Latest News
All the news that is relevant for the WNDD Region
Virtual Listening Event: November 3rd & 4th
USDA is seeking public input on how to use Inflation Reduction Act funding to advance clean energy for people in rural America. This commitment to cleaner energy will help USDA Rural Development provide resources to reduce climate pollution and ensure that communities have access to a clean, secure energy supply to keep rural people and economies prepared for the future.
Inflation Reduction Act strives to reduce energy costs for families and create thousands of good-paying jobs for people across rural America.
USDA is hosting two virtual listening sessions to provide an opportunity for stakeholders and other interested parties to submit comments. Tribes and Tribal utilities are invited to join these sessions. USDA will announce a Tribal-specific listening session or consultation in the near future.
Registration is required and the listening sessions will be recorded and made publicly available.
Virtual Session: Thursday, November 3, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM PT
This session is for rural communities, rural small businesses, and agricultural producers including renewable energy generation providers, distribution utilities, transportation fueling facilities, fuel distribution facilities, environmental, community and consumer groups, industry associations, and Federal, state, and local government and agencies.
Friday, November 4, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM PT
The Friday session focuses on rural electric cooperatives and related stakeholders as described above.
Interested parties may also submit written comments on or before Monday, November 28, 2022.
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 workforce development, infrastructure and broadband.
Grant Opportunities & More
New Data Analysis Tool Helps Determine Grant Eligibility and Critical Recovery Needs
In partnership with the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), Argonne has developed the National Economic Resilience Data Explorer (NERDE) to help a variety of users across the country with local economic recovery and resilience analysis. The NERDE consolidates information and data on economic distress criteria, COVID-19 impacts to local economies, and the existence and emergence of industry clusters. The searchable information is displayed at the Economic Development District (EDD) and county levels in two separate dashboard tools. These data also help inform communities on the types of criteria that may indicate eligibility for EDA assistance
National Economic Resilience Data Explorer (NERDE)
USDA seeks qualified small businesses to support research toward commercial opportunities in agriculture!
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) focus on transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial potential and/or societal benefit. Unlike fundamental research, the USDA SBIR/STTR programs support small businesses in the creation of innovative, disruptive technologies and enable the application of research advancements from conception into the market. The programs provide equity-free funding and entrepreneurial support at the earliest stages of company and technology development in categories including:
• Plant Production and Protection (Biology)
• Animal Production and Protection
• Conservation of Natural Resources
• Rural and Community Development
• Aquaculture • Biofuels and Biobased Products
• Small and Mid-size Farms
Awards range up to $181,000
Phase I Application Deadline: October 25, 2022
USDA Learning Program Grants look to increase knowledge of agriculture and improve the nutritional health of children.
The purpose of the Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program is to increase the knowledge of agricultural science and improve the nutritional health of children. The program’s goal is to increase the capacity for food, garden, and nutrition education within host organizations or entities, such as school cafeterias and classrooms, while fostering higher levels of community engagement between farms and school systems by bringing together stakeholders from distinct parts of the food system. The initiative is part of a broader effort to not only increase access to school meals for low-income children, but also to dramatically improve their quality.
Awards range up to $225,000 (No match required)
Application Deadline: December 8, 2022
Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)
FEMA’s BRIC grant program give states, local communities, tribes and territories funding to address future risks to natural disasters, including ones involving: wildfires, drought, hurricanes, earthquakes, extreme heat, and flooding. Addressing these risks helps make communities more resilient. On Oct. 7, 2022, FEMA announced an increase in program accessibility for communities for the fiscal year 2022 to benefit underserved communities with challenges meeting the Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) requirement when accessing funding through Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs. Eligible states, territories and federally recognized tribal governments can submit applications on behalf of subapplicants for BRIC funding via FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO). This is the grants management system to support FEMA grant programs.
Application Deadline: January 27, 2023
Annual Economic Outlook Forum: October 26, 2022
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
ReConnect Round 4 “Ask Me Anything: ReConnect”
The USDA Rural Development Rural Utilities Service (RUS) will be hosting another “Ask Me Anything: ReConnect” Q&A session. The webinar will provide an opportunity for attendees to ask questions about the Program.
Webinar: Thursday, October 20th from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM PT
EmployNV Job Center Grand Re-Opening – October 20, 2022
Please join Nevadaworks as they re-introduce Northern Nevada’s workforce development center.
Please join Nevadaworks as they hold the reopening of the EmployNV Job Center on October 20th! This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know our community partners and the services provided at the EmployNV Career and Business Hub!
Nevadaworks is Northern Nevada’s partner for job seekers looking for training and employment opportunities, and employers looking to develop and hire skilled workers. By helping you achieve your goals, we’re building a stronger Nevada workforce and more diverse economy.
Where:
Reno Town Mall
4001 S. Virginia St.
Reno, NV
When:
Thursday, October 20, 2022
3:00 to 5:00 PM
Special Guests:
Governor Steve Sisolak
Various Federal & State Officials
Please join Nevadaworks as they re-introduce Northern Nevada’s workforce development center.
Please join Nevadaworks as they hold the reopening of the EmployNV Job Center on October 20th! This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know our community partners and the services provided at the EmployNV Career and Business Hub!
Nevadaworks is Northern Nevada’s partner for job seekers looking for training and employment opportunities, and employers looking to develop and hire skilled workers. By helping you achieve your goals, we’re building a stronger Nevada workforce and more diverse economy.
Where:
Reno Town Mall
4001 S. Virginia St.
Reno, NV
When:
Thursday, October 20, 2022
3:00 to 5:00 PM
Special Guests:
Governor Steve Sisolak
Various Federal & State Officials
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
Stop Cyberattacks in Their Tracks
Department of Homeland Security 2022 State/Local Cybersecurity Grant
This Grant Program assists states, local governments, rural areas, and territories address cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats to information systems. The program enables DHS to make targeted cybersecurity investments to improve the security of critical infrastructure and resilience of the services that state, local, and territorial governments provide to their communities.
Application Deadline: November 15, 2022
Wednesday, September 28th, 2022
10:00 AM PT
The ability to deliver on inclusive growth is hugely dependent on intentional strategies for supporting diverse talent participate in shared prosperity across a region.
During this webinar, practitioners will learn from Good Jobs Challenge awardee, The Northern Nevada Equity in Employment project, led by NevadaWorks a northern Nevada workforce board.
Join Christine Brandon, Western Nevada Development District’s Executive Director along with Milt Stewart of NevadaWorks and Alexandria M. Wright Ph.D. of WestEd as they provide practitioners with details on the unique collaboration across workforce provider organizations, employers, tribes, and other stakeholders. This session will highlight approaches to leverage industry input to inform skills training and solutions to overcome issues of access and equity for excluded workforce.
Speakers:
Christine Brandon
Executive Director @Western Nevada Development District
Patrick Bourke
Management and Program Analyst @U.S. Economic Development Administration
Jessica L. González
Martínez Senior Advisor, Insights and Innovations @New Growth Innovation Network
Milton D. Stewart
Chief Executive Officer @NevadaWorks
Alexandria M. Wright Ph.D.
Senior Research Associate for Economic Mobility, Postsecondary, and Workforce @WestEd