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RCAC's Network News June 2011

Volume XXIX, Number 3

In this issue:

Environmental News

Federal budget deal slashes key community water funds
By Judith Lewis Mernit, High Country News

Steven Meade doesn't hide his frustration. As treasurer of the Atlanta Water Association in Atlanta, Idaho, he has the unenviable task of coming up with money to fix his community's water-quality problems. And Atlanta has had its share. Click here for the Infographic: The Final Cuts: Hits to energy, transportation and the environment that compares "What they had" to "What they got."

Locals cheer appellate court ruling on Safe Water Act
By Miles Shuper, Valley Voice Newspaper

Tulare County - An Appellate Court ruling, which would force the State of California to complete the Safe Drinking Water Plan designed to bring safe and affordable water to small rural communities, is being celebrated by Tulare County residents named in the legal action as well as their legal advocates and other community members.

What’s the fracas over fracking?
By Travis Mitchell, RCAP communications intern, The Safe Drinking Water Trust

Hydraulic fracturing is being spoken about in some quarters, including the media, as the next great hope for weaning America off foreign oil and making the U.S. energy-independent. It is a process that involves extracting natural gas from underground pockets and is commonly referred to as “fracking.”

California farmers at helm in renewable energy production
By Sarah Hoffman, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Western Farm Press

When it comes to on-farm renewable energy production, California farms and ranches now make up more than 20 percent of all operations in the nation with solar, wind and methane digester use. There are now 1,956 California farms producing renewable energy, according to the results of the On-Farm Renewable Energy Production Survey, released by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) last week [March 2]. Access the full report and fact sheet >>

ARRA Reporting Tip 2

Failure to update your Central Contractor Registration (CCR) annually can prevent you from using federalreporting.gov to submit your ARRA quarterly report. For ARRA Tip 1 and 2>>

Housing News

USDA's Self-Help program needs funding to assist rural families

Though the U. S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Section 523 Mutual Self-Help Housing and Section 502 Direct Loan programs have funding through the end of 2011, money for self-help was completely cut from the President’s 2012 budget and the direct loans were cut by more than 80 percent.

Federal self-help home building program on chopping block
Keith Eldridge, KOMOnews.com, Washington

The dream of home ownership for some low-income families is in jeopardy with a self-help home building program on the chopping block.

Local partnership fosters sustainable, affordable, livable communities in Oregon
By Jill Rees, Public Affairs Specialist, USDA Rural Development, Oregon

This month, one of our long-time and valued partners, Umpqua Community Development Corporation (CDC)—soon to be known as NeighborWorks Umpqua—in Southwest Oregon, celebrates its 20th anniversary. It is fitting for this special event to occur during National Homeownership Month, since Umpqua CDC has partnered with USDA Rural Development on numerous affordable housing efforts, as well as economic development projects. This work has had a direct and profound impact on the livability, sustainability and economy of communities here in Southwest Oregon.

First tribal community in the nation adopts international green building code
EPA Press release: April 14

SAN FRANCISCO – Kayenta Township (Ariz.) is the first tribal community in the U.S. to adopt the International Green Construction Code (IGCC), a building code designed to reduce the environmental impact of construction projects while keeping safety measures intact and enforceable.

Loan Fund

RCAC loans enable broad spectrum of rural West improvements

RCAC made nine loans that totaled nearly $4 million in its second quarter of Fiscal Year 2011. RCAC second quarter loans covered six states in the West.

Leadership Development

RCAC’s Rural Development Specialist Olga Morales has been chosen to be a Paso del Norte Health Foundation Next Generation Leader. Morales was elected out of more than 78 candidates by the Foundation to be part of the first group of 20 participants to attend REALIZE, a 15-month program designed to tackle public health challenges in the tri-state region to “ensure the population is healthy and thriving.”  

Eye on Policy

Akaka cosponsors bill to protect homeowners facing foreclosure
May 16

U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) joined 10 other Senators in introducing the Regulation of Mortgage Servicing Act. The bill is aimed at helping homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure stay in their homes by bringing more fairness and transparency into their dealings with mortgage servicers.

President announces founding of White House Rural Council

President Obama signed an Executive Order on June 9 to create the first White House Rural Council - a task force whose focus is to strengthen rural communities nationwide.

General News

Singing the conference blues?

It’s the day of the conference. Registration for the event exceeded your organization’s expectations. You’re expecting more than 400 participants but you only planned for 300.

Bookkeeping test for nonprofit organizations
By Dennis Walsh, CPA, Blue Avocado

(This article is reprinted with permission from Blue Avocado, a practical and readable online magazine for nonprofit organizations. Subscribe free at Blueavocado.org.)

This 21-question quiz samples from general bookkeeping knowledge as well as nonprofit bookkeeping and compliance matters. Use this assessment test as part of your hiring toolkit as well as for identifying staff training needs. Take it yourself and see how you do!

States need to go beyond Affordable Care Act minimum requirements
Center for Rural Affairs

A feature of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act law are Health Insurance Exchanges created by the states. Due to start in 2014, states have the flexibility to create their own Health Insurance Exchange to meet the needs of individuals and small businesses in rural communities.

Oddz N Ends

Conference and Workshop Calendar

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