruption through violence often connected with law enforcement issues. Communities that have experienced civil unrest share similar characteristics:

  • Barriers to access and lack of social services, health care, legal and political representation, housing, employment, and education;
  • Current and historic strains in community and public sector relationships, e.g., law enforcement, school, health, and/or housing and community relationships; and
  • Racial/ethnic minority and marginalized populations with experiences of poverty and inequality.
  • More:  Application materials are available on the SAMHSA website.

JP Morgan Chase Foundation:  A Request for Proposals for CDFIs

Deadline:  May 16, 2016

The JPMorgan Chase Foundation is soliciting proposals from CDFI Collaboratives organized around a shared community development objective to address a documented challenge within their service area or areas. Successful applicants will be eligible for a three-year grant of up to $5 million. This grant has three primary objectives:

  • To create access to greater and more sophisticated streams of capital for local and regionally focused CDFIs with less than $75 million in net assets by pooling balance sheets, technology and talent;
  • To seed creative and collaborative problem-solving to address persistent community development challenges in JPMorgan Chase footprint cities and areas; and
  • To deploy capital to low- and moderate-income (LMI) neighborhoods and to serve LMI individuals and small businesses (with revenue under $1 million).

Community Development Challenges:  This program allows applicants to use data and other evidence to define the local problem and encourages creative and entrepreneurial partnerships and solutions in response. For example, key challenges we will consider include (but are not limited to):

  • Commercial and residential blight in chronically distressed neighborhoods;
  • An insufficient number of affordable housing units connected to economic opportunities;
  • A deficit of healthy food and other healthcare resources;
  • Disconnection of low-income individuals from key opportunity drivers such as employment, quality schools and transportation; and
  • High barriers to accessing capital for traditionally underserved and underrepresented small businesses.

Funding Uses:  At least 51 percent of the funding must be used to leverage another capital source, including, but not limited to, public funding, balance sheet capital dedicated to the grant activities, private debt or other philanthropic investment. Other eligible uses of the remaining funds include:

HUD:  FY 2016 Jobs Plus Initiative Grant Program

Application Deadline: June 13, 2016.

The purpose of the Jobs Plus program is to develop locally-based, job-driven approaches that increase earnings and advance employment outcomes through work readiness, employer linkages, job placement, educational advancement, technology skills, and financial literacy for residents of public housing. The place-based Jobs Plus program addresses poverty among public housing residents by incentivizing and enabling employment through earned income disregards for working families and a set of services designed to support work including employer linkages, job placement and counseling, educational advancement, and financial counseling. Ideally, these incentives will saturate the target developments, building a culture of work and making working families the norm. HUD is making available approximately $15,000,000 through this NOFA for Jobs Plus Initiative. HUD encourages activities in communities with Preferred Sustainability Status (PSS) and/or Promise Zones (PZ). HUD will award two (2) points for qualified activities within a designated zone or area and supporting either or both initiative(s). In no case will HUD award more than two bonus points for these activities. Please refer to pages 28-29 of the application for more information. Read the NOFA.

HHS:  New Access Points funding opportunity

Deadline:  June 17, 2016

The purpose of the Health Center Program New Access Point (NAP) funding opportunity is to improve the health of the Nation’s underserved communities and vulnerable populations by increasing access to comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary health care services.  NAP funding provides operational support for new primary health care service delivery sites (i.e., new access points). A new access point is a new service delivery site for the provision of comprehensive health care services. Applicants must propose at least one full-time, permanent new access point site that has primary medical care as its main purpose.

Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, HRSA anticipates awarding approximately $50 million to support an estimated 75 New Access Point awards in Fiscal Year 2017. The maximum annual funding that can be requested in a NAP application is $650,000.

USDA: Strategic Economic and Community Development

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is excited to share a new Rural Development funding opportunity authorized by Section 6025 of the 2014 Farm Bill. This new authority entitled Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) prioritizes projects that support the implementation of multi-jurisdictional plans under the Community Facilities Program, Water and Waste Disposal Program, Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program, and Rural Business Development Grant Program.

Under this provision, up to 10 percent of each programs annual appropriations can be set aside and made available to eligible SECD applicants—in FY 2016, SECD has set aside over $300 million.  Many communities already working together to develop multi-jurisdictional plans with the help of strategic partners including non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, university extensions, regional authorities, coalitions of counties/towns and federal special initiative coalitions such as: Stronger Economies Together, Promise Zones, Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnerships, Sustainable Communities, and Local Food, Local Places. The goal of SECD is to promote collaboration in rural communities and across Rural Development agencies and programs. Communities are incentivized to align resources, develop long-term community and economic growth strategies and engage federal, state and local partners. By promoting this regional focus USDA resources can be more effectively utilized and have a larger impact on rural capacity building and wealth creation.

 USDA: Farmers Market Promotion Program

Deadline: Applications are due on May 12, 2016.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), AMS, requests applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2016 Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) to competitively award grants to eligible applicants for projects that establish, expand, and promote direct producer-to-consumer marketing. Approximately $13 million is available to fund applications under this solicitation. The minimum FY 2016 FMPP award per grant is $50,000 and the maximum is $500,000. An applicant is limited to one FMPP award in a funding year. FMPP funding will be available for use beginning September 30, 2016. Matching funds are not required.

USDA:  Local Food Promotion Program

Deadline: Applications are due on May 12, 2016.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), requests applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2016 Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) to competitively award grants to eligible applicants to plan or implement projects that assist in the development, improvement, and/or expansion of intermediary local and regional food business supply chain activities (e.g. activities that do not involve direct producer‐to‐consumer sales). Approximately $13 million is available to fund applications under this solicitation. LFPP planning grant award levels range from $25,000 to $100,000. LFPP implementation grant award levels range from $100,000 to $500,000. An applicant is limited to one LFPP award in a funding year.

DOJ:  Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program grants

Deadline: Applications are due on May 12, 2016.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is seeking applications for the FY16 Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Implementation Grants and Planning/Implementation Grants. In neighborhoods across the country, BCJI projects work to reduce crime and improve community safety as part of a comprehensive strategy to advance neighborhood revitalization goals. Through a broad cross-sector partnership team, including residents, BCJI sites target neighborhoods with hot spots of violent and serious crime and employ data-driven, cross-sector strategies to reduce crime and violence.

USDA: Water and Waste Revolving Loan Fund Grants

Application Deadline: May 31, 2016  

Grant funds to establish a lending program that will finance water or wastewater systems for rural communities.

HUD:  Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants Program

Applications are due on June 28, 2016.

HUD is soliciting applications for the FY2016 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants program. The maximum grant award is $30 million. HUD encourages activities in communities with Preferred Sustainability Status (PSS) and/or Promise Zones (PZ). HUD will award two (2) points for qualified activities within a designated zone or area and supporting either or both initiative(s). In no case will HUD award more than two bonus points for these activities.

The Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants support the implementation of comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans that are expected to achieve the following three core goals:

  1. Housing: Replace distressed public and assisted housing with high-quality mixed-income housing that is well-managed and responsive to the needs of the surrounding neighborhood;
  2. People: Improve educational outcomes and intergenerational mobility for youth with services and supports delivered directly to youth and their families; and
  3. Neighborhood: Create the conditions necessary for public and private reinvestment in distressed neighborhoods to offer the kinds of amenities and assets, including safety, good schools, and commercial activity, that are important to families choices about their community.

DOJ:  Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program

Application Deadline: May 17, 2016

Funding for eligible applicants to plan, implement or expand a justice and mental health collaboration program in order to demonstrate a collaborative project between criminal justice and mental health partners.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide

USDA:  Summer Food Service Program

Funding to provide free, nutritious meals and snacks to help children in low-income areas get the nutrition they need during the summer months.  Applications accepted on an ongoing basis

OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

USDA:  Applications sought for loans, grants to help grow rural businesses; spur economic development

Deadline:  June 30, 2016

Rural Business Cooperative-Service Administrator Sam Rikkers announces USDA is seeking applications for loans and grants to help support the start-up or expansion of rural businesses.  The funding is being provided through the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program. Under this program, USDA provides zero-interest loans and grants to local utilities, which use the funding to create revolving funds for projects that will create or retain jobs in rural areas. USDA is making $37 million in loans and $11 million in grants available. A recipient may receive a loan of up to $1 million, or a grant of up to $300,000.

USDA:  Stakeholder Announcement $62 Million in Grant Funding Available to Assist the Specialty Crop Industry

Deadline: July 6, 2016.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is making more than $62 million in grant funding available to support specialty crop producers through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP).  SCBGP grants are allocated to U.S. states and territories for projects that help support specialty crop growers, including locally grown fruits and vegetables, through research and other programs to increase demand. Those interested in applying should do so directly through their state departments of agriculture, which administer a competitive grant process.  A listing of the SCBGP’s state contacts, and how to apply with state application due dates, can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp.  State departments of agriculture must submit their applications to AMS by July 6, 2016.

USDA: Value Added Producer Grant Funds Available

The VAPG program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of bio-based, value-added products. Generating new products, creating and expanding marketing opportunities, and increasing producer income are the goals of this program. You may receive priority if you are a beginning farmer or rancher, a socially-disadvantaged farmer or rancher, a small or medium-sized farm or ranch structured as a family farm, a farmer or rancher cooperative, or are proposing a mid-tier value chain. Grants are awarded through a national competition.

DOE:  Over $100M Available to Improve Clean Energy Manufacturing

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) released a notice of intent to establish a $70 million Modular Chemical Process Intensification Institute for Clean Energy Manufacturing – the fourth National Manufacturing Innovation Institute sponsored by the Department of Energy. EERE also announced the availability of approximately $35 million in funding to institutions of higher education to assist small- and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers increase energy efficiency, productivity, sustainability, and competitiveness as well as help address the shortage of engineering professionals with applied energy-related skills. Read more…

Chef Ann Foundation:  School Fresh Produce Program

DEADLINE: Rolling

Grants of up to $2,500 will be awarded to schools for programs designed to expand students’ palates and encourage increased consumption of and exposure to fresh produce….

JPMC to Invest $125M in Neighborhood Economic Revitalization

Last week, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPMC) announced the launch of PRO Neighborhoods, a $125 million, five-year initiative to promote economic opportunity in disadvantaged neighborhoods around the country. PRO Neighborhoods will invest in local collaborative partnerships and financial solutions, focusing on community lending, housing capital and high-quality data. Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) partnerships and collaborative efforts to provide capital to small businesses in distressed neighborhoods may be eligible for support. Learn more…

MORE GRANTS:  Click here to find recently-announced grant openings

COMING EVENTS

USDA:  Community Connect Grant Program webinars

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) will host webinars  on May 4 and May 17 focused on the Community Connect Grant Program.

  • NOTE:  This grant program awards priority points to Promise Zone applicants.

These webinars will inform participants about the major eligibility and regulatory requirements of the program and will provide detailed guidance on how to submit a successful grant application.  There will also be time for participants to ask the speakers specific questions about putting together an application.

               WHEN:               1 p.m., to 3 p.m., May 4, 2016

                                             2 p.m. to 4 p.m., May 17, 2016

Due to the limited amount of room available for each session, you must register with the RUS Loan Origination and Approval Division. Please register by visiting https://livemeeting.com/register and selecting the session you wish to attend. Register soon to ensure your spot in the session you want to attend.

If the above registration link does not work, please copy and paste https://www.livemeeting.com/lrs/8002989786/Registration.aspx?pageName=67rfrl2lh3tk9btx into your browser.  Questions? Please contact the RUS at (202) 720-0800 or community.connect@wdc.usda.gov with any questions about these events.

More information about the Community Connect Grant Program is available on our website at: http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-connect-grants.

USDA:  Peer -to-peer conference call on local food financing

2 p.m., April 28, 2016

The Office of Rural Housing and Economic Development (ORHED) invites you to take part in our next Peer-to-Peer conference call.  Scheduled for April 28, 2016, this call will offer participants the opportunity to learn about available activities through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development agency (USDA-RD).

Topics to be discussed:  Funding opportunities at the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development; Public and Private sources of funding to carry out projects; and Best practices and lessons-learned.

How to join the call:    You must RSVP by email to rhed@hud.gov no later than April 26, 2016.  Include your name and organization.  Call-in instructions and additional materials will be emailed to participants on April 27, 2016. The 60 minute call will include presentations and a Q&A session.  Questions:  Phone:  1-877-787-2526

USDA:  Webinar:  How to evaluate economic benefits of local food systems

3 p.m., April 28, 2016

Local and regional food systems are helping revitalize rural and urban communities across the country.  The authors of a new U.S. Department of Agriculture guide to evaluate the economic impacts of investing in farmers markets, community supported agriculture (CSA), food hubs, and other local food systems will discuss the toolkit during a free webinar on Thursday, April 28, 2016, at 3 p.m. E.T.

The Economics of Local Food Systems: A Toolkit to Guide Community Discussions, Assessments and Choices, developed by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) in cooperation with Colorado State University (CSU), uses real-world projects, experiences, and applied research to help community leaders, planners, economic development specialists, public agencies, and private businesses or foundations evaluate the economic benefits of local and regional food systems.

  • To register for the webinar, please use this link: http://goo.gl/forms/JIOrvfQiMM

USDA:  Webinars for Local Food Systems Grant Applicants, $26 Million Now Available in Grant Funding

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is making over $26 million in grant funding available to strengthen local and regional food systems through the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program, and hosting a series of webinars to help farmers markets, producers groups, and other potential applicants with the grant process. Administered by AMS, the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program provides a combined total of over $26 million in competitive grants, divided equally between the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) and the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP).  FMPP grants support direct producer-to-consumer marketing projects such as farmers markets, community-supported agriculture programs, roadside stands, and agritourism.  LFPP funding supports projects that develop, improve, and expand local and regional food business intermediary supply chain activities, including processing, distribution, aggregation, and storage of locally- or regionally-produced food products.

NEW RESOURCES

A Rural Healthcare Roadmap

Describes a recent study that finds financial pressures on rural healthcare facilities impact rural healthcare delivery and, in turn, shape the way architects design these facilities. Highlights key principles of rural healthcare design identified by the study, including optimizing accessibility, operating self-sufficiently, standardizing and adapting clinical spaces, and maximizing staff connectivity.  Source: Healthcare Design

In Rural States Policy Changes To Improve Access To Home Dialysis Are Vital

This blog post highlights the benefits of and barriers to home dialysis for rural residents with chronic kidney disease; many of whom have to travel many miles to dialysis centers.  Source: Health Affairs Blog

Rural Medicine: Pediatric Care Costly and Complex

Highlights a recent study that found healthcare disparities between rural and urban children. These disparities include differences in rates of medically complex chronic conditions and hospital readmission. (May require free subscription for full access.)   Source: MedPage Today

A New Divide in American Death

Reports on recent findings describing mortality rates and the disparities within them; most notably the difference between urban-rural women. Illustrates growing rural mortality rates over the past two decades by providing statistics and graphics.   Source: The Washington Post

Rural Recruiting, Retention Proves Daunting

This blog post shares the thoughts on a young physician who highlights both the positive aspects of practicing rural and the negatives aspects that impact rural facilities’ ability to recruit and retain workforce.  Source: American Academy of Family Physicians

New Stark Law Exception Breathes Life into Primary Care, Especially in Underserved Areas

Describes a regulatory adjustment making hiring practices more flexible for primary care and mental health providers in underserved and rural areas.  Source: JD Supra

FIND PAST RESOURCE INFORMATION Click here

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