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Author: Spencer Abrams
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DDAA Monthly: July 2023
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DDAA Monthly: June 2023
For all your LDD news!
DDAA Monthly
The Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail System includes 25 miles of walking and biking trails, stretching from the City of Travelers Rest, through the campus of Furman University, downtown Greenville, and a large city park to its terminus in the Conastee Nature Preserve, near Mauldin, SC.
The trail enhances the quality of life of the community, enjoys significant use by locals, has become a major tourist attraction, and is a catalyst for economic development.
Planning for the trail began in 1999, with the creation of the Greenville County Economic Development Corporation. That organization’s first act was to purchase the abandoned Greenville and Northern Railway line. Construction on the main segment of the trail began in 2007, at a cost of $ 2.7 million. A gift of $ 1 million from the Greenville Health System (which subsequently became Prisma Health) was a huge boost to the project. As additional segments of the trail have been added over time, the total development cost is approaching $ 9 million, with additional extensions in the works. Four ARC investments have contributed a total of $ 1.2 million toward construction.
News
Research
Grant Opportunities
Appalachian Solar Finance Fund
Deadline: Rolling
Appalachian Community Fund: Technical Assistance
Status: Open
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Pioneering Ideas: Exploring the Future to Build a Culture of Health
Deadline: Rolling
US Department of Labor and Employment Training Administration: Critical Sector Job Quality Grants
Deadline: July 17, 2023
US Department of Agriculture: Rural Energy for America Program
Deadline: September 30, 2023
US Department of Housing and Urban Development: FY2023 HOPE VI Main Street Grant Program
Deadline: October 12, 2023
Events
National Association of Counties (NACo) – 2023 Annual Conference & Exposition
July 21 – July 24, 2023
Travis County, TX
2023 Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) Annual Conference
August 13 – 15, 2023
Williamsburg, VA
National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) – 4th National Summit on Rural Road Safety
September 12 – 14, 2023
Oklahoma City, OK
The Manufacturing Institute – Workforce Summit: Sourcing Solutions
October 16 – 18, 2023
Atlanta, GA
National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) – Annual Training Conference
November 7 – November 10, 2023
Cleveland, OH
Development District Association of Appalachia
Building the Case for Your Local Development District
Ongoing – Anytime, Any Place
Price: Free
Development District Association of Appalachia
Improving Customer Service at Local Development Districts
Ongoing – Anytime, Any Place
Price: Free
FOLLOW US
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Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail System, Greenville South Carolina
By Steven Pelissier
The Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail System includes 25 miles of walking and biking trails, stretching from the City of Travelers Rest, through the campus of Furman University, downtown Greenville, and a large city park to its terminus in the Conastee Nature Preserve, near Mauldin, SC. The trail enhances the quality of life of the community, enjoys significant use by locals, has become a major tourist attraction, and is a catalyst for economic development.
Planning for the trail began in 1999, with the creation of the Greenville County Economic Development Corporation. That organization’s first act was to purchase the abandoned Greenville and Northern Railway line. Construction on the main segment of the trail began in 2007, at a cost of $ 2.7 million. A gift of $ 1 million from the Greenville Health System (which subsequently became Prisma Health) was a huge boost to the project. As additional segments of the trail have been added over time, the total development cost is approaching $ 9 million, with additional extensions in the works. Four ARC investments have contributed a total of $ 1.2 million toward construction.
Economists estimate that the trail’s annual economic impact to the community exceeds $ 7 million. Property values and rental demand for commercial spaces along the corridor have increased dramatically, with tens of thousands of users being drawn to the trail each year. Prior to the trail’s opening, nearly one-third of the store fronts on the Main Street of Travelers Rest were vacant, with not much happening around the town. Today, demand for space in the town is incredible as the businesses and restaurants that originally opened to serve the trail have transformed the town into a trendy dining and entertainment center, attracting people from all over the region.In a similar manner, the Swamp Rabbit has transformed the western portion of Greenville, which had been largely abandoned and decaying since the closure of textile mills in the 1970’s and 1980’s. That area has become Greenville’s hot spot for residential development, hip restaurants, and entertainment. While the trail is not the only aspect of Greenville’s marketing strategy, it expands on and enhances the natural resource asset based strategy for its development and marketing.
People often ask how the Swamp Rabbit got its name. Back when the line operated as a railroad, passengers noted the numerous unique looking large, big headed, short furred rabbits that lived along the route leading it to be nicknamed “The Swamp Rabbit Line.” This name was carried over to the trail. -
DDAA Monthly: April 2023
For all your LDD news!
DDAA Monthly
DDAA is pleased to share the first edition of Newslines, a regular post from board members sharing what’s happening in LDDs across Appalachia. Our first edition features DDAA President Jeffrey Box and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance (NEPA Alliance) in Pennsylvania.
News
Research
Grant Opportunities
Deadline: Rolling (cycle closes March 31, 2023)
Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities
Deadline: June 13, 2023
Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas
Deadline: June 28, 2023
Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD)
Deadline: N/A
National Scenic Byways Program (NSBP)
Deadline: N/A
Economic Adjustment Assistance
Deadline: Rolling
Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation
Deadline: Rolling
Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies
Deadline: Rolling
Child Care Technical Assistance Network Stabilization Grant
Deadline: TBD
Events
New Growth Innovation Network
Strengthening Economic Recovery: Weaving Equity into Regional Growth
May 10, 2023
Webinar
Opportunity Appalachia
Opportunity Appalachia Investor Convening
May 31 – June 01, 2023
Virtual Conference
Development District Association of Appalachia
Building the Case for Your Local Development District
Ongoing – Anytime, Any Place
Price: Free
Development District Association of Appalachia
Improving Customer Service at Local Development Districts
Ongoing – Anytime, Any Place
Price: Free
FOLLOW US
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DDAA Monthly: January 2023
For all your LDD news!
DDAA Monthly
2022 Accomplishments
The Development District Association of Appalachia has been busy in 2022 working to serve YOU in your mission to support your community. DDAA supports Local Development Districts in building healthy, prosperous, diverse, and resilient communities across the Appalachian Region.
Registration Open for
DDAA Annual Conference
The Development District Association of Appalachia (DDAA) invites you to register for the 2023 Washington Conference, held from March 12-15, 2023 in Arlington, VA. The conference will include sessions focused on regional development, the federal landscape, and the programs and policies that matter most to Regional Development Organizations and their stakeholders. Click here to learn more and to register.
ARC Announces INSPIRE Funding
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for its Investments Supporting Partnerships In Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) Initiative. The grant program addresses the disproportionate impact of the substance use disorder crisis on Appalachian communities and workforces with investments of up to $13 million in projects that create or expand services in the recovery ecosystem and help facilitate workforce entry and re-entry.
News
Research
Grant Opportunities
Agriculture Innovation Center Program
Deadline: March 5, 2023
Investments Supporting Partnerships In Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) Initiative
Deadline: March 17, 2023
Deadline: Rolling (cycle closes March 31, 2023)
Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD)
Deadline: N/A
Deadline: N/A
Economic Adjustment Assistance
Deadline: Rolling
Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation
Deadline: Rolling
Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies
Deadline: Rolling
Child Care Technical Assistance Network Stabilization Grant
Deadline: TBD
Events
Development District Association of Appalachia
Building the Case for Your Local Development District
Ongoing
Anytime, Any Place
Price: Free
Development District Association of Appalachia
Improving Customer Service at Local Development DistrictsOngoing
Anytime, Any Place
Price: Free
Development District Association of Appalachia
Annual Conference
March 12 – 16, 2023
FOLLOW US
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DDAA Professional Development Winter Trainings ❄️
Who Are your Trainers for the December In-person Trainings?
DDAA recently announced several trainings coming up in December 2022.
Meet our expert instructors.
Instructors for the
New Executive Director Training
December 12, 2022
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM ET
Gainesville, GA
Heather Feldman serves as the Executive Director for the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission (GMRC). Having been employed at the GMRC for 21 years, she is responsible for the day-to-day opera-tions of the organization and management of the various programs including Economic and Community Development, Planning, GIS, Revolving Loan Funding, and Workforce Development.
Steve Pelissier is the executive director of the Appalachian Council of Governments. Steve has been on staff at ACOG since 1990. Prior to being named executive director in 2006, Steve previously served as the agency’s planning director and assistant executive director. Over the past 32years with the agency, he has worked with numerous communities and organizations across the Upstate.
Dennis Stripling is currently serving as the Executive Director at West Alabama Regional Commission in Northport Alabama. He is Vice-President of the Alabama Association of Regional Councils. He was elected Mayor of Brent Alabama in 2004 and served 4 terms, as Mayor he was an active member of the Alabama League of Municipalities where he served on the Executive Committee earning his Certified Municipal Official Emeritus Certification.
Jill Foys is the Executive Director of the Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning & Development Commission in Oil City, PA. The Northwest Commission is a Regional Community and Economic Development Agency serving the counties of Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, and Warren.
Instructor for Human Resource Strategies
for LDD Directors
December 13, 2022
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM ET
Gainesville, GA
Matt Vaadi is a social entrepreneur focused on alleviating homelessness in Columbia, SC, and the surrounding areas. He accomplishes this mission by donating three percent of all revenue from his companies to local charities focused on addressing this need. Matt has been working in HR since 2003. He is passionate about creating better workplaces and helping small businesses grow. He is a best-selling author of the book “Ping-Pong is Not a Strategy: How to Create an Awesome Organizational Culture”.
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DDAA Monthly: November 2022
For all your LDD news!
DDAA Monthly
Deadline Extended:
Conference Call for Proposals
The Development District Association of Appalachia is holding its Annual Conference in Arlington, Virginia from March 12-15, 2023. We plan to share cutting-edge ideas, highlight success stories and lessons learned, and engage with other LDDs during our annual gathering. DDAA is seeking compelling session proposals to ensure a comprehensive program. Session proposals should address topics and trends that reflect the wide-ranging needs and interests of member region, states or LDDs, with a focus on this year’s theme of Strengthening Communities and Building Momentum Post-Pandemic.
New Deadline: November 11, 2022
DDAA Announces New Trainings
The Development District Association of Appalachia is offering three training classes taught by industry professionals to help build and develop your skills.
Rural Workforce Development Systems and Practices
December 1, December 6, December 8, 2022
Virtual Training
New Executive Director Training
December 12, 2022
Gainesville, GA
Human Resource Strategies for LDD Directors
December 13, 2022
Gainesville, GA
ARC Announces
LDD Funding Opportunity
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has announced a new funding opportunity that will allow Local Development Districts (LDDs) to secure funding to hire additional staff and build local capacity. More information is available here. This funding is designed to support LDDs serving distressed areas and marginalized groups. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with the first quarterly cycle closing on December 31, 2022.
News
EDA Taps NGIN To Lead Equity Impact Investments
EDA And NADO Research Foundation Establish Economic Development District Community of Practice
States Steer More Money Toward Rural Roads
How big coal companies avoid cleaning up their messes
America’s green revolution comes to coal country
Biden-Harris Administration Expands Rural Partners Network to Four More States and Puerto Rico
Research
Grant Opportunities
Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD)
Deadline: N/A
Deadline: N/A
Economic Adjustment Assistance
Deadline: Rolling
Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation
Deadline: Rolling
Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies
Deadline: Rolling
Deadline: Rolling (cycle closes December 31, 2022)
COVID-19 Response
Please reach out to Brendan Buff at bbuff@crec.net or Ken Poole at kpoole@crec.net if you have any requests for assistance, things you’d like to share with the DDAA membership, or suggestions for how we address the impacts of COVID-19.
Events
Development District Association of Appalachia
Building the Case for Your Local Development District
Ongoing
Anytime, Any Place
Price: Free
Appalachian Regional Commission
Designing Successful Multistate Projects
November 10, 2022
11:00 AM ET
Development District Association of Appalachia
Improving Customer Service at Local Development Districts
Ongoing
Anytime, Any Place
Price: Free
Development District Association of Appalachia
Rural Workforce Development Systems and Practices
December 1, December 6, December 8, 2022
Virtual Training
Development District Association of Appalachia
New Executive Director Training
December 12, 2022
Gainesville, GA
Development District Association of Appalachia
Human Resource Strategies for LDD Directors
December 13, 2022
Gainesville, GA
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DDAA Professional Development Winter Trainings
Who Are These Professional Development Trainings For?
DDAA recently announced several trainings coming up in December 2022.
But, who will benefit most from attending?
Workforce Development Staff
Do you work in workforce development, and could use a few new tools in filling your regional staffing shortages? Do you sometimes feel a like the workforce development system is confusing and could use a clear overview? Attend Rural Workforce Development Systems and Practices from the comfort of your home or office in a virtual training to learn more about WIOA, apprenticeships, credentials, and other approaches.
Rural Workforce Development Systems and Practices
December 1, 6, 8, 2022
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM ET
Hosted on Zoom
New and Ascending LDD Leaders
Are you a new executive director, or an aspiring leader of a local development district? The New Executive Direct Training will be led by experience executive directors, who will lead conversations about issues that leaders face such as financial management and organizational leadership. This session is designed to support executive directors with three years on the job or fewer, but the conversation will be informative to all.
Experienced LDD Executive Directors
As mentioned above, while the New Executive Director Training is tailored to (you guessed it) new executive directors, leaders of all experience levels will benefit from these peer-led discussions. On the following day, the Human Resources Strategies for LDD Directors will also provide valuable guidance in organizational matters. These trainings are both held in Gainesville, GA on consecutive days (December 12 – 13, 2022)
HR Professionals
Are you an HR leader who is encountering differences between generations in your staff? Are you working to make your LDD more inclusive? Attend Human Resources Strategies for LDD Directors to receive training from an HR pro.
New Executive Director Training
Human Resource Strategies
for LDD Directors
December 12, 2022
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM ET
Gainesville, GA 30503
December 13, 2022
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM ET
Gainesville, GA 30503
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DDAA Professional Development Winter Seminars
<!–<!–Don’t Miss Out on These
Professional Development Seminars
<!–The Development District Association of Appalachia is offering three training classes taught by industry professionals to help build and develop your skills.
<!–<!–Rural Workforce Development Systems and Practices
<!–<!–December 1, December 6, December 8, 2022
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM ET
Hosted on Zoom
<!–<!–You are warmly invited to a series of virtual trainings that will help your community learn from and implement best practices in rural workforce development. The training will be especially useful for workforce development program managers and associated staff at local development districts. Goals of the training include:
- Provide a systematic overview/approach to workforce development— geared to both experienced workforce development professionals and LDD staff that are just entering the space.
- Provide attendees an understanding of core workforce system components like WIOA, funding opportunities, and key institutional partners.
- Provide overview of key strategies for preparing and connecting rural workers to employers paying living wages in their communities.
- Understand global, national, and industry-specific trends affecting businesses and the workforce — with a special focus on technology change and emerging skill requirements.
<!–<!–Trainers:
Allan Freyer, PhD, Principal, Peregrine Strategies
Elizabeth Standafer, PhD, Work-based Learning and Career Development Consultant, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Allison Forbes, PhD, Vice President of Research, Center of Regional Economic Competitiveness
<!–<!–<!–<!–In-Person Seminars – Register for Both and Save
<!–<!–New Executive Director Training
<!–<!–Human Resource Strategies
for LDD Directors
<!–<!–<!–<!–<!–<!–December 12, 2022
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM ET
Gainesville, GA 30503
<!–<!–December 13, 2022
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM ET
Gainesville, GA 30503
<!–<!–<!–<!–<!–<!–<!–<!–<!–<!–New executive directors (less than 3 years in role) are warmly invited to attend a training summit to hone your organizational skills and managerial vision. You’ll network with other new executives while learning the ropes from seasoned DDAA leadership!
Agenda topics include:
- Relationship Building: Board & legislator relations
- Financial Management: Budgeting, indirect costs, understanding audits
- Organizational Leadership: Bylaws, organizational charts, staffing plans
- Executive Strategy: Vision setting, ethics, marketing—“telling your story and building reputation”
<!–<!–Are you passionate about your team’s growth and professional development? DDAA executives are warmly invited to attend an in-person human resources workshop December 13th. At this workshop you will:
- Receive a toolkit to help you better communicate with your team
- Walk away with actionable intel and ideas to help meet your HR executive goals
Trainer:
Matt Vaadi, CEO, guHRoo
<!–<!–<!–<!–<!–<!–<!–<!–<!–<!–<!–<!–<!–<!–<!– -
ARC/EPA ARPA Hub Update – April 19
The Community Capacity Training Hub is your one-stop shop for discussion and resources related to ARC and EPA’s training series on the ARPA Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.
Things are happening on the Hub! This week, participants have added helpful new guidance from the Department of Treasury added to the Resource Library and a new discussion on eligible uses in the Discussions area.
Sign up or log into the Hub for all the latest information:
- NEW OMB Guidance in Hub Library: Top 10 things you should know about the Updated ARPA Recovery Fund Single Audit Requirements for recipients of less than $10 million.
- Hub Discussion: Check out discussion on whether payroll expenses are an eligible ARPA use. Please respect ARC’s posting guidelines
ARPA in Appalachia: Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Training Series
How Are Appalachian Communities Using ARPA Funds?
Part I: April 26, 2022, from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM EST
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Part II: April 28, 2022, from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM EST
You are already registered for these sessions and calendar invites with links to join the sessions will be going out soon.
Note: This training is reserved for county and local government officials and staff, along with local development districts in the ARC region. Please feel free to forward this information to appropriate government officials and other key leaders in the region who will be deciding on uses for the funds.
With support from the Appalachian Regional Commission and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness is partnering with the National Association of Counties and EntreWorks Consulting on a series of training sessions in 2022 to share key requirements, best practices for long-term economic transformation, and successful case studies related to ARPA’s Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.
