June 9, 2017                     

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THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Secretary of Commerce Testifies Before Senate Appropriations Subcommittee; Faces Questions on Proposed Elimination of EDA

CDBG National Support Letter Sent to Appropriators; Over 1,800 Signatures Collected

The Deadline is Today for the 2017 NADO Innovation Awards; Recipients to Be Announced in July

Get Ready for the 2017 NADO Photo Contest! Submit Photos June 16 – July 14

LEGISLATIVE NEWSSecretary of Commerce Testifies Before Senate Appropriations Subcommittee; Faces Questions on Proposed Elimination of EDAThis week, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross appeared before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies to offer testimony on the department’s fiscal year (FY) 2018 budget request.  The budget’s proposed elimination of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) was raised by several subcommittee members including Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), John Boozman (R-AR), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).  All expressed support for EDA’s impact on communities in their states and questioned the administration’s recommendation that the agency be eliminated.  Secretary Ross responded that while EDA has had a positive impact, trade-offs in the president’s budget were necessary to offset the president’s increase in defense spending and other priorities.

CDBG National Support Letter Sent to Appropriators; Over 1,800 Signatures CollectedOn June 6, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Coalition sent a letter of support for the CDBG program to House and Senate Appropriations committee members.  The letter requests $3.3

billion for the program in fiscal year (FY) 2018.  Over 1,800 organizations from all 50 states added their name to the letter including 40 NADO member organizations.  Click here to view the letter and here to see a list of organizations that signed on.

President Trump Releases Statement on Rebuilding American Infrastructure The Trump Administration designated June 5 – 9 as “Infrastructure Week” and released a statement offering details on priorities for investing in roads, bridges, tunnels, airports, and railways.  The administration proposes reducing permitting time for projects, easing regulations to speed up decision making, investing $200 billion in infrastructure including grants to rural America, and allowing states, local governments, and the private sector to better meet challenges.  Click here to read the full statement and here to view a White House blog entry on the proposal.

NADO NEWS AND NOTES

The Deadline is Today for the 2017 NADO Innovation Awards; Recipients to Be Announced in July The 2017 NADO Innovation Awards submission deadline is today, June 9.  Thank you to all who have submitted applications.  Recipients will be announced in late July.  The NADO Innovation Awards program, started in 1986, recognizes member organizations that demonstrate innovative approaches to regional economic and community development.  Previous award-winning projects have showcased innovative efforts in a variety of program areas including business and economic development, community health initiatives, emergency planning, brownfields, sustainability, technology, transportation, workforce development, and many others.  Submit your applications online here.  Questions?  E-mail Brett Schwartz at bschwartz@nado.org.  Explore last year’s winners in an interactive Story Map designed by Esri by clicking here. 

Have You (or Your Loan Staff) Registered for the 2017 Economic Development Finance Service Peer Learning Conference?Just in case you or your loan fund staff have not yet registered for the EDFS conference, we are extending the deadline for one more week.  Be sure to register by June 16 to receive a $50 discount off the normal rate of $350.  Click here to register for the conference, scheduled for June 28 – 30 in Denver. 

This year’s conference content will cover business plan and credit analysis, loan workouts, technical assistance for borrowers, loan loss reserves, loan fund committees, current innovations in and challenges to small business lending, federal program updates, and much more…including mobile learning outside of the hotel!  We are pleased to announce that Vin DiCara will be joining us to provide very practical

training about all aspects of small business lending.  We are also firming up a session that will include representatives from various federal small business lending programs.  Be sure to visit the EDFS conference page on NADO’s website for conference details! 

To register for the conference, click here.  A draft agenda is available here. For more information, please contact NADO Deputy Executive Director Laurie Thompson at lthompson@nado.org.  The event will occur at the Grand Hyatt Denver.  Click here for a direct link to the hotel reservation page.

Get Ready for the 2017 NADO Photo Contest! Submit Photos June 16 – July 14 The 2017 NADO Photo Contest will run from June 16 – July 14.  The annual contest is an opportunity for our member organizations to tell the story of their regions through images that capture the people and places that make their communities wonderful places to live, work, and play.  Stay tuned for more information.  Check out last year’s winners here.  Questions?  E-mail Brett Schwartz at bschwartz@nado.org

RPO America to Meet in Denver, Consider Bylaws UpdatesThe National Regional Transportation Conference will bring together over 120 NADO and RPO America members and other partners for three days of learning and networking in Denver, June 28 – 30.  Rural Planning Organizations of America (RPO America) will vote on updates to its bylaws at the business meeting scheduled for June 28, during the conference.  RPO America and its leadership group, the National RPO Council of Peers, were established in June 2006 by the NADO Board of Directors to serve as the national professional association for regional and rural transportation planning professionals, practitioners, and other interested stakeholders. 

Learn more and view the proposed RPO America bylaw changes here.  If adopted by RPO America, the NADO Board of Directors will also consider the bylaws before they take effect.  The RPO America business meeting on June 28 will also include an update from NADO’s government relations staff on policy issues related to transportation, so it will be a must-attend session. 

Other conference highlights include plenary sessions on transformative change in transportation, inspiring innovations in Colorado, and updates from federal agency partners.  Workshops and mobile tours on a variety of topics will make for an interactive conference and a truly multimodal transportation

discussion.  View the agenda, register for the conference, or find other information at www.nado.org/events/rpo2017.

Countdown to ATC 2017: Three Months Until NADO Lands in the Last Frontier NADO’s 2017 Annual Training Conference will be here in three short months – the board and staff hope to see you all in Anchorage as we convene for four days of learning, networking, and sharing ideas and solutions regarding regional development!  As a reminder, the ATC will occur September 9 – 12; we hope you will be there to commemorate our 50-year partnership with regional development organizations across the nation!  Registration is open – we suggest you register soon to assure your place in mobile workshops and learning labs! 

Be sure to check out the six mobile workshops that we are offering this year, including two on Friday, September 8, that will take attendees north to Palmer and south to Seward to learn about the impacts of a rich agricultural economy, a successful training program that helps Alaskans land good paying jobs, and the key role the SeaLife Center plays environmentally and economically.  Other workshops will take groups to the Port of Anchorage, the freight and cargo operations center at Ted Stevens International Airport, two neighborhoods evolving into thriving communities, and a visit to a local accelerator that is playing a role in the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.  As always, all mobile workshops require pre-registration and an additional fee. Also, each mobile workshop has a limit to the number of participants. Click here for more details.

Nine learning labs on Saturday and Sunday, September 9 and 10, will provide a broad range of topics for executive directors, planners, program staff, and board members of your organizations.  These hands-on, roll up your sleeves labs will cover several CEDS topics including data sources and uses, developing a CEDS that encompasses the purpose and intent of the 2015 CEDS Content Guidelines, and ways to innovatively incorporate regional resilience practices into your CEDS; topics related to RDO executive leadership such as current human resources practices and critical things to know for new and emerging senior staff and executive directors; issues and topics of particular interest to RDO board members (fiduciary responsibility and ways to become stronger advocates for the RDO); and two labs that address measuring and illustrating RDO relevance and ways to share your successes and impact with your various audiences.  Click here for more details.

We have an assortment of plenary and best practice sessions planned that will address understanding cultural competency, developing entrepreneurial ecosystems, RDOs and energy development and delivery, rural health indicators, workforce enhancement, trends in economic development, bringing broadband to your regions, freight planning, GIS, social media uses, economic development deal making, building local assets, the “silver tsunami” in rural and small metro communities and regions, and much more. 

This year, the conference will be located at the Dena’ina Convention Center and we have hotel room blocks at the Hilton Anchorage and Anchorage Marriott.

Have questions or need more information:Contact Vicki Glass about hotel rooms (vglass@nado.rog)Contact Ian Schramm for help with registration (ischramm@nado.org)Contact Laurie Thompson for questions about conference content (lthompson@nado.org)

SWREDA 2017 Conference, “Navigating the New Norm”, will occur July 26 – 28 in Baton Rouge: Registration is OpenWith support from the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Austin Regional Office, NADO is

partnering with the Southwest Region Economic Development Association (SWREDA) to conduct the 2017 SWREDA conference.  “Navigating the New Norm” will occur July 26 – 28 at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center in Baton Rouge, LA. 

Topics will cover new strategies in achieving innovation, managing organizational culture changes, economic diversification during boom and bust cycles, bridging the economic development-workforce gap, grants management, helping businesses compete globally, managing information in the digital world, incorporating resiliency into your CEDS, food systems, and more.  In addition, projects from each of the five states will be recognized for their impacts to local communities and regions with the Star of the Southwest Awards during a special roundtable reception where attendees can talk one-on-one with the winners about the projects. 

A preliminary conference agenda can be found on NADO’s SWREDA Conference page as well as on the SWREDA website.  Visit either site regularly for details as the agenda is firmed up over the coming weeks.

Click here to reserve hotel rooms; room rates are $98 single/double.  Please note that you must provide the code SOU to get the special room rate. 

NADO Research Foundation Releases Customizable CEDS Outreach and Communication Materials for RDOs    How well is your organization communicating to its stakeholders about what the CEDS is and how it supports your region?  The most effective CEDS are ones developed with the input, creativity, and enthusiasm of a wide cross-section of partners that are fully invested in the process.  However, if this undertaking is framed as merely writing a document only for the region to become eligible for federal funding, you are losing a real opportunity to motivate partners and sustain interest in a transformative region-wide conversation.  The NADO Research Foundation has created materials to assist in your outreach and communication efforts when explaining the CEDS process to stakeholders and funders.  These include a ready-made concise overview of what the CEDS is, how it can drive regional economic development, and key characteristics of an effective CEDS, as well as a customizable template that organizations can edit to feature specific information relating to their own CEDS, including project examples, the planning and implementation timeline, and contact information for key staff members.  These resources can be used individually or as a front-and-back document that can be shared with a variety of audiences, including: CEDS Committee members, Boards of Directors, elected officials, state and federal agencies, Chambers of Commerce, business owners, citizens, the press, and other important stakeholders groups.  Click here to learn more and access the outreach materials.  Contact Brett Schwartz at bschwartz@nado.org with any questions or comments.

Share Your Stories and Memories as NADO Celebrates its 50th Anniversary As NADO marks its 50th anniversary in 2017, the time is right to reflect on our past, present, and future. We are celebrating the successes and achievements of our members and the important work you do to serve your communities and regions.  What accomplishments are you most proud of as a regional development organization?  What projects have made the most impact in your region?  How has being a part of NADO helped you meet your organization’s mission?  Now through June 15, we are asking members to submit images, send stories and recollections, and share other thoughts about the past 50 years of being a part of NADO and your achievements in supporting regional economic development. Your submissions may be featured on the NADO website, shared on social media, and displayed at the 2017 Annual Training Conference in Anchorage, Alaska from September 9 – 12.  Please send all materials to Brett Schwartz at bschwartz@nado.org by June 15 with the subject header “NADO 50th Anniversary.”

FEDERAL NEWS AND NOTESFEMA Accepting Comments on Floodplain Development PolicyThe Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released the draft policy for communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  The policy draft provides guidance on meeting floodplain development permit requirements and addresses questions about floodplain permits relating to Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA).  The policy draft can be reviewed here and comments are being accepted through August 23.

Department of Homeland Security Opens Applications to Preparedness Grants The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is accepting applications for grants to ten preparedness programs.  Grants are available to local, state, tribal, nonprofit, and private entities to support readiness and response in mitigating terrorism, disasters, and other emergencies.  The programs total $1.6 billion in available funding.  More information on the grant opportunities is available here.

Upcoming Webinar on Census Data and Web ApplicationsThe U.S. Census Bureau is hosting a webinar on using Census Bureau statistics for web apps.  The Census Bureau Application Programming Interface (API) allows developers to tailor and insert specific

data sets from Census sources such as the American Community Survey (ACS).  The webinar is scheduled for June 21 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET.  Click here to join the webinar.

ADDITIONAL NOTESCitizens’ Institute on Rural Design Hosting a Webinar on How Local Foods Support Economic Development In small towns, the local food movement is doing more than putting meals on plates.  It is nourishing economies by keeping farms vital and downtowns alive.  The Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design® is holding a free hour-long webinar on June 14 on how farmers’ markets and food co-ops are addressing their local community needs while stimulating downtown development.  The webinar has reached capacity, but you can sign up to receive a recording of the webinar here. 

Nominations Open for Aspen Institute Job Quality FellowshipThe Aspen Institute is accepting nominations to the Job Quality Fellowship supporting innovators in economic development, workforce development, and business consulting.  The fellowship seeks leaders from various backgrounds working to create higher quality jobs.  Aspen’s Economic Opportunities Program is accepting applications through July 17.  Click here for more information. 

PeopleForBikes Funding Bicycle Infrastructure ProjectsStarting June 12, PeopleForBikes will begin accepting applications for bicycle infrastructure projects.  The PeopleForBikes Community Grant Program funds up to $10,000 for projects such as bike lanes, parks, or stations.  The deadline to send letters of interest is due July 21.  More information is available here.

Workforce Report Highlights Need for New Training and Continual LearningThe National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has released results from a two-year study on developing a skilled technical workforce.  The report, Building America’s Skilled Technical Workforce, offers recommendations for various stakeholders involved in workforce training.  Findings reveal the challenges facing both employee and employer in linking education to good-paying, quality jobs.  The study concludes that secondary and postsecondary institutions need to better prepare students for the job market through wider training opportunities, including support of apprenticeships.  Also, lifelong learning opportunities supports employers and educational institutions in their respective workforce training and development goals.  The report is available here.

Call for Presentation Ideas Now Open for the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference

A call for presentation ideas is now open for the 2018 New Partners for Smart Growth Conference, scheduled for February 1 – 3, 2018 in San Francisco, CA.  Conference organizers are looking for presentation ideas, potential speakers, innovative tools, best practices, and case studies from around the country.  The 2018 program will allow participants to go deeper into a topic, while continuing to connect back to broader placemaking efforts with a multidisciplinary group of partners tackling community challenges.  The proposal window is open through June 30.  Click here for more information. 

NADO CALENDAR OF EVENTS

2017 National Regional Transportation ConferenceJune 28 – 30, 2017Grand Hyatt Denver, Denver, CO

2017 Economic Development Finance Service (EDFS) ConferenceJune 28 – 30, 2017Grand Hyatt Denver, Denver, CO

2017 SWREDA ConferenceJuly 26 – 28, 2017Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center, Baton Rouge, LA

2017 NADO Annual Training Conference | NADO’s 50th AnniversarySeptember 9 – 12, 2017Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center, Anchorage, AK

Disclaimer: 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.