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Here, members of the public compete to help the U.S. government solve problems big and small. Browse through challenges and submit your ideas for a chance to win.
USDA Launches New Program to Create High-Speed Internet e-Connectivity in Rural America

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering up to $600 million in loans and grants to help build broadband infrastructure in rural America. Telecommunications companies, rural electric cooperatives and utilities, internet service providers and municipalities may apply for funding through USDA’s new ReConnect Program to connect rural areas that currently have insufficient broadband service. 

CONGRATULATIONS 2018 RURAL ADVOCATES OF THE YEAR 
Senator Harry Brown and
Representative Susan Martin
Congratulations to Senate Majority Leader Harry Brown (Onslow County) and Representative Susan Martin  (Wilson County) for being named 2018 Rural Advocates of the Year! This award recognizes a rural champion who has made a significant impact on rural development through their leadership in the public sphere.   
Upcoming Events
Bridging Rural and Urban

While there is a common and growing perception of a divide between rural and urban North Carolina, the truth is we are highly interconnected by people, place and prosperity.
North Carolina’s rural communities are facing challenges of aging work-forces, infrastructure deficits, financial shortfalls and dis-economies of scale – overall, 41 percent of the state’s municipalities lost population during the past six years, almost all in rural areas. 

Forum Information:
WHEN: Monday, February 11, 2019
TIME: 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Raleigh Marriott City Center
500 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, NC 27601
RURAL DAY...SAVE The DATE

Didn't get a chance to participate in the roundtables? Make sure to save the date to let your voice be heard in Raleigh at  Rural Day on March 26 ! Then, we'll be back on the road this spring for another series of regional events, featuring pragmatic training for how to be an effective advocate for rural economic development.
Registration Now Open for the 25th Annual n4a Aging Policy Briefing!

The 2018 elections will result in major priority and policy shifts in Washington when the 116th Congress convenes in January. Join n4a March 5-6 for the  25th anniversary of its Aging Policy Briefing  and participate in comprehensive discussions about what these changes mean for aging and health care policy advocates.
Workshops/Webinars
Signs of Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation (Free Webcast)

When: Wednesday, January 16, 2018
at 11:00 a.m. PT / 2:00 p.m. ET 

Lawyers and others who work with older adults should be aware of potential signs of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. This awareness requires an understanding of abuse signs, as well as the questions to ask when abuse is suspected. 
Grant Opportunities





Notice of Funds Available
Originally Issued November 27, 2018
 
The North Carolina Housing Finance Agency proposes to make a total of $4.5 million available for the 2019 Urgent Repair Program (URP19). Program funding enables recipient organizations to provide deferred, forgiven loans of up to $10,000 for emergency home repairs and modifications to very low-income owner-occupied homes. Eligible households are those with one or more full-time household members with special needs (e.g., elderly, disabled, and/or veteran full-time household members or a child 6 or under with an elevated blood-lead level). Household incomes cannot exceed 50% of area median income.  
 
Nonprofit organizations, local governments and regional councils of government with the technical capacity to manage residential construction projects are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants must cover service areas with a population of 5,000 or greater.
 
The maximum funding amount is $200,000 for projects serving two or more counties in their entirety, and $100,000 for projects serving a single county. The maximum funding for large CDBG Entitlement Cities is $50,000.
 
Application forms and guidelines will be available on the Agency’s website at  www.nchfa.com  after November 27, 2018. Completed applications must be received at the Agency by 5 p.m. January 28, 2019. For more information, please call Mike Handley, 919-877-5627, Chuck Dopler, 919-981-5008, Donna Coleman, 919-981-5006, Kim Hargrove, 919-877-5682, or Dan McFarland, 919-875-3753.
FY 2019 EPA Brownfields
 
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released application guidance for FY 2019 brownfields grant funding. Funding guidelines are available here. Last year, the EPA awarded $54.3 million for brownfields assessment and cleanup in 144 communities across the county. For FY 2019, a total amount of $50 million is expected to be awarded to more than 100 recipients. The EPA will host a webinar on December 11, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Participants can access the webinar here .


The deadline to submit proposals is January 31, 2019. (Source: NADO News)

EPA accepting applications under Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

The EPA is soliciting applications to under its Environmental Justice Small Grants programs to fund community-based organizations for projects that help residents of under-served communities understand and address local environmental and public health issues.In general, the EJSG program awards grants that support community-driven projects designed to engage, educate, and empower communities to better understand local environmental and public health issues and develop strategies for addressing those issues, building consensus in the community, and setting community priorities

Applications must be received by February 15, 2019.   
EPA accepting applications under Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

The EPA is soliciting applications to under its Environmental Justice Small Grants programs to fund community-based organizations for projects that help residents of under-served communities understand and address local environmental and public health issues.In general, the EJSG program awards grants that support community-driven projects designed to engage, educate, and empower communities to better understand local environmental and public health issues and develop strategies for addressing those issues, building consensus in the community, and setting community priorities

Applications must be received by February 15, 2019.   
New Field Initiated Projects Research Funding Opportunities
 
Two new funding opportunities

Field-Initiated Projects (FIPs) are a program of investigator-initiated research intended to supplement NIDILRRs agency-directed research portfolio. These projects cross all of NIDILRR’s domains, and generate new knowledge through research or development on a smaller scale relative to DRRPs and Center grants. Typical FIP awards are three years in duration.
2018 Economic Development Assistance Programs

The Economic Development Administration's (EDA's) mission is to lead the Federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for economic growth and success in the worldwide economy.

*There are no submission deadlines under this opportunity. Proposals and applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the publication of a new EDAP NOFO.
Senior Corner
NAMRS:
What It Is and Why You Should Care

Prevent Elder Abuse

The  National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System , or NAMRS, is a data collection system for state APS programs. The goal of NAMRS is to collect and provide consistent, accurate national data on the exploitation and abuse of older people and people with disabilities, as reported to state APS agencies.
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