Highlights

• SAVE THE DATE! Future of Rural NY Seminar
• CaRDI/CCE at the New York State Association of Counties Legislative Conference
• North Country Regional Food Initiative Update
• Publications
  - Older In-Migrants in Rural Communities
  - The Role of Land Grant's in Training Local Leaders
  - New York Communities 2007

 

Dates

• Council on Food Policy to Hold Listening Sessions
• NYS Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association (NYSFDMA) Annual Conference
• Reaching Latino Clientele: How to Effectively Serve Latino Families and Youth
• Growing New York Farms in the 21st Century
• NYSERDA's 8th Annual "Innovations in Agriculture" Conference
• New York 2013: Will Your Community Be Competitive?
• 2008 National Main Streets Conference: Enriching Main Street Through Entrepreneurship and Diversity
• 2008 Federal Economic Development Forum: The Innovative and Entrepreneurial Environment
• North Country Regional Foods Initiative: *The Role of Adirondack North Country Foods in Community and Economic Development*

 

Resources / Articles

• Governor Spitzer Delivers First State of Upstate Address
• First Lady Silda Wall Spitzer Launches Young Leaders Congress to Bolster I Live NY Initiative
• Agriculture News: $500,000 To Help Towns Develop Farmland Protection Plans
• Project for Public Spaces
• eClips Quarterly Newsletter
• E-Commerce: eNews
• NERCRD Quarterly Newsletter, Network 07
• Small Farm Dream
• DSIRE
• VideoSeminar: 12 Core Differences between Foundation and Public Sector Proposals
• Cornell's Agribusiness Economic Outlook Conference
• ONE NEW YORK

 

Funding / Grants / Other Opportunities

• 2008 SARE Conference
• USDA Rural Development Value-Added Grant

 

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For more information regarding the Communiqué or to subscribe/unsubscribe to this list, please email Ann Prince at ach37@cornell.edu.

For more information about CaRDI, please visit us at www.cardi.cornell.edu.

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Highlights

SAVE THE DATE! Future of Rural NY Seminar
Workforce and Economic Development: The Competitive Position of NYS Regions

Friday, March 28th, 2008
3:00-4:30 p.m.
Warren Hall B32

Kevin Jack, NYS Department of Labor, Division of Research & Statistics
Warren Brown, Program on Applied Demographics, Cornell University
Mike Manikowski, Ontario County Economic Development
Susan Christopherson, Department of City and Regional Planning, Cornell University
David Brown, CaRDI & Department of Development Sociology

This seminar will be available via adobe connect. Please register at http://forms.cce.cornell.edu/submitter.php?form_id=178

Reception to follow seminar.


CaRDI/CCE at the New York State Association of Counties Legislative Conference, January 28-30, 2008, Albany, New York.

80 county legislators, commissioners, supervisor and administrators were among the local leaders who came from counties across New York to attend the Orientation for Newly Elected and Appointed County Officials. The seven-hour orientation program is offered by the Dennis A. Pelletier County Government Institute, which is a structured educational program established for elected and appointed county officials. Basic instruction in the duties and responsibilities of county officials, county organizational structures, government ethics, adopting the county budget, open meeting law requirements, the state legislative process and a description of the issues confronting counties in the year ahead was included in this orientation session. The Pelletier Institute grew out a partnership between NYSAC and Cornell University and is named for a widely respected Monroe County legislator and former member of the NYSAC Board of Directors.

Additionally, nine graduates of the Institute were honored at the conference.

The NYSAC Conference included the following workshops that featured Cornell presenters:

• Immigration and the Changing Face of New York State’s Population: Implications for County Government – A Policy Forum (Max John Pfeffer, Development Sociology)
• What Happens When the “Baby Boomers” retire? Challenges facing your county workforce (David L. Brown, Development Sociology)
• Get Your Numbers Right! Correcting the US Census Bureau’s County Population Estimates, (Warren Brown, Program on Applied Demographics)
• Public Sector Labor/Management Relationships (Thomas Quimby, NYS School of Industrial and Labor Relations)
• How Do You Develop a Regional Economic Development Plan? (Rod Howe, CaRDI and CCE, and Warren Brown, Program for Applied Demographics)

More information is available on CaRDI's website.


North Country Regional Food Initiative Update

Since July 1, 2007, CaRDI has been partnering with Cornell Cooperative Extension Associations of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence in northern New York on a project called the North Country Regional Food Initiative. Funded by Economic Development Administration University Center, the project is designed to enhance economic and community development in the region through support for local agriculture and food initiatives.

During the first six months of the project, important progress has been made. Existing data such as the agricultural census and county business patterns are being used in conjunction with interviews of producers and organizational representatives to establish baseline information about the social and economic impacts of regional food initiatives. This information and examples of direct market initiatives will be shared with community and economic developers, local officials, farmers and others on April 18, 2008 at a conference on “The Role of Adirondack North Country Regional Foods on Community and Economic Development.” (See save the date announcement in this issue of CaRDI Communique.) Educational needs are being identified and a series of trainings designed to support regional markets is being collaboratively marketed throughout the region. As a result of this project, the Northern New York Agriculture Development Program website (http://www.nnyagdev.org/press-09-25-07.htm) will soon feature a calendar of regional training events.

CaRDI support for the project is scheduled to end on June 30, 2008. However, project partners are working on a plan to maintain the initiative’s momentum into the future. The project will be documented in a CaRDI Report so that other regions may learn from it as they use food and farming as venues for community and economic development.


CaRDI Publications

In early Jamuary, Issue #13 of our Rural New York Minute series was released, entitled "Are New Yorkers Satisfied with the Public Education in their Communities?", by Robin M. Blakely and John W. Sipple.

We just released our 14th issue of the Minute in early February, entitled "Are Older In-Migrants to Rural Communities 'Grey Gold'?", by David L. Brown and Nina Glasgow.

In mid-January, Issue #13 of our Research & Policy Brief Series was released, entitled "Early Childhood Education in Rural NYS", by John W. Sipple, Lisa McCabe, and Judith Ross-Bernstein.

We will release our 14th issue of the Brief in mid-February, entitled "The Role of NYS's Land Grant University in Training Local Government Leaders", by Rod Howe.

In addition, our 4th CaRDI Report has been released, entitled "New York Communities 2007: A Year of CaRDI Publications." This report contains all 24 Rural New York Minutes and Research & Policy Briefs published in 2007. All of our publications are available on the CaRDI website at http://www.cardi.cornell.edu.

Dates

Council on Food Policy to Hold Listening Sessions

The New York State Council on Food Policy is planning a series of listening sessions to gain perspective from community members on several food policy issue areas and to seek opportunities to maximize collaboration among stakeholders. Four key issue areas related to food policy have been identified to be examined during the listening sessions. They include, how to:

• Maximize participation in food and nutrition assistance programs;
• Strengthen the connection between local food products and consumers;
• Support efficient and profitable agricultural food production and food retail infrastructure; and
• Increase consumer awareness and knowledge about healthy eating and improve access to safe and nutritious foods.

The first Council on Food Policy listening session was scheduled for February 5, 2008 from 2 pm to 4 pm in Hearing Room A of the Legislative Office Building in Albany. Subsequent sessions will take place across the State between February and May. Dates and locations of those listening sessions will be posted at www.agmkt.state.ny.us/eventcal.html. All listening sessions are open to the public and will be an open microphone format. Anyone who wishes to participate will have five minutes to present their opinions and must also provide their comments in written format.

The mission of the Council is to coordinate state agriculture policy and make recommendations on developing food policy that will ensure the safe, fresh, nutritious and affordable food for all New Yorkers, especially low income residents, senior citizens and children. The Council will look at ways to increase sales of New York agricultural products to New York customers.


NYS Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association (NYSFDMA) Annual Conference
February 7 & 8, 2008
Holiday Inn, Route 414, Waterloo, NY

This conference features two days of concurrent sessions designed to improve your market’s bottom line. Contact Jeannette Marvin, NYFDMA, Interim Director, for more information and a registration form: 315/986-9320 or jmarvin@rochester.rr.com.


Reaching Latino Clientele: How to Effectively Serve Latino Families and Youth

Extension professionals are invited to take part in a free national/ interactive video/ workshop designed to help you better reach and serve our nation’s growing Latino population. Entitled “Reaching Latino Clientele: How to Effectively Serve Latino Families and Youth,” this interactive video workshop will be held on February 14, 2008, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm CST.

The purpose of the workshop will be to convene Extension professionals and Latino service providers who would like to work more effectively with Latino residents. It will bring together experts and novices from around the nation interested in collaborating with community partners and members of the Latino community to develop and deliver effective extension and outreach programs.

You may enroll in this workshop as an individual, although we encourage you to invite others in your organization to take part as a small group.

You will need access to a videoconferencing site with equipment such as a Polycom system capable of standard H.323 conferencing.

To enroll, send your name, along with others in your group, to Susan Seal at susans@ext.msstate.edu. There is no charge, but enrollment is limited to the first 30 individuals. When you receive notification that your enrollment has been approved, you will be provided information about how to connect to the videoconference. NC Cooperative Extension Employees should in addition register via LMS system (http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/xlms/ ). If you have technical questions, please contact Susan Seal. If you have questions about the program content, e-mail Andrew Behnke at andrew_behnke@ncsu.edu. Be sure to include your telephone number.


Growing New York Farms in the 21st Century
Feburary 28, 2008 * 8:25 AM - 4:00 PM
Saratoga Springs, NY

American Farmland Trust presents a conference to highlight ways that public and private partners at the local level can bolster New York's agricultural economy and protect the land upon which farmers depend.

Who should attend: Farmers and landowners, town and county officials, planning and zoning boards, economic development agencies, planners, extension educators, state and federal agencies, land trusts, and others interested in New York agriculture.

Click here for more information.


NYSERDA's 8th Annual "Innovations in Agriculture" Conference
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Holiday Inn Syracuse / Liverpool

http://www.nyserda.org/InnovationsInAgriculture/default.asp


New York 2013: Will Your Community Be Competitive?

NYSEDC presents an exciting conference on the future. Join us on March 18 and 19 at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering in Albany to learn how communities around the state can prepare now to become preferred locations for 21st-century businesses. Hosted by the world’s premier college for nanoscale science, this is a venue and an event you won’t want to miss. Register now to attend. Our speakers include: Nick Donofrio, Exec. VP of Innovation and Technology with IBM; Charles Craig, VP of Science and Technology Administration with Corning; Dr. Alian Kalyeros, VP & CEO of the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering; Anthony DiMaso, VP of Strategy and Development with Verizon; Robert Bell, Co-Founder and Exec. Director of the Intelligent Community Forum; and Ed Reinfurt, Exec. Director of NYSTAR.

Click here to download the registration form.


2008 National Main Streets Conference: Enriching Main Street Through Entrepreneurship and Diversity
March 30 - April 2, 2008
Philadelphia, PA

The 2008 National Main Streets Conference will explore the ways entrepreneurship and diversity enrich commercial districts. These qualities add to the local flavor, create a true reflection of a community, contribute to an authentic identity and exciting business mix – all essential motivations that bring customers, tourists, new residents, and cool businesses to your district.

Who should attend: Everyone interested in community revitalization. Beginner or expert, small town or urban business district, people who work, volunteer, or are interested in community revitalization will value this educational and networking experience.

Learn more...


2008 Federal Economic Development Forum: The Innovative and Entrepreneurial Environment
April 13 - 15, 2008

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) invites you to attend the 2008 Federal Economic Development Forum: The Innovative and Entrepreneurial Environment. Hear from federal insiders on issues facing the economic development industry, and prepare for the upcoming change of administration. Register today to receive early-bird, discounted registration rates! The Innovative and Entrepreneurial Environment: Where It’s Going and How to Get There is the theme of the Forum, April 13-15. The program is centered on three tracks to help empower you – the stakeholder in American competitiveness – with the tools and resources to remain competitive:

• Driving Innovation and Expanding Entrepreneurship
• Human Capital: Building, Attracting and Retaining a Talented Workforce
• The Presidential Election

Click here for the full program and for more information.


North Country Regional Foods Initiative: *The Role of Adirondack North Country Foods in Community and Economic Development*

Save the Date for a one-day conference of the North Country Regional Foods Initiative: *The Role of Adirondack North Country Foods in Community and Economic Development*. April 18th, 2008. 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The W!LD Center, 45 Museum Drive, Tupper Lake, NY 12986. This conference will examine the ways local / regional foods contribute to community and economic development. Learn how communities are supporting and capitalizing on local food initiatives. Engage in lively discussions, related to policy, research and strategies that support and enhance consumer and institutional connections with local foods and the farmers and entrepreneurs who produce and process them.

Target Audiences: Economic Developers, Farmers and Food Entrepreneurs, Town and County Officials, Planning Board Members, State and Federal Representatives, Representatives of Institutions interested in utilizing more local foods.

 

Resources /Articles

Governor Spitzer Delivers First State of Upstate Address
$1 Billion Upstate Revitalization Fund to Provide Infusion of Investment to Upstate Regions

Governor Eliot Spitzer today delivered the first State of Upstate address at Buffalo State College. In his remarks, he laid out his vision for addressing the unique economic challenges facing Upstate New York by promoting an agenda to advance economic growth, investment and opportunity. The Governor called on all New Yorkers to recognize the need to reverse Upstate's decline if the entire state is to prosper and remain globally competitive.

The Governor detailed plans for a $1 billion Upstate Revitalization Fund, the centerpiece of this year's Upstate revitalization efforts. The fund represents a massive and strategic infusion of economic development capital, including more dollars to improve infrastructure, expand regionally-specific "City-by-City" economic development plans, establish a housing and community renewal fund, stimulate the agribusiness industry, achieve universal broadband access, improve parks, and expand international marketing. The fund will help solidify New York as the best place to live, work, raise a family and run a business... Click here for more.


First Lady Silda Wall Spitzer Launches Young Leaders Congress to Bolster I Live NY Initiative

To build upon the I Live New York Initiative, First Lady Silda Wall Spitzer today announced the creation of the Young Leaders Congress (YLC). The YLC is a group of dedicated and passionate young leaders appointed by the First Lady to tap the collective strength of the next generation throughout the state to engage their peers in addressing the state!/s net loss of young people and making New York a more attractive place to live, work, raise a family, and start a business... Click here for more.


Agriculture News: $500,000 To Help Towns Develop Farmland Protection Plans
Funding to Encourage 21 Towns to Include Farms in Local Land Use Plans

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today announced nearly $500,000 in funding to help 21 towns develop local agricultural and farmland protection plans. This is the first time that towns and cities were eligible to apply for farmland protection planning grants; only counties have been eligible in the past.

“One of the most important roles of a municipality is the regulation of land use,” the Commissioner said. “This responsibility gives them the authority and opportunity to provide a supportive environment for agriculture. I applaud these 19 towns for taking the initiative to address evolving land use issues in their area and plan for the protection of viable and active farmland. It is their participation in the planning process and commitment to providing a supportive business environment for agriculture that will make smart growth a reality here in New York State.”... Click here for more.


Project for Public Spaces

Imagine a town square bustling with people who are greeting each other, buying, selling, and exchanging ideas. For everyone striving to make public spaces better, PPS is that town square. Our vision is to act as the central hub of the global Placemaking movement, connecting people to ideas, expertise, and partners who share a passion for creating vital places.

The most recent Making Places bulletin is at http://www.pps.org/info/bulletin/jan08bulletin


eClips Quarterly Newsletter
Brought to you by Cornell's Premiere Video Clip Collection on Entrepreneurship, Business and Leadership
Vol 2. No. 1 January 10th, 2008

In this issue

• Podcasts
• Favorite New Interviews
• Favorite New eClips
• How to Find Your Way Around 

Click here for the eClips website.


E-Commerce: eNews
The latest issue of eNews is now available. January 31, 2008, No. 21

http://srdc.msstate.edu/ecommerce/enews/jan08.html


NERCRD Quarterly Newsletter, Network 07

December 2007 issue: http://nercrd.psu.edu/Newsletter/Dec07/network.pdf

Includes material on Population Change, 2000-2005, and the Rural Northeast Economy; Land Use; Biofuels; and Poverty Research.


Small Farm Dream

Are you interested in starting a small farm business? What type of information do you need to start? What type of farming enterprise you would like to develop? Do you know someone who has these same questions? If these questions sound familiar, Cornell Cooperative Extension Wayne County, in cooperation with Wayne County Agriculture Development Board will be presenting a 4 session workshop on February 27th , March 5th, 19th , and April 2nd to help answer these questions. This in-depth program will run each evening from 6-9pm at the CCE Wayne County office in Newark, NY. Applications for participation are now available by calling 315-331-8415 or by accessing the CCE website at: http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/wayne, search for “Small Farm Dream”. *Applications are due by Monday, February 11.* 


DSIRE
DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. http://www.dsireusa.org/ 


VideoSeminar: 12 Core Differences between Foundation and Public Sector Proposals

If you have been writing foundation proposals for a while and getting pretty good results you are probably wondering if it’s time to tackle a public sector proposal. Or, maybe your boss or your board thinks it’s time. But, they are so big, and involve all those forms, and require collaboration with a lot of other agencies. If the thought of applying is simply daunting join us for an hour-long class that will help you understand that your knowledge of foundation grantseeking is a great cornerstone on which to build a public sector proposal. Cost $0

http://www.grantschampion.com/FreePublicVideoSeminar.htm


Cornell's Agribusiness Economic Outlook Conference
The "Outlook Handbook" from Cornell's Agribusiness Economic Outlook Conference held on December 18, 2007 is available in pdf format at the following website. http://aem.cornell.edu/outreach/publications.htm.

Chapter 9 "Agriculture and the Environment" covers "Trends in New York Agriculture and Highlights on the Role of Equine in Rural Land Use." The chapter is co-authored by Nelson Bills (Department of Applied Economics and Management), CaRDI's David Kay, and Gregory Poe (Department of Applied Economics and Management).  You will also find on the site Powerpoint presentations or pdf files from most of the speakers.

As soon as possible the video of the morning session of the conference will be available from CornellCast: http://www.cornell.edu/video 


ONE NEW YORK
Click here for a presentation made by Dan Gundersen, Upstate Chair, Empire State Development at the New York State Association of Counties Legislative Conference, January 30, 2008
 

Funding / Grants / Other Opportunities

SARE is celebrating its 25th anniversary conference in Kansas City March 25-27, 2008.

http://www.sare.org/2008Conference/index.htm

In order to increase the collaboration between sustainable agriculture and community development, the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development is pleased to award five travel scholarships of $750 each to community development educators in the region to help them form new partnerships. We are grateful to Farm Foundation for making this possible.

There will be an obligation of those supported 
1. to participate in a conference call prior to the meeting to discuss trategies to maximize the benefit of participation, 
2. to meet as a group briefly during the conference,
3. to write a brief report of the actions they plan as a result of what they learned and who they met at the meetings which will be shared within the region, and
4. to participate in a final phone conference to discuss progress on those actions and suggestions for further regional activities to build stronger partnerships.

Applications should include:
1. Name
2. Current position
3. Past experience with SARE or other sustainable agriculture groups
4. Potential of more fully integrating community development with sustainable agriculture in their Extension work.
5. A letter supporting their attendance and program integration from their state program leader.

Please send the applications to sgoetz@psu.edu with a copy to nercrd@psu.edu.  Applications will be received through February 22 so that those chosen will be able to register by March 1 to pay the reduced conference fee.  NOTE: The $250 registration fee is not covered by the $750 travel scholarship.


Value-Added Grant Applications Due March 31

USDA Rural Development administers business, housing and community programs to improve economic conditions and the quality of life in rural New York. Loans, loan guarantees and grants are available for businesses and individuals who qualify.

USDA has made $18.4 million available nationally this fiscal year to help independent agricultural producers enter into value-added activities. Value-added activities create additional revenue from existing crops and other production. Examples include the processing of raw commodities to a finished product ­ such as apples to apple butter or milk to ice cream ­ and the conversion of farm crops to create renewable energy. The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program helps agriculture producers develop and implement value-added business plans. Awards are made on a competitive basis and may be used to fund planning activities or for working capital expenses, but not for both. The maximum planning grant amount is $100,000. The maximum working capital grant amount is $300,000. Applicants must provide matching funds at least equal to the amount of the grant requested. The application deadline is March 31.

An application guide may be obtained at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm or by contacting Thomas Hauryski at (607) 776-7398, extension 4, e-mail thomas.hauryski@ny.usda.gov, or Scott Collins at (315) 477-6409, e-mail scott.collins@ny.usda.gov.