Southern CRD Webinar Series:
Creating Bridges for the Rural Retail Workforce: Bringing Businesses and Employees Together to Identify Long-Term Employment Solutions for Rural Retail
July 26, 2019 @ 12:30pm CT/1:30pm ET
Retail, entertainment, accommodation, and tourism sector jobs are a growing share of rural employment. In some rural South communities, these jobs represent the only local employment opportunities for residents with limited or no college education, since manufacturing, mining, and other industries left in the latter part of the 20th century. In addition, these sectors provide critical jobs for those seeking to enter, or re-enter, the workforce and have proven to be economic development engines. However, these jobs often suffer from low wages, no obvious career path, and experience high rates of turnover, despite the economic importance these sectors may have in rural communities. CREATE BRIDGES is a multi-state initiative to strengthen retail, entertainment, accommodation, and tourism industries in rural communities. The process is designed to: raise awareness of the role these important businesses play; determine challenges negatively impacting these businesses and workforce participation; and implement strategies to strengthen them within selected regions.
2019 Annual Meeting of the Rural Sociological Society: Richmond, VA
August 7-10, 2019
Theme: Justice and Tyranny: Mobilizing Rural Sociological Imaginations. The meeting will also include a preconference, ‘RSS on the Hill’ and an educational field trip ‘Exploring Richmond’s Racial Past and Moving Forward’.
2019 National Conference for Outreach & Agriculture Development: Richmond, VA
September 10-11, 2019
The Minority Outreach Network is coordinating the NCOAD with the support of Virginia State University's Small Farm Outreach Program and USDA to offer exceptional learning sessions and panel discussions on the most important issues related to our work with farmers. Outreach professionals who plan or conduct activities to support farmers and agricultural producers as part of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), grass roots organizations (GROs), academic institutions, and state and federal organizations are sure to benefit from exceptional learning and networking opportunities.
2019 National Direct Agricultural Marketing Summit: Rosemont, IL
October 7-9, 2019
The Summit features resources to assist market managers, direct marketing farmers, and agribusinesses as well as practitioners or technical assistance providers in understanding and enhancing direct marketing efforts. The Summit focus on “Entrepreneurship Opportunities Across the Food Value Chain” focusing on direct to consumer markets, local food systems and value added technical assistance. Experts and resources from the public and private sector will be highlighted throughout the 3-day event.
Sustainable Tourism & Outdoor Recreation Conference: Astoria, OR
October 8-10, 2019
Join colleagues including University Extension and Sea Grant professionals, other faculty, agency, students and industry representatives working on tourism and outdoor recreation. Present and learn about research, case studies, sustainability and funding modes, educational program materials etc. Open to all interested individuals. Mobile presentations will visit coastal community projects and environments.