Job Posting: WNDD Executive Director

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WESTERN NEVADA DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Western Nevada Development District (WNDD) seeks full-time Executive Director. WNDD is a nonprofit organization serving a seven-county region in western Nevada: Churchill, Douglas, Humboldt, Mineral, Pershing, Storey, and Washoe Counties, including the seven cities of Fallon, Lovelock, Fernley, Sparks, Reno, Carson City and Winnemucca and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe.

Job requirements include:

1. Reports to a 49-member Board of Directors and Associate Members;
2. Implement policies and directives of the Board;
3. Requires excellent written and verbal communications;
4. Organizes and directs staff;
5. Manage Board meetings to include organizing agenda, Board packet, and staff reports;
6. Experience in public administration, fiscal management, budget preparation, economic development and project planning and management;
7. Ability to work with representatives of the public and private sectors;
8. Grant research, writing and administration experience;
9. Maintaining, updating and implementing WNDD’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS);
10. On-going administration of WNDD Revolving Loan Fund;
11. Development and implementation of programs benefitting individual members as well as programs of a regional approach in addressing economic development issues

Salary Range $75,000 to $100,000 plus benefits, includes health insurance stipend, dental, vision

Exempt: This position is classified as Exempt

Responsibilities: Responsible for all WNDD activities; Board and membership relations; personnel administration; regional economic development planning; budget and grant management

Skills Required: Extensive knowledge of state, federal, and local programs, rules and regulations; strong written and oral communication skills; computer skills

Education Required: A four-year degree in Political Science, Public Administration, Regional and Community Planning or related field – or – combination of education, training and at least a minimum of five (5) years’ experience in public and/or non-profit agencies

To apply: submit letter of application and resume to Sheryl A. Gonzales, Executive Director at: sgonzales@wndd.org

Extended Deadline! Submit no later than Friday, April 15th, 2022.

Pre-Development Training and Accelerator Program

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Hosted By: Milken Institute and RCAP
Join the Cohort-Get Informed, Provide Input

Register Your Interest Today!

EDA has partnered with the Milken Institute and the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) to provide communities with access to a pre-development training and accelerator program this year under an EDA Research and National Technical Assistance (RNTA) grant. Communities with a pipeline of construction and non-construction projects, conduct major pre-development activities (including: architectural and engineering work, market and environmental assessments, business plan development, etc.) who seek to become application-ready to apply for funds for project implementation are invited to register their interest in participation in the first cohort.

If you are interested, submit the Interest Form by Thursday, March 17, 2022. You will receive news about upcoming accelerator trainings, and joining the national pre-development caucus, featuring hundreds of organizations focused on scaling community infrastructure projects.

Questions can be addressed to publicfinance@milkeninstitute.org.

Interest Form

Five for Friday: Grant Opportunities – February 18, 2022

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Collected by the Western Nevada Development District

TGIF4F—thank goodness it’s Five for Friday!

In this latest edition of the Western Nevada Development District (WNDD) grant round-up, we’ve got funding opportunities for STEM, Tribes, small businesses, and arts organizations. There’s also information about the broadest grant publishing under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Let’s dig in.

Grants with Upcoming Deadlines

National Science Foundation STEM Network Grant

The National Science Foundation seeks to create a national network of stakeholders to share new knowledge, best practices, and design principles from its Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program (S-STEM). Its purpose is to ensure access, inclusion, and flexibility for low-income domestic STEM students. This project will fund S-STEM Resource and Evaluation Centers (S-STEM-REC) and S-STEM Research Hubs (S-STEM-Hub). Proposals can come from two-year and four-year colleges, as well as non-profit organizations.

Application Deadline: Tuesday, March 22, 2022.

National Science Foundation

Tribal Technical Assistance Program (TTAP) Center

The Federal Highway Administration will spend up to $17.8 million over five years to reopen seven Tribal Technical Assistance Program (TTAP) Centers. The TTAP Centers strive to improve Tribal communities’ quality of life by helping Tribes manage their transportation programs and systems. The centers will support advanced initiatives and projects to improve safety on Tribal lands, foster economic opportunity, and build economic strength.

Application Deadline: Friday, March 25, 2022.

TTAP

SBA Cybersecurity for Small Business Pilot Program

The Small Business Administration will fund grants for state governments to help new small businesses combat cyber threats. Small firms are appealing targets to cyber threats because they have valuable data and lack the security infrastructure of larger corporations. According to a recent SBA survey, 88% of small company owners fear a cyber-attack. The problem is that many firms can’t afford professional IT services or don’t know where to start.

Application deadline: Friday, March 25, 2022.

SBA Cybersecurity

Nevada Arts Council Project Grant For Organizations

The Nevada Arts Council’s Project Grants for Organizations offers grants up to $7,000, with one-to-one cash or in-kind match, to Nevada incorporated nonprofits to support arts and cultural projects that impact the community. Funds may be used to support the execution of one art and culture project or a series of related activities. Eligible projects include art exhibitions, performances, readings, and festivals.

Deadline: Friday, March 25, 2022.

Nevada Arts Council Project Grant

American Rescue Plan Act Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant

The U.S. Economic Development Administration is soliciting applications for the broadest grant publishing under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and any eligible applicant from any EDA Region may apply.

This grant is supported by the Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program, which is flexible and responsive to local and regional stakeholders’ economic development needs and priorities.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration aims to assist communities and regions impacted by the coronavirus pandemic through this grant, including historically underserved communities.

The grant is designed to provide a wide range of financial assistance to communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the coronavirus pandemic’s economic impacts, including long-term recovery and resilience to future economic disasters.

EDA anticipates funding approximately 300 non-construction and construction projects that cost between approximately $500,000 and $5,000,000 with this appropriation, though EDA will consider applications above and below these amounts.

Deadline: Thursday, March 31, 2022.

American Rescue Plan Act

RAISE Funding Grant Applications Now Open

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Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) to Modernize Infrastructure

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has opened the application process for the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program which is designed to assist a variety of projects involving streets, transit and other infrastructure.

The program is available to communities of all sizes in efforts to fix and modernize infrastructure. The 2022 program received an additional $1.5 billion over the nearly $1 billion received in November 2021. Funding requests have outstripped availability nearly 10 to 1 last year. Competition is fierce and new, elevated criteria has been included for proposed projects. Focus has been put on mobility and community connectivity and how projects will address mobility and expand connectivity for all users, especially, pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders.

Some $15 million has been earmarked for projects with areas of persistent poverty or qualified historically disadvantaged communities. Further, DOT stated that more competitive applications will address climate change, racial inequity and workforce development.

Applications are now available and due April 14, 2022.

Learn More

USDA Invests $1 Billion to Improve Community Infrastructure in Rural Towns

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Funding Will Increase Access to Health Care, Education and Public Safety in Rural Communities

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that USDA is investing $1 billion to build and improve critical community facilities in 48 states, Puerto Rico and Guam. This infrastructure funding will increase access to health care, education and public safety while spurring community development and building sound infrastructure for people living in rural communities.

USDA Deputy Secretary, Dr. Jewel Bronaugh, stated that investing in infrastructure improvements is a top priority of the current administration. This announcement makes loans and grants available to assist rural communities invest in facilities and services that are deemed vital such as: health care facilities, schools, libraries, and first responder vehicles and equipment.

The announcement highlighted 731 projects under five over-arching programs:
• Community Facilities Direct Loans and Grants
• Community Facilities Loan Guarantees
• Community Facilities Technical Assistance Training Grants
• Community Facilities Disaster Grants
• Economic Impact Initiative Grants

Nevada Congressman, Mark Amodei has been integral in securing $8.1M of the Community Facilities Direct Loan for the Elko Institute for Academic Achievement.

Learn More

WNDD Economic Recovery Update – Winter 2021/2022

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WNDD LAUNCHES NEVADA SPEED TEST FOR IMPROVED INTERNET ACCESS

Happy New Year and welcome to the Winter 2021/2022 edition of the Economic Recovery and Resiliency Update from the Western Nevada Development District (WNDD)!

This newsletter is part of WNDD’s effort to build a more resilient economy in our region. The activities and progress of WNDD and the Action Teams will be reported to help WNDD members and other businesses and organizations plan and implement their recovery and resiliency efforts.

This publication is part of a Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) Supplemental Award for the United States. It intends to help troubled areas attract industry, retain and develop businesses, and create long-term sustainable private-sector jobs and investments.

We look forward to sharing new information with you each month.

Sheryl Gonzales

Read the Update!

USDA ReConnect Program

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2022 Application Workshops Announced

The USDA Rural Development Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is providing two, three-day virtual workshops for those interested in applying for ReConnect Program funding. The ReConnect Program offers loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in areas of rural America without sufficient access to broadband.

Both workshops will present the same content. Register for the dates convenient for you. Workshop content will be posted on the ReConnect website as well.

Workshop Webinar 1: Tuesday, January 18th – Thursday, January 20th.

Workshop Webinar 2: Tuesday, February 8th – Thursday, February 10th.

Workshops will explore the ReConnect program application system and program requirements for FY2022.

Topics will include:

• Program Eligibility
• Evaluation Criteria
• Live Demonstrations of the Application System
• Overview and deep dive sessions on financial, network, environmental, and mapping requirements
• Compliance and Post-award Reporting

Space is limited. Register Today!

ReConnect Program Information

Workshop 1: January 18 thru 20, 2022

Workshop 2: February 8 thru 10, 2022

EDA Announces 60 Finalists for $1 Billion

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“Build Back Better Regional Challenge”

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the 60 finalists for the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) $1 billion “Build Back Better Regional Challenge” the main component of the EDA’s American Rescue Plan programs.

The 60 finalists were selected from a pool of 529 applications and will receive a grant of approximately $500,000 each. Applications were received from 45 states and Puerto Rico. Additionally, the finalists will move on to Phase 2 of the challenge which will award a select group of 20 to 30 regional coalitions up to $100 million to implement 3 to 8 projects that support an industry sector.

The “Build Back Better Regional Challenge” seeks to boost economic pandemic recovery and rebuild American communities, including some that have been grappling with decades of disinvestment.

Build Back Better Regional Challenge

All Finalists

New Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

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Allocates More Than $1.5 Billion to Brownfields Program

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law last month, will dedicate more than $1.5 billion to the U.S. EPA Brownfields program. The Act includes hundreds of millions of dollars allocated to Multipurpose Grants, Assessment Grants, Cleanup Grants, Revolving Loan Fund Grants, and technical assistance and is intended to improve equity, stimulate redevelopment and reuse, create jobs, and mitigate environmental degradation.

U.S. EPA released an outline of how it will distribute the funding, including key information about funding limits for multi-purpose, assessment, cleanup, and revolving loan fund grants, plus upcoming grant timelines.

Check out the outline to the funding allocation below and join the National Brownfields Coalition for a conversation about opportunities arising from the Act and the state of brownfields nationally on Thursday, Dec. 16 at 10 a.m. (PT).

Registration: State of the Redevelopment Field

Read the funding breakdown here: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: A Historic Investment in Brownfields

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Take the Nevada Speed Test Today!

Infrastructure Act Broadband Grants

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Public Listening Sessions Set for Infrastructure Act Broadband Grants

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will host its first Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Broadband Programs Public Virtual Listening Session on:

Wednesday, December 15, 2021
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time (PT)

There are five new broadband grant programs authorized and funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act:

• Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program
• Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program
• Digital Equity Act Programs (Includes the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program)
• State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program
• Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program

Listening sessions will be hosted via NTIA’s virtual platform and conducted as a live public listening session. Registration information is required. The public virtual listening sessions are designed to collect stakeholder input to help inform program development and implementation. NTIA will hold additional public virtual listening sessions throughout January and February of 2022.

Registration: Public Listening Sessions

Nevada Speed Test