The Brushy Fork         Watershed

          
• Growing Communities from Within: Arts as                an Alternative Development Model
          
• Now Accepting ARC Grant Proposals
          
• Philanthropy and Regional Development
          
• Save the Date: 2015 Annual Institute –
                 Dr. Richard Geer to Deliver                Keynote Address
         

Now           Accepting ARC Grant Proposals

Brushy Fork           Institute and The           Center for Rural Development are accepting grant           proposals for the 2015 KY Appalachian           Regional Commission (ARC) Flex-E-Grant program.
         
          The Flex-E-Grant (FEG) program, designed by the ARC, provides small           investments in short-term projects that build community capacity to           mobilize local resources, gain leadership experience, and strengthen           community institutions and networks.
         
          Grants are subject to approval for up to $10,000, require a 20           percent match of total project costs, and are to be completed within           a six-month timeframe. Funds are made available on a reimbursement           basis only.
         
          The FEG program was generated from the ARC initiative to enhance           assistance to distressed counties, and each approved project must           demonstrate beneficiaries in a distressed county. Although the           primary intent is to support efforts that help develop local           capacity, eligible activities may also include collaboration among           communities in support of existing and emerging regional development           efforts, such as SOAR, Promise Zone, and other regional capacity           building initiatives.
         
          Competitive grants are available to nonprofit entities or units of           goverment in 40 Kentucky counties designated by ARC as           distressed counties for fiscal years 2013-2014.
         
          Eligible           counties include: Bath, Bell, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clay,           Clinton, Cumberland, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Harlan, Hart,           Jackson, Knott, Knox, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln,           Magoffin, Martin, McCreary, Menifee, Metcalfe, Monroe, Morgan,           Owsley, Perry, Powell, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Russell, Wayne,           Whitley, and Wolfe.
         
          Proposals are due by 5 p.m. (EST) on Feb. 23. Digital files are           preferred and may be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
         
          The Center for Rural Development, a nonprofit organization based in           Somerset, Kentucky, and Brushy Fork Institute, a community outreach           program of Berea College, administer program funds in partnership           with the Kentucky           Department for Local Government and the ARC.

Growing           Local Resources:
          Philanthropy and           Regional Development

Tuesday, February 24, 2015
          11 am • 3 pm
          Cumberland Valley Area Development District  •  London, KY

Please join           us for learning and conversation with Dr. Bob Long, the 2015 Duvall           Leader in Residence at the University           of Kentucky's Center for Leadership Development. Dr.           Long is a nationally recognized leader in philanthropy and nonprofit           innovation, and he will explore principles and examples for           developing local philanthropy as a resource in community development.           Participants will also examine how we can work together on local and           regional levels to strengthen philanthropy in Appalachian Kentucky.
         
          Lunch will be served with this meeting. The Duvall Leader in Residence           Program is sponsored by the W.           Norris Duvall Leadership Endowment Fund. This meeting           has been planned in collaboration with the Kentucky Promise Zone           and members of the Appalachian           Rural Development Philanthropy Initiative. There is           no fee to attend, and the meeting is open to anyone interested in           learning more about philanthropy and community development. 
         
          We hope you can join us for this important conversation about           developing local resources for community and economic development.

Dr. Richard           Geer to Deliver Keynote Address

As a region,           Appalachia’s rich cultural history and artistic heritage are often           listed among its greatest assets. Southern Appalachian storytellers           such as Ray           Hicks, Sheila           Kay Adams, and Jo Carson have served as           important figures in keeping our oral traditions alive and preserving           regional stories. Regional communities have also proven successful in           building on this legacy as a foundation for inclusive and sustainable           development.
         
          Throughout the coming year we plan to explore how such           cultural wealth may be leveraged during this period of economic           transition to create an alternative economy that also has the           potential to empower communities from within. This focus on           arts-based development will also be reflected in our programming,           through events such as the Annual Institute.
         
          The 2015 Annual Institute is scheduled for September 22-25 and we’re           glad to announce that Dr.           Richard Owen Geer will be delivering our keynote           address. Geer is the founder and artistic director of Community Performance International,           an organization that works with communities across the nation to           find, craft, and tell their stories.
         
          In addition to serving as keynote speaker, Geer will lead a track           session related to arts-based community development with Dr. Qinghong Wei of           Florida State University. Dr. Wei’s research recognizes the intrinsic           value of arts-based developmental models in promoting social change           in communities. This change is guided by conversations that           appreciate the past and present and engage groups in taking action           toward the future.