The Cooperative Extension System is invited to register for A Community of Scholars Celebrating Excellence: USDA Teaching and Extension Awards Ceremony, Tuesday, November 9, 2021, 3:00-5:30 PM, ET, at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gHQn8SMBSvWLa8ck07Ch-g. Wendy Powers, University of California, who will then be ECOP Chair, will join USDA-NIFA Officials during the first portion of the event for presentation of the esteemed Extension Awards. Recipients are preparing ignite-style briefings to share their impacts during the session. The official media release announcing the 2021 recipients of these awards will be released closer to the actual date. Contact either Sandy Ruble, sandyruble@extension.org, regarding the Extension Awards and Tara Westington, twestington@aplu.org, regarding the Teaching Awards for more information. Other November 2021 dates/times of interest to the Cooperative Extension Section are found here.
Invitation to Participate in National Survey on Rural Community, Economic, and Workforce Development Priorities - The four Regional Rural Development Centers invite rural-focused leadership and professionals working on issues of community, economic, and workforce development to participate in a national survey. The survey is the first phase of a listening sessions process aimed at identifying key priorities and critical investments for rural communities' recovery and growth. The process is implemented by the RRDCs with support from the Extension Foundation through the New Technologies for Agricultural Extension accelerator program. The RRDCs ask that rural development research and Extension/outreach leaders (1) complete the survey no later than October 6 and (2) share the survey with those in their networks engaged in community and economic development activities. Timely completion will ensure that responses inform a preliminary report that will be shared by the RRDCs with USDA NIFA and other federal partners as stakeholder feedback. To access the survey and submit responses, visit: https://bit.ly/RuralPrioritiesSurvey. Please pardon any duplication of effort to inform readers of this opportunity.
USDA Releases Resource Guide for Rural Disaster Resiliency and Recovery - USDA Rural Development (RD) has announced the launch of a new resource guide to help rural communities seeking disaster resiliency and recovery assistance. This resource guide outlines RD programs, services and information on technical assistance for rural preparedness and recovery. Resources of the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) are included. This guide seeks to strengthen local resiliency, provide resources that help build capacity to identify and manage risks to minimize the impact of disasters on residents and businesses. USDA RD’s disaster resiliency and recovery guide provides a matrix categorizing RD programs by the following four key assistance types:
· Community and Economic Development Planning and Housing
· Infrastructure and Equipment including wastewater systems, broadband, and healthcare
· Local Business Development
· Education and Training
2021 FCS State Program Leaders Meeting Announcement - Extension Directors and Administrators are invited to share that the Annual FCS State Program Leaders Meeting will be held virtually on November 4-5, 2021, in conjunction with the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Annual Meeting. Go to https://www.neafcs.org/2021-annual-session for more information.
