[OMS_MANAGERS] Info from National Main Street Center: 2016 Trends Survey & USDA Webinar

[STUART Sheri * OPRD]

1.     USDA Webinar: Tomorrow, March 31st, at 1:00pm CT the National Main Street Center will be hosting a webinar with USDA on their Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) Program.  To register and learn more about the webinar click here<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/usda-strategic-economic-and-community-development-secd-program-tickets-22929117608>.
Established under the 2014 Farm Bill (P.L. 113-79), the SECD program allows USDA-RD to reserve up to 10 percent of funding appropriated to specific programs until June 30 of each fiscal year to fund projects that support the implementation of strategic economic and community development plans across multi-jurisdictional areas. The four Rural Development programs with SECD set-aside funds include: Community Facilities, Water and Environmental Programs, Rural Business Development Grants, and Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans. The goal of SECD is to support rural communities who are working collaboratively across jurisdictions and capitalizing on their regional strengths to help create a larger impact.
This webinar will provide an overview of the SECD and the Rural Development Programs mentioned above.  Please join us in this opportunity to learn more about SECD and how it can benefit rural communities. Speakers for the webinar are:

  *   Sam Rikkers, Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development
  *   Farah Ahmad, Program Manager, Strategic Economic and Community Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development
  *   Gregory Dale, Southern Region Community Economic Development Coordinator, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development


2.   2016 Main Street Trends Survey: Yesterday The National Main Street Center launched the 2016 Main Street Trends Survey. I strongly encourage you to participate!  This survey is an important tool for the Center, helping us understand the profile of those we serve.  Click here<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/X2GTKXC>  to take the survey and please encourage your local programs to do the same. As a thank you for your time in completing the survey, NMSC is offering three prizes that they will award to three individuals who complete the survey:
*    The 10th person to complete the survey will receive conference registration to the 2016 Main Street Now Conference in Milwaukee, Wis.
*    Two winners will receive a ticket to the Big Bash at the conference.
*If a winner has already registered, a refund will be issued in the amount of the prize.
The survey will close on Friday, April 15.











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