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Apply by June 30 to Host a Fellow through the Economic Recovery Corps (ERC) Program
The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), in partnership with the NADO Research Foundation (NADO RF) and other national organizations, recently launched the inaugural Economic Recovery Corps (ERC) program. Submit an expression of interest to host a fellow by June 30 and register here for an informational webinar on June 7 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Questions? Contact Brett Schwartz or Jack Morgan.
Share Your Successes: Apply for an Excellence in Regional Transportation Award by June 24
NADO members are encouraged to submit plans, projects, and programs on transportation-related topics for consideration for NADO and RPO America’s Excellence in Regional Transportation Awards program that honors noteworthy projects and practices in rural, small metropolitan, and larger areas. Winning organizations will be recognized during a networking reception at the National Rural Road Safety Summit in September.
2023 NADO Impact Awards Application Window to Open in June
Each year, NADO recognizes member organizations that demonstrate valuable and effective approaches to regional economic and community development through our Impact Awards program. Applications for this year’s awards will be accepted beginning in mid-June. More details and information will be made available in the coming weeks. Contact Brett Schwartz with any questions.
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Advocacy & Legislative Updates
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Debt Ceiling Negotiations Continue
This week, congressional leaders continued negotiations with White House officials on a plan to increase the debt ceiling, a cap on how much debt the federal government is allowed to accumulate. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned that the United States could default on its debt as early as June 1 if a deal to raise the debt ceiling is not reached by then. Negotiations are expected to continue into next week.
 Advocacy Fly-In Report Now Available
Visit NADO's website to view a complete summary of NADO's 2023 Executive Committee Advocacy Fly-In that was held in April. NADO's six-person Executive Committee spent three days meeting with leadership and staff from numerous federal agencies, House and Senate staff on Capitol Hill, leadership from other national associations, and officials at the White House.
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Events, Conferences
& Online Training
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Free Beginning Economic Data Analysis Course from MIT
Starting May 30, this 11-week course teaches how current applied economics uses data to tackle some of the toughest problems facing society. Taught by Nobel Prize-winning MIT professors Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo and based on their book Good Economics for Hard Times, the course specifically addresses today’s most pressing issues in the United States and other advanced economies. Free to audit, or receive a professional certificate for a fee.
Webinar: EDA-Supported Revolving Loan Fund Community of Practice
The National Development Council will host opportunities to watch an informational presentation about the Community of Practice (CoP). Choose one session to attend and learn more about the CoP, walk through a RLF social portal, provide feedback about the content you want to see, connect with your peers, and apply to join one of the training cohorts. Each session will be held at 1 p.m. ET.
Webinar: Tell Your Local Story
When: Tuesday, June 6, 2 p.m. ET
Where: Virtual | Register here
The National Rural Economic Developers Association and Touchstone Energy are cohosting a webinar featuring Chet Garner, the host of the Emmy award winning travel show The Daytripper. During this webinar, Chet will share stories from his travels throughout small towns in Texas, and will inspire participants to tell the stories that make their own organizations and hometowns unique.
Webinar: Equitable Approaches to Housing
When: Wednesday, June 7, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. ET
Where: Virtual | Register here
Developing and implementing housing plans and resources with equity and inclusion at the forefront is vital to creating lasting and positive impact in communities. Fourth Economy assembled a panel of housing leaders to discuss what's missing in the communities they serve, why these barriers exist, who is being impacted, and what mechanisms can be used to help tackle these issues.
Webinar: Equitable Community Engagement- Discussion
When: Wednesday, June 21, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET
Where: Virtual | Register here
Join this call for a discussion about equitable community engagement. Alyce Brown from North Central Washington EDD will be featured and will share NCWEDD’s strategies for engagement, outreach, and community ‘buy-in.’ Betsey Suchanic from NGIN will also highlight newly available online resources showcasing best practices for building community partnerships and long-term engagement, particularly around the CEDS process.
Conference: National Summit on Rural Road Safety
When: September 12-14, 2023
Where: Oklahoma City, OK
NADO members and stakeholders are encouraged to hold the date for the National Summit on Rural Road Safety, hosted by National Center for Rural Road Safety and NADO. This year, NADO's National Regional Transportation Conference is combined with the National Summit on Rural Road Safety. Registration opens soon.
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EDD Community of Practice
Spotlight
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Virtual EDD Chapter Meet Ups Scheduled for June to Discuss CEDS Planning and Implementation
The next round of Virtual EDD Chapter Meet Ups has been scheduled for next month. Organized as part of the EDD CoP, these online networking sessions are an opportunity for EDD staff to connect with each other in small groups to share ideas and troubleshoot challenges together. The topic for the next Meet Up is CEDS planning and implementation. EDD staff have already been sent registration information for these sessions. If you need access to the link or have additional questions, contact Brett Schwartz.
Updated CEDS Content Guidelines Resource Handbook from NADO RF
In response to EDA's recent updates to its Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Content Guidelines, NADO RF has posted a CEDS Update Resource Handbook with resources and examples to support Economic Development Districts as they engage with stakeholders in their regions around the new topic areas added to the CEDS Content Guidelines (equity, climate resilience, and workforce development). Click here to access the Handbook.
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Funding Opportunities
& Resources
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Smart Growth America Announces Community Connectors Grant Program
Smart Growth America’s new Community Connectors grant program will help advance locally-driven projects to reconnect communities separated or harmed by divisive transportation infrastructure and access available federal and state funds to support these projects. Fifteen teams (e.g., public agencies partnered with nonprofits or other community organizations) from communities with populations of 50,000-500,000 will receive a capacity-building grant of up to $130,000 in addition to tailored training. Learn more here.
New Report from Headwaters Economics Features Strategies for High-Amenity Communities
Headwaters Economics has released a new report that analyzes the major challenges and the ways they uniquely affect amenity communities. The report includes solutions with the goal of providing community leaders with strategies that can help them navigate a growing outdoor recreation economy. Click here to access the report.
EDA Publishes Webinar Recordings for Recent Notice of Funding Opportunities
The EDA has released webinar recordings to provide more information on three recently published Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs): the Tech Hubs program, the FY23 Disaster Supplemental, and the University Center program.
New USDA Rural Energy Programs
On Tuesday, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of nearly $11 billion in grants and loan opportunities to help rural energy and utility providers bring affordable clean energy to communities. Funding will be available through two new programs under the Inflation Reduction Act: the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program and the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program. USDA will accept Letters of Interest from June 30 to September 29 for the PACE program and from July 31 to August 31 for the New ERA program. To view the live announcement click here and to view the press release click here.
Responses Requested: Public Engagement for Transportation Agencies
A volunteer research team is soliciting responses about current public involvement practices from every state and regional transportation organization in the U.S. with the results to be used in a research report. Click here to learn more and take the survey by June 12.
New Growth Innovation Network (NGIN) Launches Recovery Toolkit
NGIN launched Elevating Equity in Economic Development: An Inclusive Recovery Toolkit, which is presented as both an online interactive toolkit and in-depth downloadable guide. It features Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion modules with illustrative best practices (including from EDDs) and recommendations to get started. The guide includes resources tailored for Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies and serves as a reference when planning for inclusive economic growth.
Equitable Community Planning Toolkit
The Fourth Economy Equitable Community Planning Toolkit contains resources developed to help leaders progress through their equitable planning goals and actions. The toolkit is designed to help implement equitable community planning practices by taking a holistic approach to understanding opportunities and issues.
Updated Rural EV Infrastructure Toolkit Now Available
The USDOT released an update to the Rural Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Toolkit. The update includes new information from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act along with greater focus on Tribal communities and expanded content on electric transit, micromobility, and accessible design. Read more on the DOT's website.
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Opportunities &
Job Openings
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RFP for Marine Ferry Services
NADO RF seeks proposals from qualified vendors for consulting planning services to be provided to a region of Alaska as part of a publicly funded research project. Any interested parties can review the RFP details online. All responses to this opportunity should be submitted electronically to transportation@nado.org by June 15, 2023.
Springfield, MA | Planner/Project Manager
The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) is seeking a Planner/Project Manager for the Community Development Department. Under general supervision, this position will perform a wide variety of professional work in relation to regional planning, with an emphasis in grant writing for and implementing Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, infrastructure planning, and other related planning and project management as needed. For more details, click here.
Washington, D.C. | Administrative Specialist
NADO is seeking an Administrative Specialist to join our Washington, D.C.-based office. The Administrative Specialist works closely with NADO and NADO RF staff to support the organization's day-to-day operations by performing various administrative tasks. For more details, click here.
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NADO Board of Directors Meeting
June 26-28, 2023
Sheraton Park City
1895 Sidewinder Drive, Park City, UT
National Summit for Rural Road Safety
September 12-14, 2023
Sheraton Oklahoma City Downtown Hotel
1 North Broadway Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK
NADO Annual Training Conference
November 7-10, 2023
Hilton Cleveland Downtown
100 Lakeside Avenue East, Cleveland, OH
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The views and opinions expressed by other organizations or outside publications referenced in NADO News do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of the National Association of Development Organizations or its members.
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