e-Commerce Mini Grant Applications Move to Quarterly Review Process
Deadline is April 27, 2011 & July 27, 2011
Land-Grant University (LGU) Extension educators or teams (involving both Extension and non-Extension partners) are invited to submit workshop proposals outlining how their workshop will introduce one of the e-commerce educational curricula that the National e-Commerce Extension Initiative has released. These resources are intended to expand the adoption of e-commerce strategies by communities, small/micro businesses, and entrepreneurs across the country.
RIDGE Center for Targeted Studies @ the SRDC – 2011 Research Grant Opportunities
Deadline is May 15, 2011
The RIDGE Center for Targeted Studies @ the SRDC, in partnership with USDA Economic Research Service, is pleased to announce the availability of TWO competitive grant programs for 2011.
Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant Program
This exciting new program is intended to support research (in the U.S.) by graduate students pursuing doctoral research in areas that closely align with the priorities of the RIDGE Center for Targeted Studies. Students currently enrolled in a PhD program from an accredited U.S. institution of higher education are eligible to apply for the RIDGE Center Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant Program. However, an applicant must have completed all formal work related to his/her area of study and be at the "All But Dissertation" (ABD) stage of the doctoral program. The document above provides detailed information on the procedures for applying for this valuable new RIDGE Center activity.
Food Assistance and Nutrition Challenges of Rural Residents and Communities
As in past years, the SRDC RIDGE Center is seeking to invest in innovative social sciences-based research that explores the dimensions of the food and nutrition assistance challenges impacting residents (or communities) in rural America, including key populations such as Native Americans, immigrants, other racial/ethnic minorities, single parents, youth, the persistently poor, and others. For 2011, the RIDGE Center for Targeted Studies is interested in proposals that focus on one, or a combination, of the following three regions of the U.S. – North Central, Southern and Western regions of the country. For more information on this year's research priorities and details of the application process, please check out the document above:
Building Quality e-Commerce Educational Resources to Support Extension Programming
Deadline is April 29, 2011
The Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC), in partnership with NIFA/USDA and the Regional Rural Development Centers, is pleased to announce a new round of funding for its e-commerce competitive grants program.
The intent of this program is to support the development or expansion of innovative educational resources focusing on key e-commerce and broadband-related topics. The application deadline is April 29, 2011.
Bonnie Teater Community Development Early Career Achievement Award
Deadline is February 19, 2010
This award honors the work of a "rising star" who has already achieved great things in his/her early career in community development.
Qualifications
- Be currently employed by one of the 29 land-grant universities located in the Southern Rural Development Center region,
- Serve as an administrator, specialist or agent who has worked in the Extension CD area for 10 years or less; and
- Have an impressive portfolio of Extension-related programs and publications.
e-Commerce Mini Grant Applications Move to Quarterly Review Process
First deadline is October 27, 2010
The Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC) is pleased to announce new quarterly rounds of funding to help foster the implementation of its e-commerce curricula products. These resources are intended to expand the adoption of e-commerce strategies by communities, small/micro businesses, and entrepreneurs across the country. Land-Grant University (LGU) Extension educators or teams (involving both Extension and non-Extension partners) are invited to submit proposals outlining how they propose to implement one of the e-commerce educational curricula that the National e-Commerce Extension Initiative has released. The maximum amount allowed for any proposal is $3,000.
New submission deadlines and notifications
Deadline (Notification)
Wednesday, October 27, 2010 (Friday, November 12, 2010)
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 (Friday, February 11, 2011)
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 (Friday, May 13, 2011)
Wednesday, July 27, 2011 (Friday, August 12, 2011)
Turning the Tide to host workshop for expansion into five new states
Given the positive work occurring in the eight pilot sites, the SRDC is now seeking to expand the Turning the Tide on Poverty community study circles initiative to more states and local sites in the coming months. Thanks to the continued support of the Farm Foundation, the Kettering Foundation, and Everyday Democracy, the Center is planning to host a Turning the Tide on Poverty training workshop on December 6-8, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. The workshop is targeted to 1890 and 1862 land-grant universities in the South having an interest in launching the Tide program in their states. Interested states are required to complete an application form in order to be considered for possible participation in the training workshop. Funds will be made available to support the travel and lodging needs of successful applicants.
SRDC & Southern SARE announce competitive grants for community innovation
Proposals were invited for the 2010 Southern Region Sustainable Community Innovation (SCI) Grants to fund projects that link sustainable agriculture to rural community development. The grants have a funding maximum of $10,000 for up to two years of project activities. Proposals were accepted until October 1, 2010 with awards announced mid-to-late December.
SRDC announces new round of grants for The Center for Targeted Studies
In a joint effort between the SRDC and Economic Research Service, USDA, we announced the "Request for Proposals" (RFP) associated with the new RIDGE Center for Targeted Studies @ the SRDC. Please review the Request for Proposals for this year's RIDGE competitive grants program. The deadline for submission of a completed proposal was July 15 (must be postmarked by that date). Grants of up to $35,000 were available to support those projects that are ultimately selected by a multidisciplinary the team of reviewers. If you, or any of your colleagues, want to know more about the 2010 RIDGE Center for Targeted Studies grant program, please look into the two Webinars we hosted in June. The Webinars were a great place to learn about the details of this year's RFP and to have any of your questions answered. For more information about RIDGE, visit the SRDC RIDGE homepage.
Stronger Economies Together: Strategies for Building New Economic Opportunities
The Stronger Economies Together (SET) Program is sponsored by USDA Rural Development (USDA RD), in partnership with the Regional Rural Development Centers, for interested counties that desire to work together to develop and implement a regional economic development strategy or plan. Eight states were selected for this pilot program: AZ, KY, LA, MO, NM, OH, PA, and WV. State Partner Teams provided training and technical assistance to largely rural counties that were interested in working together on a regional basis or wish to strengthen the effectiveness of an existing regional development effort. Each region encompasses two or more counties/parishes and the population and/or geographic area of the region met one of the "rural" requirements (which is discussed in greater detail at the end of this application). Current or potential regions can cross state lines, but it too met one of the "rural" definitions.
Applications
Bonnie Teater Lifetime Achievement Award Nominations Requested
Nominations were accepted for the 2010 Bonnie Teater Community Development Educator Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is for superior lifetime work by an individual (not a team) who has made an important contribution to the Extension Community Development (CD) area. The nomination packet must be postmarked no later than March 19, 2010.
Regional Economic Development Strategies Project
-Restricted to the Regional Rural Development Centers
Soaring unemployment rates, declining tax revenue, and struggling local businesses have all contributed to concerns for overall economic viability in communities throughout the nation. Working better and smarter is a “must” in these challenging times. One promising approach, developing regional economic strategies, leads communities to rethink traditional boundary-based approaches to a viable economy. Aligning with this method, the USDA Rural Development has awarded a grant to the Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC), charged with the responsibility of facilitating the development of appropriate training, partnering, and tools to foster regional economic development.
Three specific tasks define the scope of this initiative:
- Task One: Modify/Develop a region-centered curriculum that aligns with the educational needs of USDA Rural Development State Directors and their local and regional-based stakeholders.
- Task Two: Provide training on the curriculum or other appropriate targeted regional economic development approaches/strategies
- Task Three: Provide information and technical assistance on the region’s comparative economic advantages in selected pilot sites.
The SRDC, located at Mississippi State University, was seeking to partner with each Regional Rural Development Centers (RRDC) to carry out these three tasks in pilot sites located in that specific RRDC’s region. The specific activities completed by each RRDC are detailed in the RFP.
Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Initiative
-Restricted to the Regional Rural Development Centers
Catastrophic natural and technical disasters – such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and pandemic influenza – can have devastating impacts on the well-being in individuals, families, communities, and regions. While metro areas may be more vulnerable to experiencing major loss of life and disruptions in social, economic, physical, and political infrastructures, the recognized linkages between metro and nonmetro counties located in various areas of the country that prompted the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS/FEMA) to launch the Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program (RCPGP) in FY2008. Grants were awarded to 10 (ten) regional sites across the nation, including the Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC). Successful grantees were charged with the responsibility of developing regional plans that effectively addressed the major threats that their areas were at greatest risk of experiencing, such as the need for Mass Evacuation, Mass Care and Sheltering, Economic Recovery Planning, Citizen Preparedness, Disaster Housing, Regional Coordination and Logistics, and Debris Management.
Two specific components of the FY2009 priorities serve as the key focus areas for the SRDC project being submitted as part of a FEMA/CSREES Inter-agency Agreement, namely:
- Task One: Implementing citizen and community preparedness campaigns, especially strategies for educating citizens about catastrophic events and the necessary steps for promoting preparedness on the part of these entities;
- Task Two: Addressing shortcomings of existing plans and processes
The SRDC, located at Mississippi State University, is seeking to partner with each Regional Rural Development Centers (RRDC) to carry out a careful assessment of one of the Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program areas located in that specific RRDC’s region. The specific activities to be completed by each RRDC are detailed in the RFP.
2009 Program Implementation Mini-Grants Now Available
The Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC) is pleased to announce the continuation of its initiative to foster implementation of one of its new e-commerce curricula. U.S. Land-Grant Extension educators or teams are invited to submit proposals outlining how they propose to implement one of the FOUR new e-commerce educational curricula that the SRDC is scheduled to release by this fall. The maximum amount allowed for any proposal is $3,000. For more information, visit The National e-Commerce Extension Initiative site.
2009 Sustainable Community Innovation Grants Proposals Due October 5
The Sustainable Community Innovation Grants program is seeking to invest in projects that embrace and invest in local strategies that are intended to link farm and nonfarm economic development with agricultural and natural resource management. This partnership of the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program and the Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC) encourages applicants who seek to increase knowledge, build capacity, and make connections among on- and off-farm sustainable agriculture activities, economic and community development efforts, value-added activities, civic engagement, and local government policy. As outlined in the RFP, the SARE/SRDC partners remain interested in proposals that focus on entrepreneurship efforts and on value-added activities that build on the agricultural and nonagricultural assets of communities. These include efforts to establish entrepreneurial-friendly communities that help support and sustain value-added entrepreneurship endeavors. The proposals are due October 5, 2009.
New Round of Funding for e-Commerce Education Resources Now Available
The Southern Rural Development Center, in partnership with CSREES and the Regional Rural Development Centers (RRDCs) announces Building Quality e-Commerce Educational Resources to Support Extension Programming a grant opportunity for up to $25,000 to develop and provide new educational products, or to significantly expand/improve existing resources of the National e-Commerce Extension Initiative. All Land-Grant University Faculty/Educators (1862, 1890 or 1994) located anywhere in the U.S. are eligible for consideration. Proposals must be postmarked no later than July 20, 2009 or received by e-mail to the SRDC by 5 p.m. Central Daylight Time on July 20. For the complete RFP and list of targeted educational topics please visit the 2009 National e-Commerce Competitive Grants Program Site.
Program Implementation Mini-Grants Overview
Launched in 2008, the Program Implementation Mini-Grants for Extension Educators and Teams showcase new e-commerce curricula from the National e-Commerce Extension Initiative. Each grantee will have the exciting task of employing cutting edge e-commerce educational resources designed with rural service areas in mind. Additionally, grantees will be working closely with the staff of the Southern Rural Development Center to create initial program benchmarks and track long-term community impacts.
2008 RFP for the Sustainable Community Innovation Grants Program Released.
The Southern SARE Program and the Southern Rural Development Center are interested in investing in Sustainable Community Innovation Grants -- projects that work to strengthen both agriculture and Southern communities by building explicit linkages between sustainable agriculture and community development. Such efforts help improve and advance an understanding of the mutual benefits that accrue to both agriculture and community when such key linkages are established and maintained. The Sustainable Community Innovation Grants program is seeking to invest in projects that embrace and invest in local strategies that are intended to link sound farm and nonfarm economic development with agricultural and natural resource management. Applications are encouraged that seek to increase knowledge, build capacity, and make connections among on- and off-farm sustainable agriculture activities, economic and community development efforts, value-added activities, civic engagement, and local government policy. To access the full Request for Proposals, click here.
SRDC Announces the 2008 RIDGE Program Call for Proposals
Exploring Food Assistance and Nutrition Issues Among the South’s Vulnerable Populations
The SRDC is pleased to announce its continued support for food and nutrition-related research focusing on the South under the new banner of the RIDGE Program. RIDGE stands for Research Innovation and Development Grants in Economics. As in past years, the program is designed to support innovative research that advances our knowledge and understanding of food assistance and nutrition issues impacting vulnerable populations in the South. The Economic Research Service remains a valuable partner with the SRDC in supporting this important work. This year’s research themes/topics are:
- high poverty areas
- impact of immigrants on nutrition programs,
- obesity and nutrition issues,
- use of food/nutrition assistance programs,
- factors affecting food choices and their consequences,
- community-based food procurement options, and
- policy choices.
To access the full announcement, click here.
2007 RIDGE Program: Exploring Food Assistance and Nutrition Issues Among the South's Vulnerable Populations
(Formerly the Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Innovation Grants Program)
Deadline Date: June 20, 2007
For additional funding opportunities, check out the most recent issue of Grant Connections
- RIDGE Center for Targeted Studies @ the SRDC – 2011 Research Grant Opportunities
- Building Quality e-Commerce Educational Resources to Support Extension Programming
- Bonnie Teater Community Development Early Career Achievement Award
- e-Commerce Mini Grant Applications Move to Quarterly Review Process
- Turning the Tide to host workshop for expansion into five new states
- SRDC & Southern SARE announce competitive grants for community innovation
- SRDC announces new round of grants for The Center for Targeted Studies
- Stronger Economies Together: Strategies for Building New Economic Opportunities
- Bonnie Teater Lifetime Achievement Award Nominations Requested
- Regional Economic Development Strategies Project
- Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Initiative
- 2009 Program Implementation Mini-Grants Now Available
- 2009 Sustainable Community Innovation Grants Proposals Due October 5
- New Round of Funding for e-Commerce Education Resources Now Available
- Program Implementation Mini-Grants Overview
- 2008 RFP for the Sustainable Community Innovation Grants Program Released
- SRDC Announces the 2008 RIDGE Program Call for Proposals
- 2007 RIDGE Program: Exploring Food Assistance and Nutrition Issues Among the South's Vulnerable Populations