eXtension Announces Fellowships

Applications are now being accepted for four eXtension fellowships offered in partnership with USDA-NIFA. Three of the fellowships are for developing innovations for application in the Cooperative Extension System. The fourth is a new fellowship offered in partnership with GODAN (Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition) to focus on applied innovation in the access and use of open data linking research and U.S. Cooperative Extension information. Deadline for applications is July 7, 2016. For details, see https://extension.org/2016/06/09/new-fellowship-opportunities/. 

USDA-NIFA Releases Results of State Energy Extension Partnership – Promoting an Energy Efficient America with Outreach Education is a new infographic released by USDA-NIFA. It highlights State Energy Extension Partnership projects at the Universities of Nebraska, Kentucky and Wisconsin, the Colorado Energy Master Program, and the Montana State University and University of Wyoming’s E³A Program. View the infographic as part of the series at NIFA’s Flickr site. 

Funding Opportunity – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announces funding for programs to reduce obesity in targeted areas. Cooperative Extension in states with high obesity rate counties (adult obesity prevalence of more than 40 percent) are eligible to apply by the August 2, 2016 deadline. Funding will support intervention strategies through existing Cooperative Extension and outreach services at the county level to improve physical activity and nutrition, reduce obesity, and prevent and control diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. For details, see http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=284395. 

SNAP-ED Program Development Team (PDT) Update – For more information on the work of the PDT, funded by assessments to universities participating in SNAP-ED, see http://articles.extension.org/pages/73812/2016-snap-ed-program-development-team-meeting. A national report on SNAP-Ed provided by land-grant universities is in process. 

Reaching Urban Veterans Through Urban Horticulture – Register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6124637483114134785 for the 3:00 p.m. ET webinar 6.21.16 describing a structured learning environment to introduce unemployed or underemployed U.S. military veterans to urban agriculture, aquaponics and organic land care as career options. Veterans are encouraged to become business owners in their communities through entrepreneurship training in collaboration with the Rutgers-Newark School of Business. This webinar is part of a series provided by the Western Center for Metropolitan Extension and Research and aligns with a 2016 ECOP goal on urban programming. 

USDA-NIFA Equipment Prior Approval Webinars This Week – USDA-NIFA Office of Grants and financial Management will host webinars June 15 and 16, 2016 to get feedback from capacity fund recipients on prior approval requirements for equipment purchases. Among capacity funds to be addressed are 1890 Research and Extension and Smith-Lever. The prior approval for equipment requirements are located in OMB’s Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR 200.407. The definition of equipment is located at 2 CFR 200.33. The two sessions are each about 45 minutes and are identical. To connect at 10:00 a.m. ET on 6.15.16, go to http://nifa-connect.nifa.usda.gov/equipmentcapacity/ or dial 877-369-5243 or 617-668-3633, Access Code: 0776001#. For the 1:00 p.m. ET, 6.16.16 session, go to http://nifa-connect.nifa.usda.gov/equipmentcapacity/ or dial 877-369-5243 or 617-668-3633 Access Code: 0470116#.