September 2005 Volume III, Number 9

Compiled by Deb Miller Slipek, News Finder Extraordinary &
Jane Leonard, MRP President & Editor

IN THIS ISSUE:

- Across the Field: Community Preparedness, Economic & Otherwise
- Funding
- Meetings & Conferences
- Tools & Miscellaneous
- Professional Opportunities

ACROSS THE FIELD, by Jane Leonard
Community Preparedness, Economic & Otherwise

Summer exited our lives with a fury when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast last month. All manner of thoughts and concerns popped into the national psyche, and into the national pocketbook, as well. We hold our fellow Americans in our hearts, we host several hundred in our state, and we hope that we can learn lessons of preparedness from this disaster.

By pure happenstance, in the week before Katrina landed in New Orleans, I had an opportunity to meet with the deputy executive director at the Public Entity Risk Institute, an organization that helps municipalities, small businesses, and non-profits with resources to manage risk, or in terms closer to the heart, manage uncertainty. We agreed to do some work together, particularly aimed at very small businesses whose owners don't have time or staff to work on risk management, but get sucked under quick if disasters hit.

To that end, we are adding some risk management discussion and materials to the upcoming workshops on Energizing Entrepreneurship and Hometown Competitiveness, held at four locations around the state in October. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, the Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota, and Minnesota Rural Partners will be co-hosting these workshops, led by keynote speakers Don Macke and Craig Schroeder from the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Wilbur Maki, a former economist for the State of Minnesota.

In addition to discussion on risk management, the workshops will include listening/feedback opportunities for the further development of the Minnesota Entrepreneurial Gateway system as well as the latest strategies and tools useful for community economic and business development, such as broadband use and local community-based investment models.

The workshops run from 8:30 to 3:30, cost is $25 to help cover lunch and refreshments. You can register and get location info here. Please help us spread the word!

Dates & Locations:
October 12 at the Holiday Inn in Willmar
October 13 at Cabela's in Owatonna
October 18 at the Saw Mill Inn in Grand Rapids
October 19 at the City Hall in Red Lake Falls, 108 2nd Street SW)

If you can't make it to the workshops, but would like to check out the risk management resources and the Minnesota Entrepreneurial Gateway initiative, go to the Minnesota Rural Partner website and click on the right column link to "Managing Uncertainty" and the link to "ASK MEG" on the left column. Let me know if you find this type of information helpful, as we are working on a longer-term partnership with the folks at PERI and would welcome your direction as to the most useful resources for you.

It's all a part of helping Minnesota be prepared for the economic and community opportunities and challenges ahead.

FUNDING

--The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) invites applications for funding under the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI). Approximately $6 million is available for grants to intermediaries, which range from $50,000 to $1 million. Grants will provide financial and technical assistance to recipients for projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development. Applications are due Nov. 3. For more information:
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi/index.htm

--The Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration has $1.4 million available for grants to support development of rural health networks. For more information, visit http://fedgrants.gov/Applicants/HHS/HRSA/GAC/HRSA-06-010/Modification2.html or Erica C. Molliver at 301-443-1520, emolliver@hrsa.gov. The deadline is September 26.

--The Office of Rural Health Policy's Health Care Services Outreach Program encourages the development of new and innovative health care delivery systems in rural communities that lack essential health care services. The program has $10 million for approximately 66 grants. The deadline is September 23. For more information, visit http://fedgrants.gov/Applicants/HHS/HRSA/GAC/HRSA-06-005/Grant.html or Lilly Smetana at 301-443-6884, lsmetana@hrsa.gov.

--Midwest Assistance Program -The mission of the New Prague, MN-based Midwest Assistance Program is to help rural communities improve their environment, quality of life, and to be self-sustaining. One of its services is to provide low-cost, short and intermediate term loans for community water and wastewater projects through its Community Revolving Loan Fund. This loan program is designed to meet specific community financial needs associated with clean water and wastewater projects. Needs can occur when available funds are insufficient, or a community's ability to leverage is limited. The revolving loan fund works closely with any primary lender or other funders. Applications are encouraged that clearly demonstrate the loan purpose, benefits to the community, how the loan will be repaid, and possible leveraging with other funding. For more information go to:
http://www.map-inc.org/Programs&Services/loan_fund.htm
or contact Midwest Assistance Program's loan fund manager at 952/758-4334 or tkmap@bevcomm.net

--Minnesota Department of Commerce has received funding from the LCMR to offer two community wind energy rebates of $200,000 each for installing a utility scale wind turbine (900 kW or larger) to be installed and operating by June 30, 2007. "Community" is defined as owned entirely by non-taxable entities (combined ownership is possible) such as schools, government, tribes, non-profits, etc. An official notice will be put in the state register in the next month or so for potential projects to request an official information packet (which is not yet available), with applications due 60 days thereafter. This is the unofficial notice that it's coming soon, for those who can take advantage of the funding and wish to prepare their project for the rebate. Projects are competitively chosen on a point system that is weighted on three points: technical proposal (project proposal and ability to complete by June 30, 2007), community involvement (multiple stakeholders, educational benefit, ongoing activities), and project financials (cost-share, electricity production, cash-flows). The University of Minnesota-Morris and Carleton College were recipients of $150,000 rebates in the previous biennium and both installed 1.65 MW turbines." For more information contact Mike Taylor of the State Energy Office at 651296-6830 or Mike.Taylor@state.mn.us

--Boating Infrastructure Grants: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will accept applications for a federal boating infrastructure grant program providing funding for guest dockage facilities for transient, non-trailerable boats 26 feet or more in length. The DNR provides these grants, funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), to qualified governmental units and private harbors or marinas in Minnesota. For more information, go to: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/releases/index.html?id=1124816482

--The Laura Jane Musser Fund seeks to assist public or not-for-profit entities in initiating or implementing projects in rural areas to undertake consensus-based activities in environmental stewardship or dispute resolution. The Musser Fund encourages communities, whether represented by local governments, state agencies, or grassroots nonprofit organizations, to use a consensus-based approach to environmental decision-making. This a collaborative process, involving a neutral facilitator where appropriate, that strives to involve all key stakeholders as well as local citizens in developing environmental programs and policies that satisfy common interests. The program is most interested in new programs; willing to fund the planning or implementation phase; and willing to fund projects already in progress if the proposal is compelling. Amount: $35,000. Applications Due: October 1, 2005 www.musserfund.org/environmental.htm

--Through its Giving Voice program, the Starbucks Foundation, a philanthropic vehicle of the Starbucks Coffee Company, will fund programs for youth, ages 6-18, that integrate literacy with personal and civic action in the communities where they live. The Starbucks Foundation invites Letters of Inquiry from nonprofit organizations that work with underserved youth in one of two areas: 1) Arts & Literacy -- programs that innovatively address literacy and learning for the 21st century, provide high standards of excellence in mastering basic skills, and promote youth voices through a variety of venues; and 2) Environmental Literacy -- programs that offer place-based approaches to addressing environmental literacy and empower youth to be heroes for a sustainable environment in their own communities. Grants range from $5,000 to $20,000. Letters of Inquiry are reviewed twice yearly: we missed the September 1st deadline - so March 1st is next….. For more information, see www.starbucks.com/aboutus/grantinfo.asp.

--The Otto Bremer Foundation is now offering grants in the area of Civic Engagement. Below is a brief introduction to civic engagement and these new grants. To get more complete information, visit www.ottobremer.org, click on Civic Engagement and then click on Why Civic Engagement in the left-hand column.

--Seventh Generation Fund is a California-based nonprofit that provides small grants and technical support to Native American organizations and projects in five primary areas:
* Arts and Cultural Expression
* Environmental Health and Justice
* Indigenous Peoples of the Americas
* Sacred Earth
* Sustainable Communities
Founded in 1977, the Fund is described as the only Native American intermediary foundation and advocacy organization dedicated to promoting and maintaining the uniqueness of Native Peoples and nations. Activities funded should be focused in the Native community with the purpose,
design and implementation strategy originating from the Indigenous peoples/communities that are served. Three types of grants are offered:
- General Support: ($600 to $10,000) for seed money, general operating expenses, specific projects, or project-related expenses.
- Training and Technical Assistance: ($600 to $5,000) for project-specific training, consultants, or other capacity building needs.
- Mini-Grants: ($50 - $500) for community-based projects. For information go to http://www.7genfund.org/

--Wallace Genetic Foundation is a Washington, DC-based foundation that funds a variety of activities related to agriculture, land preservation, ecology, conservation, and sustainable development. Specific current areas of interest are sustainable agriculture, protection of farmland near cities, plant genetic research, biodiversity protection, and environmental education. It is particularly interested in far-sighted groups and individuals with innovative ideas, and seeks to fund organizations whose work promises to provide long-term national or global benefit. Average grant size is $25,000, with an average of $4,000,000 awarded each year. For information go to: http://www.wallacegenetic.org

CONFERENCES & MEETINGS

-- 31st Annual Program Sharing Conference - Alcohol, Tobacco, Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention in Minnesota - October 6 and 7, 2005 at the St. Cloud Civic Center, St. Cloud, MN. To register, contact Lynne Gosselin at 763-427-5310 ext. 155 or e-mail lgosselin@miph.org. For more information, contact Linda Ryden at 763-427-5310 ext. 146 or e-mail lryden@miph.org.

--In October: "Energizing Entrepreneurship and Hometown Competitiveness" -- the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, the Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota, and MRP will be co-hosting a round of community workshops led by keynote speakers Don Macke and Craig Schroeder of the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship in Lincoln, Nebraska. Dates are October 12 at the Holiday Inn in Willmar - October 13 at Cabela's in Owatonna - October 18 at the Saw Mill Inn in Grand Rapids - and October 19 at the City Hall in Red Lake Falls. The workshops run from 8:30 to 3:30, cost is $25 to help cover lunch and refreshments. Help us spread the word and register at http://www.minnesotaruralpartners.org

--Follow the Dollars: A guided tour through the state's budget process
Workshops on: Tuesday, October 11 - Duluth; Tuesday, October 11 - Grand Rapids; Wednesday, October 12 - Redwood Falls. Advocates, leaders, front-line staff, and members of the public will all benefit from understanding how the state's budget process works - and how to participate in that process on behalf of the programs they care about and the people they serve.

In this popular workshop, you will gain an understanding of the following: The basics of the Minnesota state budget; The timeline for the state's budget process; How the Governor's budget proposal is developed; How the budget travels through the Legislature; Opportunities for input and advocacy in the budget process.

Workshops are led by Nan Madden and Christina Macklin of the Minnesota Budget Project, an initiative of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. The Minnesota Budget Project provides independent research, outreach, and advocacy on budget and tax issues that impact low- and moderate-income persons and the organizations that serve them. Workshops are $20 for Minnesota Council of Nonprofit members and $35 for nonmembers. Registration fee includes workshop materials. For more information, including how to register and scholarship information, visit http://www.mncn.org/event_policy.htm#ftd

-- 2005 Minnesota Counter-Offensive: A Rural Summit on Methamphetamine Intervention November 1, 2005, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the St. Cloud Civic Center. Co-hosted by the Initiative Foundation and Hazelden Foundation in partnership with the Minnesota Initiative Foundations, this summit will feature national speakers, new resource materials for participants, and an exhibit area for resource partners. For more information, sign up for the conference mailing list by emailing info@ifound.org

--eFolioMN Summit, Thursday, November 3, 2005, Hennepin Technical College, Brooklyn Park Campus, 9000 Brooklyn Boulevard, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445. The summit is an all-day event designed to bring together K-12, Higher Education, and Workforce organizations who use, or who are interested in, eFolioMinnesota. Successes, concerns, and strategies using the latest in Minnesota electronic portfolio technology. Many Minnesotans who have successfully applied eFolioMN for learning and for life. Register at http://efoliomnsummit.com.

--Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Annual Conference - November 3-4. Joseph Grady, of Cultural Logic and the Frameworks Institute, will speak on communications strategies at MCN's Annual Conference. FRAMING: Crafting Messages that Build Support is the theme for this year's MCN Annual Conference, to take place at the St. Paul RiverCentre. Learn more and register at http://www.mncn.org/index.htm

--Growing with Gigabits Conference sponsored by the Blandin Foundation. November 16-17 in St. Cloud will tackle a new broadband vision for Minnesota to ensure a high quality of life and a globally competitive future for our state. Come hear about community success stories, public private opportunities and the pros and cons of various technology scenarios. More info and registration available online.

--As part of a year-long series the Upper Midwest Campus Compact Consortium will be hosting a two-week online forum at http://www.campusincommunity.org, September 21 through October 5 on the topic of "power dynamics in campus-community partnerships". It is a facilitated, threaded discussion (not live chat). Therefore, you can participate at your own convenience. We are particularly interested in learning from stories of people's actual experiences in campus/community partnerships. The forum is free and open to anyone interested in the topic. All you have to do is register at the http://www.campusincommunity.org site.

MISCELLANEOUS

--The Cooperative Housing Development Toolbox: A Guide for Successful Community Development was created by Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund (NCDF) to assist community leaders with choosing, planning and organizing co-op housing developments. This toolbox helps community leaders evaluate the co-op housing model as one possible solution to their affordable housing needs. You can purchase a copy of the guide for $15 by contacting NCDF at 612-331-9103, or info@ncdf.coop, or go to http://www.ncdf.coop/documents/FinalCompleteToolbox.pdf.

--Rural Areas Benefit from Recreation and Tourism Development - The promotion of recreation and tourism has been both praised and criticized as a rural development strategy. This study uses regression analysis to assess the effect of recreation and tourism development on socioeconomic conditions in rural recreation counties. The findings imply that recreation and tourism development contributes to rural well-being, increasing local employment, wage levels, and income, reducing poverty, and improving education and health. But recreation and tourism development is not without drawbacks, including higher housing costs. Local effects also vary significantly, depending on the type of recreation area. See http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/September05/Features/RuralAreasBenefit.htm

--The Promise of Partnerships: Tapping into the Campus as a Community Asset, a new publication from Campus Compact, offers community partners practical guidance in establishing and sustaining effective partnerships with higher education. Authors Jim Scheibel, Erin M. Bowley, and Steven Jones solicited input from community organizations around the country that have forged successful partnerships as well as from colleges and universities-and they included many examples from Minnesota in the final text. The toolkit focuses on creating relationships that build communities while contributing to the academic and civic education of students. Topics addressed include working with college students and faculty, sharing resources, building capacity, and planning and assessing partnership activities. For more information, see www.compact.org/publication/pub-detail.php?viewpub=150.

-- The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) recently released a report, "Going Without: America's Uninsured Children." The release coincided with events for the Covering Kids & Families Back-to-School Campaign which actively engages parents across the nation to get health care coverage for their children. Parents of uninsured children can call toll-free 1(877) KIDS-NOW to find out if their children are eligible for low-cost or free health care coverage. To read the full report and the press release respectively: http://www.rwjf.org/files/newsroom/ckfresearchreportfinal.pdf http://www.rwjf.org/newsroom/newsreleasesdetail.jsp?id=10360

--Community Design Assistance - The Metropolitan Design Center at the University of Minnesota investigates how physical design can be used to make the urban landscape more livable and sustainable. An interdisciplinary team of researchers with backgrounds in architecture, landscape architecture, planning, and history work with and educate public and private decision makers, professionals and citizens about design and its role in the making of community-based development strategies and sustainable urban landscapes. The Design Center's Direct Design Assistance Program provides 5 - 7 days of assistance to nonprofits, small cities with limited planning staff, neighborhood organizations, and civic groups. Approximately 20 projects are completed in the state each year in a variety of areas including:

* Assisting communities plan for growth.
* Developing and preserving affordable housing units.
* Promoting neighborhood improvement.
* Designing for commercial corridor revitalization.
* Engaging local citizens in planning for and protecting open space.

Details about past projects and how to apply are
available at http://www.designcenter.umn.edu/aboutus/assistance.html

Project proposals are evaluated each month. If the Center is unable to provide assistance, staff will help link you with others who can help.

Note - Minnesota Rural Partners is working on a study of design strategies linked to entrepreneurship. We are working with Renewing the Countryside and the Minnesota Design Team, among others, to look back and look ahead, given the new tools available to communities in the 21st century. We'll keep you posted and hope to have presentations and resources ready in the months ahead. In the meantime, don't forget to tap into the Minnesota Design Team as a resource (http://www.minnesotadesignteam.org) and others we have listed at the Minnesota Entrepreneurial Gateway -- http://www.minnesotaruralpartners.org/MEG/communitydesign.htm
The MN Design Team will be in Morris and St. Charles next month.

--The Organization of Hope: A Workbook for Rural Asset-Based Community Development is a workbook of, by, and for rural community leaders trying to "use what we've got, to get what we want." How do you build your rural community from the inside out? How do you find and mobilize the assets of your small town and rural area? This resource tells inspiring stories of rural communities from across the countryside and draws common rural themes ranging from income patching and individual skill development to community organizing and rural ethnic diversity. It covers points for getting started (or restarted); strategies for turning assets and hope into action and new relationships; and practical examples of appropriate projects and methods to consider for your rural community. It is published by The Asset-Based Communiy Development Institute, Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University and the Blandin Foundation and was written by Luther K. Snow with an Editorial Committee of rural community leaders experienced in asset-based community development. For more information, see www.northwestern.edu/ipr/abcd.html.

--The Government Accountability Office has released Elderly Housing: Federal Housing Programs and Supportive Services, a comprehensive look at federal programs for housing the elderly that also have a supportive service component. Information on rural programs is included: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05795t.pdf

--The National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services report, The 2005 Report to the Secretary: Rural Health and Human Service Issues explores and provides recommendations for HHS on four important issues related to rural health and human services: Collaboration among agencies, access to obstetrical care, the growing obesity issue and welfare reform. Download the report at ftp://ftp.hrsa.gov/ruralhealth/NAC2005.pdf

--Capaciteria is a comprehensive, searchable database directory of administrative resources for nonprofits. Individuals can search more than 100 separate categories on nearly any aspect of philanthropy and nonprofit operations, including fundraising, organizational development, communications, accounting, legal resources, communications, technology and volunteer management. Members of Capaciteria (registration is free) can not only add their own links, but also rate individual resource links based on how useful they were. The search function provides resources based not only on what an individual is looking for, but also on the popularity of each resource. For more information go to: www.capaciteria.org

Capaciteria was created by Jonathan Peizer in May 2005. While few of the links have been rated, the website contains a large and diverse number of resources. Individuals can learn more at the Capaciteria website.

--Kellogg Foundation's Communications and Marketing Toolkit has developed an online Communications and Marketing Toolkit that outlines the essential elements for building an effective communications and media relations program. Although created primarily for Kellogg Foundation grantees, it contains a number of ideas, resources and links that would be helpful to any nonprofit. The toolkit covers planning, audience identification, media relations, advertising and evaluation of a communications program. It also contains a list of resources for nonprofits to obtain additional information. The online toolkit is available at http://www.wkkf.org/toolkits/Communication/

--Papers presented at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's 29th annual economic policy symposium, The Greenspan Era: Lessons for the Future, held August 25 - 27 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, are now available at http://www.kansascityfed.org/Publicat/Sympos/Symmain.HTM.

PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

--A program of the Bush Foundation, the Bush Leadership Fellows program provides financial support for additional education or self-designed study for individuals in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, or northwestern Wisconsin at mid-career who want to prepare themselves for greater leadership responsibilities within their communities and professions. Fellows include women and men in such fields as public service, education, government, health, business, engineering, architecture, science, farming, forestry, law, trade unions, law enforcement, journalism, and social work. Applicants are invited to propose academic or self-designed learning experiences that will help them attain goals that they set for themselves. The foundation welcomes applications from qualified individuals who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents; are twenty-eight years or older at the time of application; have lived or worked at least one continuous year immediately prior to application in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, or northwestern Wisconsin; and are employed full time and have at least five years' experience in any field, with strong evidence of competence and leadership abilities. The deadline for applications is October 14, 2005. For more information, see www.bushfoundation.org/programs/LeadershipFellowsProg.htm

-- Positions available: University of Minnesota Extension Service, Regional Extension Educator, Community Economics Capacity, Community Development and Vitality, in both the Twin Cities and Mankato. Deadline: October 28, 2005; positions will remain open until filled. For information about any of the Extension programs mentioned above go to www.extension.umn.edu and select the "Community" link.

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