Curated by: The Western Nevada Development District…

This edition of Five for Friday focuses on opportunities for economic development around the region in the areas of resiliency, infrastructure and grant assistance.

Grant Opportunities & More

Futures Event Highlights Humboldt & Pershing County Economies

Nevada US-95 I-80 Futures presents the annual economic outlook for these crossroads communities in the Pershing/ Humboldt County region on Wednesday, October 26 at the Boys and Girls Club of Winnemucca. Speakers representing leading businesses will share up-to-the minute information, trends, expansions, and their company’s outlook and growth for the upcoming year. The key theme of this year’s Futures Forum is community capacity building to support businesses so they might survive and thrive. Presented by the Nevada 95-80 Regional Development Authority the event is free to attend.

Annual Economic Outlook Forum: October 26, 2022

Register Today!

FEMA and EDA Release New Resource to Align Community Plans and Build Resilience

A new resource will help economic development and hazard mitigation planners achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and Hazard Mitigation Plan Alignment Guide connects economic development and hazard mitigation plans so communities can be more resilient from natural hazards.

The guide was a collaboration between FEMA and the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). Communities, states and federal officials can use the guide when preparing or reviewing FEMA Hazard Mitigation Plans and EDA Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS).

Included in the guide are strategies to help align strategies with approved local plans. When communities align their CEDS and mitigation plans:

• Businesses and business districts are built in safer areas with a lower risk of hazard impacts.
• Private investment is directed to safer areas. It is also developed to be more resilient to hazards.
• Buildings are placed and built to design standards that help withstand hazard events.
• Businesses can reopen more quickly after hazard events.
• Critical facilities and infrastructure keep working during and after events.
• The community can manage open space and natural resources in ways that reduce hazard impacts and support the economy through agriculture and tourism.

Disaster Recovery

CEDS and Hazard Mitigation Plan Alignment Guide

FHWA Tribal Transportation Program Safety Fund

Transportation fatalities and injuries severely impact the quality of life in Indian country. Each year under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, 4% of the available TTP funds are set aside to address transportation safety issues identified by federally recognized Indian tribes through a competitive, discretionary program. Projects are chosen whose outcomes will reduce fatal and serious injuries in transportation related incidents, such as motor vehicle crashes. FHWA advocates the development of strategic transportation safety plans as a means for tribes to determine how transportation safety needs will be addressed in and around tribal communities.

Eligible projects for the TTP Safety Fund include:

• Develop and update transportation safety plans
• Safety data assessment, improvement, and analysis
• Systemic roadway departure countermeasures
• Infrastructure improvements and other eligible activities as listed in 23 U.S.C. 148(a)(4)

FY2023 Application Deadline: January 15, 2023

Webinar: October 11, 2022. 1:00 PM PT. Use link below or call 551 285 1373 and enter meeting ID 160 835 1138 and passcode 923902.

Federal Register of Tribes

FHWA Safety Fund Information

Safety Plan Toolkit

Webinar

Searching for Grant Opportunities? The Nevada Grant Lab Can Help

Nevada GrantLab, a nonprofit corporation, started in 2020 with a vision to help nonprofits, local governments, and State agencies better access and maximize historically underutilized federal funding that can be used to build greater quality of life and opportunity for all Nevadans.

They accomplish this by:

• Capacity Building: Helping partners discover and build skills, capabilities, and partnerships.
• Grant Services: Assisting partners identify funding that is a good fit and submit competitive applications.
• Data, Engagement, and Policy: Activating stakeholders and decision-makers, ensuring they have the data they need, and supporting aligned action and policy improvements that maximize the benefit of federal grants for Nevadans.

Nevada GrantLab

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education (AWARE) Grant

The purpose of Project AWARE is to develop a sustainable infrastructure for school-based mental health programs and services. Grant recipients are expected to build collaborative partnerships with the State Education Agency, Local Education Agency, Tribal Education Agency, the State Mental Health Agency, community-based providers of behavioral health care services, school personnel, community organizations, families, and school-aged youth. Grant recipients will leverage their partnerships to implement mental health related promotion, awareness, prevention, intervention, and resilience activities to ensure that students have access and are connected to appropriate and effective behavioral health services.

Application Deadline: October 13, 2022

AWARE Grant

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

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!”

KOLO TV Coverage

The Middle Mile Grant Program Providing $1 Billion in Funding

It’s no secret that reliable, affordable broadband connectivity is vital to the economic development and well-being of all residents in the WNDD region. Unfortunately, many communities are still unserved or underserved with broadband connectivity.

Enter the WNDD Nevada Speed Test. Launched in early November 2021, the Speed Test began gathering vital information from participating member communities. The map continues to be developed as each resident takes the Speed Test, and participants are encouraged to take the test more than once to refine data. Simply, the test assesses the region’s broadband needs and identifies possible projects for future funding.

Check Out Speed Test Results For Your Community

Middle Mile Program Funding

While most of the funding from the original National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) programs from the Infrastructure Bill (IUA), will pass through the State, the Middle Mile Program WILL be accessible to local governments, and private and non-profit sectors.

The Middle Mile Grant Program will provide up to $1 billion in funding for the construction, improvement, or acquisition of middle mile infrastructure. The purpose of the grant program is to extend middle mile infrastructure to reduce the cost of connecting areas that are unserved or underserved to the internet backbone.

Application Deadline: September 30, 2022

Middle Mile Program

WNDD: Here to Assist Your Community

• Write grant applications for state, federal and other funding.

• Assist grant administrators and internet service providers in verifying the impact of their programs and intended targets in real time without relying on out-of-date historical maps.

• Check if broadband deployments and related grant programs are meeting expectations.

• Identify areas of broadband need and produce design and cost estimates for projects covering fiber, fixed wireless and hybrid options.

• Contribute to more detailed broadband design studies by GEO Partners at the county and city level (future studies).