Publications
USDA Podcast: Food Safety During the Coronavirus
USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue talks about the safety of America’s food amidst the coronavirus pandemic with the Food and Drug Administration Deputy Commissioner Frank Yiannas and USDA’s Under Secretary for Food Safety Mindy Brashears on this podcast episode of The Sonnyside of the Farm. USDA offers additional food resources on their Nutrition.gov site including a Recipe Collection, Farmers Markets site and the Food Storage and Preservation guide for tips to find, taste and keep food fresh.
Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America
USDA’s Economic Research Service resource has been updated to feature broad categories of socioeconomic factors to view the diversity of challenges and opportunities across America's counties.
State of the Cities Report 2020
National League of Cities report offers an analysis on how cities plan to continue to provide residents and businesses the tools and targeted investments needed to sustain and strengthen their economies to best serve residents.
Low-Income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool fact sheet
U.S. Department of Energy provides this interactive platform to help stakeholders make data-driven decisions on their energy goals. This platform offers household energy characteristics and downloadable visuals based on income, energy expenditures, fuel type, and housing type.
Community Innovation Stories
FEMA captures how many communities are responding to COVID-19 in innovative ways that highlight the best of American ingenuity and highlighting excellent links to share resources.
Event Opportunities
Still Open for Business: Working with Minority-Owned Rural Firms
July 22 | Webinar
The Aspen Institute offers this session as a part of their Rural Opportunity and Development (ROAD) series targeting minority entrepreneurs to share their recent experiences, in partnered conversation with the regional intermediaries who have been helping them with technical assistance, funding and advocacy.
Rural Innovation Stronger Economy Virtual Listening Sessions
Register - July 28 at 2 p.m. EDT
Register - July 30 at 2 p.m. EDT
USDA is seeking feedback to launch a new program to help create high-wage jobs in rural communities and strengthen regional economies. Under the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) program, USDA intends to make grants available to help eligible entities build, finance and improve Innovation Centers to support the rural workforce.
USDA Assistance for Small Scale Meat Processing
July 28 | Webinar
Join USDA for an overview of programs and funding options to support small scale meat processing. Rural Development offers loans, grants, and loan guarantees and Food Safety and Inspection Service provides inspection services that broaden the marketplace for processors who are looking for more retail and commercial outlets.
“Responding to COVID-19, A Webinar Series for Local Governments Serving Small Communities – Summer 2020”
July 28 | Webinar
HUD’s Distressed Cities Technical Assistance Program offers a unique opportunity for rural communities featuring webinars to provide digestible information to small and local governments regarding access to public funding, data, and other resources.
How to Create Partnerships to Advance Tribal Energy Projects
July 29 | Webinar
The Office of Indian Energy is hosting a free webinar on how to create partnerships to help tribes meet their energy goals.
Council of Development Finance Agency (CFDA) Food Systems Finance Webinar Series
July 30 | Neighborhood Revitalization Through Food Systems Finance
Sept 29 | Financing Food Systems Entrepreneurs
CDFA is providing a free online series to advance opportunities and leverage capital financing that scale local and regional food systems, increase access to better food, and create new living wage jobs in communities across the country.
Connect Americans Now: Bridging the Digital Divide for Rural & Underserved Communities August 5 | Webinar
National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health offer this session for State Offices of Rural Health and their stakeholders interested in forming health partnerships with the community development sector to impact rural health initiatives.
Building Community Capacity Around Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
Session 1 | August 5 at 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. CT / 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET
Session 2 | August 6 at 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. CT / 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET
USDA’s Office of Partnerships & Public Engagement, in collaboration with the Regional Rural Development Centers and the Rural Development Innovation Center, is inviting you to join a multi-day virtual workshop on Building Community Capacity around Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers. This event is designed for community organizers and planners that work on this important topic on a state or community level, such as: Community Planners/Organizers, Cooperative Extension Service Professionals, Elected/Appointed County and City Officials, National/State Forestry Associations, 2501 Recipients Working with Landowners and Land Trust and Conservatory Organizations.
