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DECEMBER
EVENTS
Conservation Fund Appalachia Gateway Regional meetings- Berea, KY
The USDA Telecommunications Program will host a series of webinars focused on our new application intake system: RD Apply. This new system allows interested parties to apply electronically for loans and grants administered by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
Release of Artist RFQ Chilhowee Mural Project
More Calendar Links:
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Tennessee Department
of Transportation
Safe Routes to
Schools applications
are due January 15, 2016. See
here for more information.
Tennessee Department of Transportation
Multi Modal Access Grants are available. Each Multimodal Access Grant application must
be submitted to the ETDD/ RPO
Coordinator on or
before December 18, 2015. Two applications from each RPO will be submitted to TDOT to compete in the statewide competition. The RPO Technical Committee
and Executive Board
will determine which two applications are forwarded to TDOT.
For more information,
contact ETDD.
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Toolbox
Todd Morgan, Director of Preservation Field Services and ETQG Executive Director, Julie Graham introduced the newly launched Places
Preservation Tool box
at the October ETPA annual conference.
Todd, Julie, and Caroline Eller, and ETDD are asking that regional best practices are submitted to Todd for inclusion in this online resource tool.
To submit, click
here.
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Pilot Program for Distressed, At-risk Counties
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Tennessee Housing Development Agency's proposed home repair program will help make repairs to the homes of Appalachian families. The State has pledged $1 million and Governor Bill Haslam agreed to commit $500,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). More information can be found here.
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Welcome to Intern Allyn Richardson!
Welcome to UTK student, Allyn Richardson, who is interning in the ETQG office.
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Dear Colleague,
As we gather with family and friends during the holiday season, we are grateful to be in this very special place we live and call home. We are fortunate to live in the mountains and foothills of east Tennessee, an area rich in places that speak to both culture and heritage.
We've had a successful year formulating new partnerships and telling regional stories. In
2016, ETQG will continue to bring attention to East Tennessee's great communities and places. On April 28, we will be hosting an educational symposium with national speakers addressing the connected infrastructure and the importance of building strong economic centers on our main streets. And, to celebrate the 100th year of National Parks and the 75th year anniversary of conservation, each month we will be featuring national parks and public lands in our region. In fall of 2016, we will celebrate the story of conservation in East Tennessee with a public celebration. Stay tuned!
As 2015 comes to a close, we celebrate the work of all of our partners engaged in building stronger communities. We are looking forward to continuing these partnerships in 2016.
Wishing all of our ETQG colleagues and their families a wonderful holiday season!
Julie
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| Tennessee River Valley Geotourism MapGuide |
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The Geotourism MapGuide, benefitting from National Geographic's map-making skills, involves regional communities working together to provide residents and visitors with an authentic and enriching experience in the Tennessee River Valley region.
National Geographic has created the Tennessee River Valley Geotourism MapGuide emphasizing
the distinctiveness of the East Tennessee River Valley. Geotourism, by definition, works to sustain and enhance the geographical character of a place -- its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well being of its residents -- by adding to its sustainability principles and building on its "sense of place."
The MapGuide is created through a collaborative process with community and conservation organizations, tourism associations, and state and federal agencies working to highlight the natural, historic, and cultural assets that are unique to the East Tennessee River Valley. With tourism being the second largest industry in the state of Tennessee, generating $16.7 billion in economic value per year, the Geotourism MapGuide offers special opportunities for interaction between residents, foreign visitors, and local organizations.
The website features a Geotourism map, including links to accommodations, festivals and events, food and drink, health and wellness, outdoor adventures, and much more. It also promotes destination stewardship, keeping growth to sustainable levels and limiting negative impacts, such as overcrowding and resource depletion. Geotourism benefits both residents and visitors by promoting local services and employment, and by informing residents of visitor needs and expectations.
The Tennessee River Valley Geotourism MapGuide could not work without input from East Tennessee's residents who serve as resource guides and describe what makes this place special; from history buffs and adventurers, backpackers and food-enthusiasts, and birders and sightseers, there is always a unique recommendation listed on this interactive website. The project continuously seeks to celebrate the East Tennessee River Valley region as a world-class destination, while contributing to the economic health of the region by promoting sustainable tourism.
For more information, or to nominate a favorite local restaurant, farm, winery, hiking or biking trail, swimming hole, museum and so much more, visit the website at www.tennesseerivervalleygeotourism.org.
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| Beck Center's Health Disparities Panel Discussion |
The Beck Center hosted a Health Disparities Panel Discussion on Nov 5.
The event sought to:
- Take charge of health/prevention/screenings
- Identify barriers, issues (social determinants of health)
- Scribe Information to review and start planning solutions
- Feedback Card - What information is needed/ possible solutions
ETQG Executive Director, Julie Graham, participated in the panel discussion.
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| USDA Funds Coming to East Tennessee |
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The
University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UTK) will receive $1 million to strengthen SNAP and EFNEP nutrition education programs for low-income families by focusing on reducing obesity by analyzing programs to identify facilitators, barriers, best practices, training and evaluation needs. UT will develop and disseminate resources tailored to the needs of those delivering SNAP-Ed and EFNEP interventions and adapt and disseminate readiness-to-change resources to strengthen organizational, community and neighborhood coalitions and provide resources to increase intercultural competence in SNAP-Ed and EFNEP implementation.
Cherokee Health will receive a Telemedicine Grant to serve 339,000 patients in seven rural remote counties.
21,000 Scott County households will now benefit from broadband because of USDA Recovery Act financing provided to the Highland Telephone Cooperative. Residents have compared the service improvements to "going from a gravel road to the interstate."
USDA will prioritize $5.6 billion over the next two years within USDA programs and services that serve new and beginning farmers and ranchers. The average age of the American farmer now exceeds 58 years, and data shows that almost 10 percent of farmland in the continental United States will change hands in the next five years.
Equally important is encouraging young people to pursue careers in industries that support American agriculture. Nearly 60,000 high-skilled agriculture job openings are expected annually in the United States for the next five years, yet only 35,000 graduates with a bachelor's degree or higher in agriculture related fields are expected to be available to fill them.
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| Apply for SCI Community Partners |
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The Smart Communities Initiative (SCI) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is now accepting applications for community partners. SCI is an interdisciplinary program that engages faculty and students in projects promoting economic viability, environmental sustainability, and social integrity with its yearly community partner.
Applications for the 2016-17 year's SCI program will be accepted through February 12, 2016.
To learn more about the program, click
here.
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UTK students partnered with ETQG to complete three projects benefiting Cherokee and Norris Lakes.
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| Baldcypress planting in Poorland Valley. |
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
EAST TENNESSEE QUALITY GROWTH SYMPOSIUM
Please go ahead and save Thursday, April 28, 2016 for an important regional discussion on local community prosperity. On this date ETQG will host a symposium to discuss
economic prosperity in our local communities. National and state experts will help us coordinate a regional discussion on how to define the uniqueness and character of each of our communities.
Participants will come away with better tools for capitalizing on these assets.
The conference will provide a forum for us to
leverage our regional strengths while also promoting
individual communities as destinations where people and businesses want to visit, live, work, and play.
Confirmed speakers include:
Gary Toth
of Project for Public Spaces and Robert Gibbs of Gibbs Planning Group. For more information about Gary, click here
and for Robert, click here
.
The conference will be held at the Airport Hilton in Blount County.
More to come!!!
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