Current Opportunities:
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:
- 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;
- 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.
Download the Complete Request for Proposals [PDF]
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.
Download the Complete Request for Proposals [PDF]
Past Opportunities:
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.
Download the Complete Request for Proposals [PDF]
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:
(1) high poverty areas
(2) impact of immigrants on nutrition programs,
(3) obesity and nutrition issues,
(4) use of food/nutrition assistance programs,
(5) factors affecting food choices and their consequences,
(6) community-based food procurement options, and
(7) 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 .
