New Interactive Map Visualizes the Digital Divide - The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a new publicly available digital map that displays key indicators of broadband needs across the country. This is the first interactive, public map that allows users to explore different datasets about where people do not have quality Internet access. The public “Indicators of Broadband Need” tool puts on one map, data from both public and private sources. Additional resources can be found here, thanks to the National Digital Education Extension Team (NDEET)
USDA NIFA Launches NIFA Reporting System - On Wednesday, June 23, 2021, the NIFA Reporting System was officially launched, bringing research and Extension together in one system. In collaboration with Land-grant University System partners, the new platform provides grant management and reporting system that integrates the Plant of Work and REEport applications into a unified system. Land-grant universities can visit, https://nifa.usda.gov/tool/pow-nifa-reporting-system, to view the new system. The release comes exactly 23 years after U.S. Congress enacted the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 known as (AREERA). AREERA authorizes NIFA to provide capacity funding for agricultural research and Extension programs at 1862 and 1890 Land-grant Universities.
2021 National Extension Tourism Conference Registration Open - Registration is now open for the National Extension Tourism Conference conference, which is slated for Nov 7-11 in Savannah, GA. The network last met in 2019, and since that time tourism communities have faced immense challenges from natural disasters and social unrest to an ongoing global pandemic. How tourism professionals have responded and adapted to these changes continues to evolve. This year’s conference theme of “Navigating the Uncharted” will reflect on these transformations and catalyze future extension programming that best serves stakeholders’ needs. Please share the opportunity as appropriate.
Leadership in the City Online Professional Development Program - Brent Hales (Penn State), ECOP Member and Liaison to the NUEL Steering Committee recommends Leadership in the City, a 5-month online professional development program prepares Extension professionals working in urban areas to be locally relevant, responsive statewide, and recognized nationally. To date 103 Extension professionals from 31 states have participated. This online professional development program offers learning about leadership, networks, innovation, marketing, management, and more. The program is based on a foundation of entrepreneurial theory and urban Extension practice and will build upon existing leadership experiences. This course is led by Dr. Julie Fox from The Ohio State University Extension. The investment in the program is $500. Multiple participants from the same institute are entitled to a $100 discount (Discount code: LITC22-MULT). Complete details and registration can be found at go.osu.edu/urbanleadership.
