RuralRise hosted the Opportunity Appalachia program by Kathryn Coulter Rhodes of Rural Support Partners!
Click here for the link to the video.
The Community Colleges of Appalachia (CCA), an association representing community colleges across 13 states in the Appalachian region is providing programs and services responsive to the unique challenges – cultural, geographic, and economic – facing the Appalachian region.
Click here to read the article.
Please join ACCT and the Rural Community College Alliance this month for a webinar and Peer Learning Network discussion for rural community colleges that focus on campus-based childcare.
Zoom Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkfuusrTMoHdPJ7uOiHegWTxQk6cQBiTVR
The 2022’s Conference was Sept. 14-16 at Iowa Western Community College.
Iowa Western CC was a fantastic host!
Underserved and Veteran Farmers, Ranchers, and Foresters
The 2501 Program
“The 1990 Farm Bill created the 2501 Program to help underserved farmers, ranchers, and foresters, who have historically experienced limited access to USDA programs and services. The 2014 Farm Bill expanded the 2501 Program to include veterans. The 2501 Program is officially called Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program.”
Co-Sponsored with ACCT
See ACCT Website for further information, or
contact Penny Wills: President@ruralccalliance.org
or Rachel Rush-Marlowe: rrushmarlowe@acct.org
This is a great opportunity to meet federal agencies’ staff to learn about their grants, programs, loans and services for rural colleges.
Read comments from just some of our conference attendees about the phenomenal connection, support, sharing of ideas and solutions.
The Innovation Center within the US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development mission area is interested in reaching out to rural community and tribal colleges that offer a data science curriculum. Rural Development loans and grants finance homes, businesses, libraries, schools, roads, hospitals, utilities and more throughout rural America, and the Innovation Center is applying cutting-edge data analytical techniques and best practices to improve USDA’s program delivery.
We would like to partner with you to provide your Data Science graduates an opportunity to join a dynamic data analytics team. They will be involved in a wide assortment of “big data” projects that include dashboard construction, optimization modeling, economic and business forecasting, to name but a few. They will be able to work with issues affecting communities like theirs without having to relocate and leave those communities. USDA will benefit not only from their data science training, but also from their understanding of the opportunities and challenges in the rural areas in which they live.
Please contact me if you would like more information. I will be out of the office from Tuesday, September 8, through Friday, September 11, but I will be returning email and telephone messages.
Thank you!
John Delaney
Senior Policy Advisor, Data Analytics Division
Innovation Center, Rural Development
United States Department of Agriculture
202.720.9705
john.delaney@USDA.gov
www.rd.usda.gov
“Together, America Prospers”
Yes, one day we will have a vaccine for COVID-19 and we will be able to gather together again. But in the meantime, our RCCA conference will still be with the ACCT Leadership Congress… but virtual. I know that many of you are tired of zoom meetings, etc, but this Congress is worth your engagement.
I encourage you to view the ACCT website (ACCT.org/virtual-congress). The preliminary schedule for October 5 – 8, 2020 is now available. At least five sessions will be featuring rural community colleges. Also, the preliminary findings from the ACCT study of the Strengths, Needs, and Challenges of Rural Community Colleges (funded by Gates Foundation) will be shared.
There are other features for this particular Congress that I believe offer a special opportunity for you and your colleagues.
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Reduced rates. For example, an individual can register for only $349 while a team of 4–6 colleagues can register for $1,249. This is very cost effective especially with no airline or hotel costs!
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The sessions will all be recorded so you and your team can view and review at any time to fit your hectic schedules.
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At other conventions, I always valued time to meet with my colleagues and talk about the sessions we had attended and then think what we could bring back to campus. Now, this year, those discussions don’t have to wait! View as a team and let your discussion change from ideas to plans!
I hope you will register for this Congress. RCCA will also be featured on a panel discussing rural challenges. I will be sharing how RCCA, your Alliance, is stronger than ever with continued efforts of networking, sharing solutions to complex concerns, and advocacy at the state and national levels. RCCA, the leading organization serving as the voice of rural colleges, is encouraging all of you to be more engaged in matters that need to be a top priority for action.
Stay well,
Penny Wills
President, RCCA
RCCA learned late last week that a beloved Past President of our Alliance passed away. Dr. Bill Scaggs was not only instrumental in the development of RCCA but also was the key person to frame its respected national reputation. Colleagues who had the opportunity to work with him described him as respected, humble, and inspirational. He will be missed. RCCA is indebted to him for his leadership.
You can read a full obituary at The Meridian Star.