05/01/2012 - Past President Mazer Testifies on Rural Development

On April 25, Leanne Mazer, Executive Director of the Tri-County Council for Western Maryland, and a Past President and Board Member of the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO), testified before the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Rural Development, Research,…

02/16/2012 - NADO Analysis of the President’s FY13 Budget

NADO released its annual in-depth analysis of the President’s FY2013 federal budget blueprint.  A copy of the written summary, with accompanying budget chart, was emailed to the full membership.  In addition, the association hosted a members-only webinar today to discuss…

02/15/2012 - McCauley Outlines NADO Rural Development Priorities at Senate Hearing

NADO Member Mathias (Matt) McCauley of the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments testified on USDA Rural Development issues before the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry on February 15. The 2012 Farm Bill hearing focused on energy and economic growth for rural America.

10/21/2011 - NADO Releases Special Edition of NADO News at Annual Training Conference

On October 8, at the 2011 Annual Training Conference held in Miami, FL, NADO released a special edition of NADO News, “A Review of Federal Legislative Activity Impacting Regional Development Organizations,” highlighting federal community and economic development policy issues and…

08/15/2011 - EPA and USDA Announce New Partnership to Address Rural Water and Wastewater Systems

On August 8, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a national partnership to improve rural drinking water and wastewater systems.  Water and sewage treatment facilities across the U.S. face challenges due to…

08/15/2011 - New White House Report on Jobs and Economic Security for Rural America

With the recent establishment of the White House Rural Council, led by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, President Obama has committed the Administration to improving the economic security of rural America.  In a new White House report, “Jobs and…

08/15/2011 - OMB Requests Comments on RUS Water and Waste Loan and Grant Program

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) submitted a request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of a proposed information collection for the Rural Utilities Service (RUS)’s Water and Waste Loan and Grant Program.
In conformance with the Paperwork Reduction…

08/15/2011 - USDA Rural Development Seeks Public Input

Earlier this year, President Obama issued Executive Order No. 13563, Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review, which requires all federal agencies to review existing regulations and outlines principles that promote public participation in government.  In response, the U.S. Department of Agriculture…

08/15/2011 - New Report on Delta Regional Authority Impact

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS) recently released a new report, Impacts of Regional Approaches to Rural Development: Initial Evidence on the Delta Regional Authority.  The report compares non-metro counties covered by the Delta Regional Authority (DRA),…

08/15/2011 - Realities of Modern Rural Economy

On July 19, NADO Executive Director Matthew Chase posted the article “Realities of Modern Economy” on the Council on Foundations Rural Conference blog.  In his article, Chase commends the concept of a stronger philanthropic presence in small town and rural…