Notices from the Executive Director

DIRECTOR’S NOTICES:
Welcome to Director’s Notices. My name is Steve Spaw. It is my privilege to serve as Executive Director for Sierra County Economic Development Organization ( SCEDO ). I have nearly 20 years experience in international hotel and resort development and operational management. I have a B.S. from Arizona State University and an M.L.A. from Texas A&M University. In hospitality, the goal is always customer satisfaction. Sierra County has the same goal. Whether you seek quality of life relocation or exceptional business development opportunities, this is the place to be. Our goal at SCEDO is to assist you with your quality of life and business goals. Sierra County is one of the most naturally beautiful and economically promising locations in the country. I invite you to discover Sierra County through the links provided in our website, or better yet, come see for yourself how much we have to offer.

The DIRECTOR’S NOTICES link provides our web visitors with the most current economic development news as well as the latest grant and incentive opportunities for businesses considering start-up, expansion or relocation. Please review our newsletter and articles and contact us for any additional information you may desire. Be sure to visit the ‘NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES’ link to see what outside businesses are seeking in order to locate to Sierra County. Thank you for visiting the SCEDO web site and please let us hear your comments and ideas.
Best Regards,
Steven M. Spaw, B.S., M.L.A.
SCEDO Executive Director

USDA will accept applications for the Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan program until September 15, 2010, or until all funds are expended. Recovery Act funding will be available through September 30, 2010.
Funding is made available through the USDA Rural Development Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan program. Eligible applicants include cooperative organizations, corporations, partnerships, nonprofit groups, federally recognized Indian tribes, public bodies and individuals. The funds will be targeted at creating and retaining jobs and serving difficult to reach populations and areas hardest hit by the current economic downturn. Loans may by used for, but not limited to, the following:

Business and industry aquisitions when the loan will keep businesses from closing, prevent loss of employment opportunities or provide expanded job opportunities.

Business conversion, expansion, repair, modernization or development.

Purchase and development of land, easements, rights-of-way, buildings or facilities.

Purchase of equipment, leasehold improvements, machinery, supplies or inventory.

For more information on eligibility criteria and application assistance, contact your state Rural Development office or visit www.rurdev.usda.gov

The USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT office has just sent SCEDO notice of the following funding programs and their respective application deadlines. They have also sent us a list of articles and tools to assist us. Apparently some of these dealines are coming up quickly

FUNDING

1) A.R.R.A. Assistance to Firefighters Fire Station Construction Grants
Application deadline: Jul 10, 2009
Funding for the construction and modification of fire stations.

2) Native American Housing Block Grant Program under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009
Application deadline: Jul 13, 2009
Grants to assist tribes in developing, operating, maintaining, and supporting affordable housing for rental and homeownership housing.

3) Housing Counseling Programs
Application deadline: Jul 17, 2009
Grants to fund the delivery of housing counseling services.

4) Tom’s of Maine’s ‘50 States for Good’ Initiative Offers Program Funding for Nonprofits
Five awards of $20,000 each will be given to nonprofit organizations working to make lasting, positive changes in their communities….
Deadline: August 30, 2009

5) Gannett Foundation Accepting Applications for Community Action Grants
Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to nonprofits working to improve their communities in locations where Gannett owns a newspaper or broadcast station…. Deadline: August 17, 2009

6) Calvert Foundation Loan Program
Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.
Loans to community organizations that act as financial intermediaries, including loan funds, microfinance institutions, affordable housing developers and social enterprises.

7) Do Something Plum Youth Grants
Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.
Funding for sustainable community action projects, programs or organizations.

FedEx Social Responsibility Program
Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.
Core giving areas are emergency and disaster relief, pedestrian and child safety, education, and health and human services.

9) FY 2009 EDA American Recovery Program Pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.
Grants that will promote comprehensive, entrepreneurial and innovation-based economic development efforts.

10) Jenny’s Heroes Community Grant Program
Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.
Grants to individuals who submit the best ideas for tangible, lasting community projects.

11) Libri Books for Children Program
Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.
Donates new, quality, hardcover children’s books for small, rural public libraries in the United States.

12) Patriot Express Loan Initiative
Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.
A loan initiative for veterans and members of the military community wanting to establish or expand small businesses.

13) Technology Grants for Rural Schools
Application deadline: Sep 14, 2009
Technology Grants for Rural Schools program was created to help meet the growing need for innovative technology in the classroom.

REPORTS/ARTICLES

1) Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City - A steep recession and financial meltdown have led to tight credit markets in rural America. In the latest issue of the Main Street Economist, economist Brian Briggeman explores how credit conditions are evolving for rual business owners, shedding light on current credit markets and providing rural business owners information they can use to identify when credit markets turn. You can find the full article at http://www.kansascityfed.org/home/subwebnav.cfm?level=3&theID=9825&SubWeb=12

2) What Makes A Good Rural School?
Jun 12, 2009 — Daily Yonder article tells of three Alabamians who went looking for the best of that state’s rural schools and found ten outstanding rural schools that were thriving in small communities despite troubled economic times.

3) Maine Study Sheds Light on Costs of ‘Hidden Homeless’ in Rural America
Jun 8, 2009 — Minneapolis Star Tribune, (MN) article tells of a study, commissioned by the Maine State Housing Authority, that is believed to be the first study in the nation to provide a look at the costs of rural homelessness in a state.

TOOLS

1) Preparing for the Future: A Guide to Community-Based Planning
Describes the social and economic status of rural areas and offers a model for facilitating a community-based planning process.
Organization: Southern Rural Development Center
Date: 05 / 2009

2) CDS Consulting Co-op is dedicated to building and strengthening cooperative businesses by providing consulting, training and development services. http://cdsconsulting.coop/home they have some good materials in the their library for food coop/grocery store coops - https://cdsconsulting.centraldesktop.com/cbld/doc/1649747/