The ECOP Monday Minute will resume on June 1. Have a safe Memorial Day Weekend!
Invitation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Cooperative Extension is invited to nominate professionals to the Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF). The Richard Dunville (CDC), member of the ECOP Innovation Health Task Force, indicates experts in rural health are needed to serve. The CPSTF is an independent, nonfederal panel of public health and prevention experts whose members represent a broad range of research, practice, and policy expertise in community preventive services, public health, health promotion, and disease prevention. Complete details and means of submission are found here. Nomination packages must be received on or before 5:00 p.m. EDT, on Friday, June 26, 2020.
Online NIFA Urban, Indoor and Emerging Ag Stakeholder Listening Sessions - NIFA is accepting stakeholder input to help inform and set priorities for $40 million of grant funding for research, education and extension around urban, indoor and emerging agriculture. To respond to NIFA during the pandemic with aggregated and organized comments, the National Urban Extension Leaders (NUEL), Western Center for Metropolitan Extension and Research (WCMER), and a number of local Farm Bureau chapters located in urban counties from across the country are partnering to host four online, interactive stakeholder listening sessions on May 28 and May 29. For more information and to register, visit the WCMER website.
The National Urban Extension Implementation Plan - Advancing the Cooperative Extension System’s work in urban areas continues to be an ECOP priority. Since 2015, ECOP has helped to formally organize the National Urban Extension Leaders (NUEL) and asked NUEL to identify opportunities to increase the capacity within the Extension system to serve urban residents. In April 2019 ECOP approved the National Urban Extension Implementation Plan that outlines six goals for helping the national Extension system achieve measurable results. To learn more about NUEL visit the NUEL website or contact Jason Henderson (Purdue University), ECOP Liaison to NUEL and member of the steering committee.
USDA Grants Available for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production - Competitive grants ($3 Million) are available for urban agriculture and innovative production projects. USDA will accept applications on Grants.gov until midnight July 6, 2020. Planning Projects should initiate or expand efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, government officials, schools, and other stakeholders in urban areas and suburbs. Projects may target areas of food access; education; business and start-up costs for new farmers; and development of policies related to zoning and other needs of urban production. Implementation Projects should accelerate existing and emerging models of urban, indoor, and other agricultural practices that serve multiple farmers. Projects will improve local food access and collaborate with partner organizations and may support infrastructure needs; emerging technologies; educational endeavors; and urban farming policy development. Click Here for details.
