Thomas W. Blaine, Editor

Welcome to the March 2009 OSU Extension Community Development Newsletter.   As you will see, this month’s edition is absolutely loaded with all kinds of news and information.  One important theme is definitely economic development - and much of this is in response to the current economic crisis.  Also, please note that there are a number of seminars and workshops coming up that you may wish to attend - and some other interesting opportunities as well.  Especially note that the Community Development Society’s meeting will be in Memphis in July!

Tom Blaine

Note from Interim AD, John Conglose

Greetings,

As the OSU Extension restructuring process is beginning to be implemented, several thoughts come to mind. Athletic teams and business organizations, in efforts to remain viable, face an ever changing climate of competition.  At the same time it seems like “rules of the game”  frequently change.  The same scenario is playing out for our organization.  OSU Extension is facing a climate of competition for state funding probably never seen before in the history of our organization.  At the same time, the rules under which we are to deliver our educational programming to our clientele seems to be changing as well.  Many athletic teams and business organizations perform well under these same type of circumstances. They do so by adapting to the changes and the new rules of the game. We are doing the same!

The roles (and rules) are now changing for OSU Extension Educators from delivering educational programming not only from a county perspective, but from a regional perspective as well.  As the fourteen (14) FTE’s assigned to the Community Development Program area learn more about where they will be located and how they will function, opportunities for personal and professional growth will exist throughout the organization just as they existed during past organizational restructurings.  Hopefully all of us will embrace these changes and the new “rules of the game” and continue to add value to OSU Extension in the teaching, service and scholarly work that we do.    

BR&E Train the Trainer Workshop - May 19, 2009

Folks with an interest in gaining a better understanding of the Ohio Business Retention & Expansion Initiative (http://localecon.osu.edu/brne) may want to hold May 19 for a day long train the trainer workshop to be conducted at 114 Kottman Hall (OSU Campus).  The overall objective of the workshop is to provide Extension professionals with the background they will need to give leadership to local/regional BR&E programming.

 The day's agenda includes understanding

• the current philosophies of the program and how they've evolved
  
• what parts of the program are web-based and how to access them
  
• how to manipulate the data collection and analysis software, SurveyGold v 8.0 (learn more or download a free 30-day trial version at http://surveygold.com/)
  
• the objectives and formats of the local training 'Workshops'
  
• different BR&E membership 'levels', pricing structure, and potential costs that can be recovered

More detailed information will be forthcoming.  To reserve a seat now, contact Greg Davis, 614-292-6356 or davis.1081@osu.edu

Community Development Society's 41st Annual International Conference, July 26-29, 2009, Memphis, TN

The Community Development Society integrates knowledge from many disciplines with theory, research, teaching, and practice; important and interdependent functions that are vital in the public and private sectors. The Society is proactive in providing leadership to professionals and citizens across the spectrum of community development.

This year’s conference theme, Celebrating Community: Creating Hope in Uncertain Times, explores the ways in which an individual’s well being and social well being are: (1) being realized through their social experiences, and (2) how community has responded and is responding to the uncertain times in rural and urban centers.  Program content will delve into the collective creativity, resiliency, and determination in community and its actions which finds citizens Celebrating Community: Finding Hope in Uncertain Times. 

 Look for registration information in March at http://comm-dev.org/

IEDC is Now Accepting Entries for the 2009 Excellence in Economic Development Awards

Now is the time to get the recognition that you deserve!  The International Economic Development Council's (IEDC’s) Excellence in Economic Development Awards recognize the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials and the year’s most influential leaders. These prestigious awards honor organization and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban and rural communities.  Please get your entries in before April 17^th!

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, signed by President Obama on February 17^th, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has been allocated $730 million intended to fund fee reduction, program policy changes and new loan programs that will collectively help to provide immediate financing assistance to small business owners.  While the program and policy procedures have not yet been finalized, the following incentives were announced:

1.  $375 million for temporary fee reductions or elimination on SBA loans for the 7(a) Guaranty and 504 Loan Programs, as well as an increased SBA-loan guaranteed percentage up to 90% for certain loans;

2. $255 million for a new SBA loan program which would provide up to $35,000 in guaranteed financing to help small businesses meet existing debt payment;

3. $30 million for expanding the SBA Microloan Program through new lending and technical assistance grants to participating micro lenders;

4. $20 million for technology systems to streamline SBA’s lending and oversight processes;

5. $15 million to expand the SBA’s Surety Bond Guarantee Program;

Source:  OSDC “Developments,,” News from the Ohio Statewide Development Corporation, http://www.osdc.net/

Challenge America: Reaching Every Community Fast-Track Review Grants - Fiscal Year 2010

Challenge America Fast-Track grants enable organizations, particularly those that are small or mid-sized, to extend the reach of the arts to underservedpopulations-those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.

Applications must be submitted via grants.gov by May 28, 2009. Applicants will receive notification within approximately 6 months for projects starting after ]anuary 1, 2010. Grants are $10,000 and require a one-to-one match. Projects should be focused, distinct activities that are generally smaller in scale and shorter in duration than those supported through other NEA categories.

Projects are limited to ONE of the following specific types:

Guest Artists/Arts Event:  An arts event that will feature one or more guest artists. The project (such as a festival, exhibit, recital, reading, performance,  screening, broadcast, lecture) must include the participation of guest artist(s). Artistic staff, resident artists, or sequential collaborators of an applicant organization do not qualify as guest artists. In addition to artists' fees, the project may include public relations, professional documentation, and program enhancements that are integral to the event. Examples of program enhancements include interpretive material, transportation, program accommodations (e.g., sign language interpretation, audio description), catalogues, brochures, or publications. Other enhancements such as specific lecture-demonstrations, pre-or post-event talks, or workshops relevant to the proposed arts event also are eligible. NOTE: Projects that involve curriculum-based arts instruction are not eligible (see the Learning in the Arts category).

Public Art: The creation of professionally directed public art projects such as murals, sculptures, or environmental art that are developed through community engagement.

Civic Design: Civic design activities that involve the renovation, restoration, or adaptive reuse of cultural facilities or spaces. Projects may include architectural studies, design competitions, charettes (design workshops), or feasibility plans. Funding is not available for actual renovation or construction costs.

Cultural Tourism/Districts: The unified promotion of community-wide arts activities and resources to enhance cultural tourism or activities in cultural districts. Unified promotion is defined as the professional assessment, design, and/or distribution of public relations tools (calendars, Web sites, brochures, rack cards, signage, etc.) designed to benefit several local organizations. NOTE: Promotional projects for a single organization are not eligible.

Organizations that apply to Challenge America Fast-Track are not eligible to apply for either the Access to Artistic Excellence or Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth categories.

Information on Challenge America Fast-Track grants and application instructions and forms are available in the Fiscal Year 2010 Guidelines, which are organized by discipline/field.

The Guidelines are posted on the Arts Endowment Web site: http://www.arts.gov/_**

** Please note registration information regarding grants.gov, the federal government's online application system.

North Central Region - Program Area Support Funds (Spring 2009 Request for Projects)

One-time funds are available to increase the capacity of North Central Region - Cooperative Extension Program Areas to meet their goals, and to leverage further resources. This mini-grant program is supported by participating institutions of the North Central Cooperative Extension Association (NCCEA). It is intended to stimulate leadership and an entrepreneurial spirit in achieving the multi-state impacts identified in North Central Program Area Logic Models www.nccea.org/multistate.html.

Funds Available

• Total amount available to allocate to special needs, identified by North Central Logic Models: approximately $12,000. Size of individual requests: up to $4,000 per proposal.

Timeline

Deadline for proposal submission: 5:00 pm (central time) Tuesday, March 31, 2009      

NOTE: Funds must be expended by 12/31/09

• The sustainability of the effort and the extent to which it will generate leveraged funding and/or program revenue.
  
• The evaluation of impact (ability to accomplish stated objectives).
  
• The appropriateness of the budget.

SubmissionGuidelines:

• All proposals should be received by COB, Friday, March 31, 2009.
  
• All proposals should be submitted electronically, in Microsoft WORD format to: nccea@uwex.edu] AND {http://uwex.edu/}
  
• Proposals should be less than three (3) pages.
  
• Funding decisions will be announced approximately May 1, 2009.

CDI East Offers May Seminar

CDI (Community Development Institute) East was created to train community officials and volunteers techniques of modern leadership and management of community development efforts. The Institute focuses on building alliances and infrastructures to increase a community's economic and social growth by expanding an individual's ability to identify community and economic problems, set goals, encourage liaisons with outside agencies, stimulate community interaction, and bring groups together to respond to a wide range of economic and quality of life issues.

The comprehensive program curriculum is designed to meet the increasing challenges facing community developers in today's fast paced society and is applicable for community leaders from towns and cities of all sizes. CDI East approaches community development as both a process and a program. It seeks to:

• Develop an individual's ability to identify community problems.
• Set goals
• Encourage liaison with outside agencies
• Stimulate community interaction
• Bring groups together to support competitive economic development, human resource development and quality of life issues

CDI East is an affiliate program of West Virginia University. The total program consists of three one-week long training seminars that are endorsed by the Community Development Council (CDC), a professional certification.  The next seminar is scheduled for May 18-22, 2009 in Bridgeport, West Virginia.

Early registration deadline is April 30, 2009. For more information and to register, visit the CDI East Website at http://www.ext.wvu.edu/cdi-east/  or contact Bill Grunkemeyer.

Need To Reach Ohio's Township Officials?

More than 1 of every 3 Ohioans are township residents.  How are you meeting the educational needs of those township officials?  The Ohio Township News highlights legislative issues, ‘best practices’, and shares other information useful to elected and appointed township officials in Ohio.  The Ohio Township Association (OTA) publishes the high-quality magazine 6 times per year and welcomes articles that focus on issues of relevance to Ohio’s township officials.  As a rough guideline, articles of approximately 1000 words are most appropriate.  The schedule for article submission for the remainder of 2009 is as follows: 

• May / June Issue:  April 1
• July / August Issue:  June 2
• September / October Issue:  August 3
• November / December Issue:  October 2

For more information or to submit an article, contact Greg Davis, davis.1081@osu.edu or 614-292-6356 or Kaitlin Carr, carr@ohiotownships.org or 614-863-0045 at OTA.

KUDOS:

Chet Bowling had a proposal accepted with the Cincinnati Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center to provide Appreciate Inquiry training to help employees unleash and focus energy in positive and productive directions. This is a joint proposal with a company called Relationship Resources LLC.  Chet received $11,000 for his work and expenses.

Important Dates to Remember:

Adavanced Energy Development in North Central Ohio Program - April 2, 2009, 9 - 11 a.m.,
Upper Sandusky,  Contact: Eric Romich  romich.2@ag.ohio-state.edu

NACDEP - April 20 -22, 2009 - San Diego, CA

Community Development Society (CDS) - July 26-29, 2009 - Memphis, TN