Southern Rural Development Center
 

Box 9656
410 Bost Extension Bldg.
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Phone: (662) 325-3207
Fax: (662) 325-8915
http://srdc.msstate.edu

 

 

 

Around the SouthMarch 2007, Vol. 3 No. 3

In this Issue . . .



SRDC Items of Interest

  • 2007 Sustainable Community Innovation Grants Awarded
    The 2007 Sustainable Community Innovation grants have been awarded by a partnership of USDA´s Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE), the Southern Rural Development Center and the Appalachian Regional Commission. Seven projects are jointly funded by the Southern Rural Development Center and Southern SARE. These projects link the farm community with the non-farm community through sustainable agriculture activities for the purpose of community development:

    • In Waynoka, OK, a large team led by Ogallala Commons Commonwealth Communities will recruit, train and support aspiring entrepreneurs interested in local and regional food production for isolated communities in western Oklahoma.

    • In Danville, VA, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research will produce 13 workshops, establish a mentoring program and conduct other activities that will spur entrepreneurial development in value-added agriculture.

    • In Morehead City, NC, Carteret Community College is leading a team dedicated to Carteret Catch, a mission to create a market identity for local seafood and help the local seafood industry adapt to a global marketplace.

    • In Ellenton, FL, the Florida West Coast RC&D Council is establishing the Florida FarmLink program to connect entrepreneurs in rural areas to resources and to educate consumers about the importance of local food systems and sustainable agriculture.

    • In Anadarko, OK, the Native American Indian Farming and Ranching Cooperative will bring together the heads of Native American businesses and institutional settings to lay the groundwork for linking with Native American agricultural producers from the 38 tribes in Oklahoma.

    • In Darien, GA, McIntosh Sustainable Environment and Economic Development.(SEED) will use the results from a food system survey to assess the current local food system, promote sustainable agriculture entrepreneurial opportunities and influence farm-friendly local government policy.

    • In Tuskegee, AL, Tuskegee University will work with six historic all-Black Resettlement farming communities in six states to produce sustainable economic development strategies and training suitable to each community.


  • Pre-Proposals Being Sought for the 2007 National Rural E-Commerce Grants Program
    The SRDC, in partnership with its sister Regional Rural Development Centers, is pleased to announce another round of funding for the 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 topics. This year we are requiring pre-proposals, which must be submitted by March 15. A select number of persons submitting pre-proposals will be invited to complete a more detailed proposal for consideration by the National E-Commerce Extension Advisory Committee. These invitations will be made by April 1, 2007. Please Note: This is a national competitive grants program open to any Extension educator in the U.S. Full details are available online at http://srdc.msstate.edu/ecommerce/07rfp_pre.pdf.

  • Applications Now Being Accepted for the 2007 Bonnie Teater Community Development Educator Lifetime Achievement Award
    The Southern Rural Development Center is pleased to announce that applicants are being sought for the Bonnie Teater Community Development Educator Lifetime Achievement Award for 2007. The award is for superior lifetime work by an individual (not a team) who has made an important contribution to the Extension Community Development area. The award comes with a $500 stipend. The deadline for applications is March 14, 2007. Complete details are available at http://srdc.msstate.edu/07teateraward.pdf.


National Items of Interest

  • Call for Editors: Review of Regional Studies
    The current editorial team for the Review of Regional Studies, Dan Rickman and Ron Moomaw at Oklahoma State University, finish their term of office this year. The Southern Regional Science Association, sponsor of the Review, seeks to appoint a successor in April 2007, to take up office over this summer. The new team would be responsible for issues beginning in 2008. The Review is published on-line only, three times a year. Further information about the Review is available at: http://www.regionalscience.org/srsa/revregstudies.htm. The SRSA Executive Council will review proposals on March 29, 2007. Proposals should include indications of support from the host institution.

  • Fourth Issue of Rural Realities Now Available
    This latest issue of Rural Realities, "Starved for Access: Life in Rural America’s Food Deserts," written by Lois Wright Morton and Troy C. Blanchard, examines the distribution of food deserts across the United States and describes the major socioeconomic attributes associated with these places. To gain a clearer sense of the economic and health consequences for rural people who live in food deserts, the issue highlights findings from a case study in Iowa. The brief concludes with insights on what local communities and policymakers might do to expand access to quality foods for rural people living in food desert areas of the country. To access the brief, check out http://ruralsociology.org/pubs/RuralRealities/Issue4.html.

  • ITIF Releases “2007 State New Economy Index”
    The New Economy continues to transform the US and state economies. The changing economic landscape requires state economies to be innovative, globally-linked, entrepreneurial and dynamic, with an educated workforce and all sectors embracing the use of information technology. In a new report, sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, ITIF employs 26 indicators to rank each state on the extent to which their economies are structured and operate to effectively compete regionally as well as globally. For 2007 the five top states are, in order of rank, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, and California. With these measures as a frame of reference, the report then outlines the next generation of innovative state-level public policies needed to meet the challenges of the New Economy and boost incomes of all Americans. To download a copy of the report, visit the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation's website at http://www.itif.org/index.php?id=30.

  • Participate in Southern Growth's 2007 On-line Survey
    Southern Growth Policies Board is polling citizens on their attitudes and ideas about building a competitive Southern Workforce. Visit http://www.southern.org/surveyintro.shtml and share your ideas on how to build a competitive, entrepreneurial workforce to support the Southern region's economic development initiatives in high-growth industries. The 16-question survey only takes a few minutes to complete and your feedback will be included in Southern Growth's 2007 Report on the Future of the South and in presentations at the Southern Workforce Summit conference on June 3-5, 2007. To learn more about the Southern Workforce Summit conference, visit http://www.southern.org/conf.asp.

  • Ralph L. Tabor Extension Fellowship
    The National Association of Counties (NACo), in partnership with the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC), offers a unique fellowship program for Extension faculty and staff. The Ralph L. Tabor Extension Fellowship offers the opportunity to live and work in Washington, D.C., to lend expertise to the nation’s 3,066 counties, learn first-hand about the workings of Congress and federal agencies, and take a lead role in enhancing the national partnership between NACo, the Cooperative Extension Service and the nation’s land-grant universities. It provides a professional development opportunity to work at NACo, a national legislative and public affairs, research, and technical services organization. The Extension Fellow also works closely with CSREES to gain insight into Extension’s federal partner and with NASULGC to enhance the relationship between counties and higher education. Full applications are requested by March 30, 2007, to be considered for the one-year term that begins approximately August 1, 2007. Full guidelines are available at http://srdc.msstate.edu/news/tabor.pdf. For more information, contact Sherry Teachout Glenn, sglenn@iastate.edu, or Stephanie Osborn, sosborn@naco.org.

  • SARE National Continuing Education Program in Sustainable Agriculture
    SARE's continuing education program is designed primarily for Cooperative Extension and Natural Resource Conservation Service personnel (particularly new staff members), and other agricultural, natural resource and community development professionals. It emphasizes core concepts and a basic understanding of sustainable agriculture, its goals and its relevance to every farming and ranching operation – large or small. Each course will be presented online in an interactive, Web-based format and will include a variety of activities, real-life examples and links to other Web sites that offer information, resources, and assistance to help you in your work. Courses will be self-guided and self-paced so you can complete them on your own schedule. Visit http://www.sare.org/coreinfo/ceprogram.htm for more information.

  • Two Journals Call for Papers
    Two noteworthy call for papers have recently been announced:

    • Humanity & Society's special issue is dedicated to the exploration of community-based asset building. Globalization and capital mobility threaten the economic and social base of many communities. This special issue, titled "Capital versus Community," will examine how community-based development efforts are responding to these challenges, the obstacles they face, and the impacts and outcomes of their activities. We are looking for case studies in a wide variety of contexts (e.g., rural, urban and suburban) and involving different racial and ethnic groups (e.g., African American, Latino, and American Indian). Manuscripts should not exceed 30 double-spaced pages of text, plus notes and references, and should follow the "Notice to Contributors" guidelines supplied at http://www.humanistsociology.org. Papers should be submitted via email to Ann Goetting, the Executive Editor, at humanityandsociety@wku.edu or Gary Green at gpgreen@wisc.edu. Deadline: September 1, 2007.

    • Community Development: Journal of the Community Development Society's special issue will be focusing on the advancement of community theory. Specifically, manuscripts that explore the current status of community theory, present methods for bridging potential theoretical divides, and suggest methods for furthering the development of a new theoretical foundation in contemporary community studies are being targeted. For more information, contact M.A. Brennan, brennanm@ufl.edu, or Ralph B. Brown, ralph_brown@byu.edu. Deadline for submissions is Aug. 31, 2007.


Funding Opportunities

  • SRDC's Grant Connections: Rural Development Funding Opportunities
    Volume 9, Number 3, February 2007
    http://srdc.msstate.edu/funding/feb07.htm

    The SRDC staff compiles Grant Connections primarily for the faculty of land-grant colleges and universities in the South to provide funding information in support of activities in agricultural economics, education, human sciences, rural sociology, youth development, and other related disciplines.

  • Southern SARE Grant Programs
    Southern SARE administers seven grant programs, each with its own priorities and audiences.
    http://www.southernsare.uga.edu/commongrnd/07spring.pdf (page 7)


SRDC Sponsored Conferences & Trainings

  • E-Commerce Strategies for Small Businesses and Communities -- Early bird registration ends March 15 -- register now!
    A Rollout of New Extension Educational Curricula developed as part of the SRDC and CSREES/USDA "Rural E-Commerce Extension Initiative: A National Demonstration Project"
    June 4-6, 2007
    Lied Lodge and Conference Center
    Nebraska City, Nebraska
    http://srdc.msstate.edu/ecommerce/07training/

  • eCommerce: An Opportunity Whose Time Has Come
    Offered by the NCRCRD in cooperation with the SRDC
    Online Breeze Conference
    February through June, 2007
    10-11:30 a.m. CST
    http://www.ncrcrd.iastate.edu/projects/breeze/ecommerce/index.htm


Other Conferences & Trainings


People in the News


Job Opportunities


Submit Announcements

Job announcements and other items of interest may be sent to Rachel Welborn, rachelw@srdc.msstate.edu, for possible inclusion in future issues.


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