Meet Keynote Speaker: Sheba Person-Whitley at Envision Tahoe 2022

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WNDD is a Proud Sponsor of The Tahoe Economic Summit

Sheba Person-Whitley currently serves a Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration. As Director of EDA’s Seattle Regional Office, Person-Whitley manages a team of professionals spread throughout the American West focused on working with local, state, and Tribal governments, as well as other organizations, on applying economic development practices to regional needs by developing plans and projects for federal collaboration and investment.

An alumna of North Carolina State University and Southern New Hampshire University, she lives in the Seattle area with her husband and two children. Before joining EDA, Person-Whitley was the Executive Director of the Economic Development Board of Sonoma County, where she led efforts to meet the needs of small businesses during fires and COVID-19 and provided small business support to entrepreneurs of many backgrounds and cultures. Through this work, Person-Whitley gained a unique perspective on how to support others through economic development work and encourage new leaders to come forward.

Get Your Tickets Today: Tahoe Economic Summit

Five for Friday: August 19, 2022

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Five for Friday: Latest From the World of Grants and More

Curated by Western Nevada Development District (WNDD), this edition focuses on opportunities for economic development around the region in the areas of water infrastructure, connectivity, housing and more.

Grant Opportunities & More

EPA Seeks Investments in Water Infrastructure

The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 (WIFIA) established a federal credit program administered by EPA for eligible water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

Eligible borrowers are:

• Local, state, tribal, and federal government entities
• Partnerships and joint ventures
• Corporations and trusts
• Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs

Eligible projects range from improving drinking water systems and reducing energy use at water and sewer facilities, to acquisition of property and engineering/design. More than $6 billion will be awarded in this program. Letters of Interest can be submitted and will provide information that EPA uses to determine the project’s eligibility, creditworthiness, engineering feasibility, and alignment with EPA’s policy priorities.

Submit Letters of Interest Starting: September 6, 2022

WIFIA Grant

 

New US DOT Grant Program Reconnects and Revitalizes Communities

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program has been established to remove, retrofit, or mitigate transportation facilities like highways or rail lines that create barriers to community connectivity, including mobility, access, or economic development. The program provides technical assistance and grant funding for planning or capital construction to address infrastructure barriers, reconnect communities, and improve people’s lives.

Eligible projects can include: high-quality public transportation, infrastructure removal, pedestrian walkways and overpasses, capping and lids, linear parks and trails, roadway redesigns and complete streets conversions, and main street revitalization. Planning Grants may range from $100,000 to $2,000,000. Capital Construction Grant awards are no less than $5 million per project. DOT anticipates that Capital Construction Grants may range from $5 million to $100 million.

Application Deadline: October 13, 2022

Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program

Multifamily Housing Loan Guarantees

USDA Rural Development provides up to a 90 percent guarantee for loans made by commercial lenders to borrowers developing or rehabilitating multifamily rental housing for low and moderate income tenants in rural areas. The agency guarantees construction advances and permanent financing once regulatory requirements have been met.

Eligible borrows can include:

• Nonprofit and for-profit corporations
• Individuals, partnerships, and trusts
• Most state and local governmental entities
• Federally-recognized Tribes

Application Deadline: Continuous

Multifamily Housing Loan Guarantees

Inflation Reduction Act: Energy and Climate Programs

The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act covers a broad range of issues impacting Nevada from climate change and health care, to affordable housing and energy conservation. Five for Friday will be tracking the fallout from this piece of legislation.

Here are a few early takeaways on the legislation’s impacts:

What Does the Inflation Reduction Act Do for State and Local Government?

What the Inflation Reduction Act Means for Nevada

2022 National Tribal Broadband Grant Program (NTBG)

The Indian Affairs Office of Indian Economic Development (OIED) is accepting applications from eligible federally recognized tribes for the 2022 National Tribal Broadband Grant Program (NTBG). With grant funding, tribes will be able to explore the possibility of developing or extending broadband services in their communities through feasibility studies of those broadband development opportunities. The Office of Indian Economic Development seeks to fund approximately 15 to 27 grants, ranging in value from $100,000 to $175,000, and eligibility is limited to federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal entities as listed in 87 FR 4636. These grants will be for a two-year term.

Application Deadline: October 17, 2022

NTBG Program

Meet Keynote Speaker: Elmy Bermejo at Envision Tahoe 2022

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Economic Summit Explores Diversification and Recovery in the Region

Elmy Bermejo currently serves as a Regional Administrator for the Small Business Administration. As Region IX Administrator, Bermejo oversees SBA programs, offices, and operations in the SBA’s Pacific region, serving Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, and Nevada.

Bermejo has a passion for building and strengthening relationships while assisting people and organizations to attain their goals. She is a senior government official with more than 25 years of experience at the executive level and has established a successful record of collaboration with public and private stakeholders on a range of issues including workforce development, disaster relief, and small business. Bermejo recently served as the Northern California Director for External Affairs for Governor Gavin Newsom; before that, she served as a Senior Advisor and Outreach Director for Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis of California, the first woman ever elected to this position. Bermejo also served in President Barack Obama’s administration at the U.S. Department of Labor as the Regional Representative to the Secretary and as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs. She serves on the San Francisco Commission on the Environment, The Women’s Foundation of CA, and as an Advisory member of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) and the Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Public Good.

Get Your Tickets Today: Tahoe Economic Summit

Get Help With Middle Mile Grant Applications!

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NTIA Live Question and Answer Sessions To Support Your Application

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has announced Office Hours for the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program Application process.

During these live Question and Answer sessions, NTIA staff and subject matter experts will address questions from participants to assist them in producing high quality applications.

Each session will focus on a different stakeholder group. However, all are welcome to attend and general questions will be answered. It should be noted that NTIA will not comment on specific application questions or provide direction.

For more information and to Register visit: BroadbandUSA Events

States, Territories and DC Focus

Wednesday, August 17, 2022 from 2:00-3:00pm ET

Register By: Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 12:00pm ET

 

States, Territories and DC Focus

Thursday, August 18, 2022 from 2:00-3:00pm ET

Register By: Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at 12:00pm ET

Tribal Organizations Focus

Tuesday, August 23, 2022 from 2:00-3:00pm ET

Register By: Monday, August 22, 2022 at 12:00pm ET

 

Tribal Organizations Focus

Thursday, August 25, 2022 from 1:00-2:00pm ET

Register By: Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at 12:00pm ET

 

Local and Regional Government Focus

Tuesday, August 30, 2022 from 2:00-3:00pm ET

Register By: Monday, August 29, 2022 at 12:00pm ET

 

Local and Regional Government Focus

Thursday, September 1, 2022 from 2:00-3:00pm ET

Register By: Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at 12:00pm ET

 

Industry Focus

Tuesday, September 13, 2022 from 2:00-3:00pm ET

Register By: Monday, September 12, 2022 at 12:00pm ET

 

Industry Focus

Thursday, September 15, 2022 from 2:00-3:00pm ET

Register By: Wednesday, September 14, 2022 at 12:00pm ET

 

Non-Profit Focus

Tuesday, September 20, 2022 from 2:00-3:00pm ET

Register By: Monday, September 19, 2022 at 12:00pm ET

 

Non-Profit Focus

Thursday, September 22, 2022 from 2:00-3:00pm ET

Register By: Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at 12:00pm ET

 

General Session

Tuesday, September 27, 2022 from 2:00-3:00pm ET

Register By: Monday, September 26, 2022 at 12:00pm ET

 

General Session

Wednesday, September 28, 2022 from 2:00-3:00pm ET

Register By: Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 12:00pm ET

 

 

 

Five for Friday: August 5, 2022

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Grant Opportunities and More!

Curated by Western Nevada Development District (WNDD), this edition focuses on opportunities for economic development around the region in the areas of workforce development, education and training, and food access.

Grant Opportunities & More

Congratulations to WNDD Partner Nevadaworks!

Northern Nevada to See $14.9M to Boost Workforce

Yesterday, the Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced a grant award of $14.9 million to Nevadaworks and various partners including WNDD, EDAWN, Western Nevada College, and more. Part of the American Rescue Plan Good Jobs Challenge, funding will be utilized to develop and launch the Northern Nevada Equity in Employment Project, which will bolster and diversify the regional economy by placing workers into positions in growth industries.

This program will unite more than a dozen trade associations and companies in the information technology, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, and healthcare sectors to place workers into good-paying jobs and strengthen the region’s economy.

Read More

Undergraduate STEM Education: Computing in Undergraduate Education (IUSE: CUE)

The Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Computing in Undergraduate Education program aims to better prepare a wider range of students from different backgrounds to use computation collaboratively in a variety of settings and to solve difficult problems.

Application Deadline: September 19, 2022

IUSE: CUE Grant

Service-Disabled Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program (SDVETP)

This program announcement seeks funding proposals from eligible private and non-profit organizations, state, local and tribal agencies, and institutions of higher learning to further build their capacity to market and deliver their existing entrepreneurship training program(s) to service-disabled veteran, veteran entrepreneurs and Reserve Component members who aspire to be small business owners or currently own a small business.

Application Deadline: August 18, 2022

SDVETP Grant

Nevada Community Food Access/Rural Food Hub (RFH) Grants

The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) is offering two food access grants. The Nevada Community Food Access (NCFA) grant focuses on improving food distribution infrastructure and providing food to low-income households. The Rural Food Hub (RFH) grant aims to improve food storage and distribution in remote rural communities.

Application Deadlines: August 30, 2022

Nevada Community Food Access Grant

Rural Food Hub Grant

 

Western Governors University (WGU) Nevada Back to School Scholarship

WGU offers over 60 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in business, education, healthcare, or information technology. Now thru December 2022, WGU will be taking applications for their annual Back to School Scholarship Program with awards of up to $2,500. Focused on life, school balance, 81% of all WGU Students work while they further their education.

Application Deadline: December 31, 2022

WGU Back to School Scholarship

 

Western Nevada Development District (WNDD), is a vital partner to our member organizations in grant research, writing and Management. Our professional team is available to assist in identifying and obtaining funding sources to grow a stronger Nevada.

For more information about membership, visit WNDD.org

Seven Troughs Distilling Company Brings Its Love of Libations to Lovelock

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The Seven Troughs Distilling Company in Lovelock, Nevada, is a step closer to reality with the release of its first architectural concept. The drawing indicates the Windmill building will undergo a significant transformation before it is home to the first local liquor production business in recent history.

Seven Troughs owner Tom Adams closed his Sparks operation to open a bigger distillery and tasting room in Lovelock. Pershing County has a business-friendly environment, and Lovelock has “the best whiskey water in the state,” Adams told the Nevada News Group.

“The water is wonderful stuff,” he said. “It’s like the water of the Scotch highlands.”

Seven Troughs could eventually need up to 1,700 tons per year of locally-grown wheat, corn, malting barley, and rye, Adams told a crowd at the first Business Brunch hosted by the Pershing County Economic Development Authority (PCEDA). He added that the distillery could attract 20,000 tourists annually, benefiting other businesses, including restaurants, gift shops, and art galleries. The tasting room could showcase local foods, Adams told restaurant owners.

Read More at Nevada News Group

WNDD Nevada Speed Test Vital to Lovelock/Pershing $27M Broadband Grant Award

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More Funding Available to Unserved and Underserved Communities

Data obtained from the Western Nevada Development District’s (WNDD) Nevada Speed Test Program was successfully used to support the grant application detailing the lack of adequate connectivity for residents in Lovelock and Pershing County. On Thursday, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a $27M award from the ReConnect and Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee programs. Internet provider UpRise Fiber will be tasked with connecting almost 4,900 people, 130 businesses, 22 farms and seven public schools in Lovelock and surrounding Pershing County.

Broadband Connectivity will aid not only economic development in the region but address health and public safety issues as well. Further, it will ensure that homes and business have access to affordable, adequate, and reliable high-speed internet.

“Think about it like this: On I-80 if you are a highway patrolman, now state police, and you pull someone over, and you have no service, you can’t call in that license plate. You have no idea who you are pulling over. It is a very dangerous situation,” said Christine Brandon, WNDD Nevada Speed Test Executive Director.

The WNDD Nevada Speed Test was launched in early November 2021, and the program began gathering vital information from participating member communities that will aid in identifying unserved and underserved areas. Data will help elected officials and agencies develop projects to address broadband inadequacies and apply for appropriate broadband grants to expand internet access and build a stronger digital infrastructure.

Naomi Duerr, City of Reno Council Member and WNDD President commented, “I have continued to push for communities to participate in our “Nevada Speed Test,” a way to evaluate your local internet service. As a direct result of WNDD’s Nevada Speed Test, Lovelock, one of WNDD’s 7 participating cities, along with the help of UpRise Fiber, was able to snag a $27 million grant to expand their internet service. It goes without saying – this is huge!”

“We are thrilled that UpRise Fiber was successful in receiving the ReConnect Grant and look forward to next steps,” said Heidi Lusby-Angvick, Pershing County Economic Development Authority Executive Director and WNDD Vice President.

Brandon stated, “The Nevada Speed Test is ongoing and the map continues to be refined as people take the test. I encourage everyone to take the test more than once so we can assess the region’s broadband needs and identify possible projects for future funding. Funding is still available but communities need to act quickly for the NTIA grants as the applications are due September 30, 2022. Secretary Vilsak did say that the USDA ReConnect grant program would have a 4th round of grant applications to be announced this Fall. WNDD will send that information out to all our members and subscribers as soon as we receive it!”

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