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<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span></b><![endif]><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black">COMMUNITY GRANT APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black">Applications for the Oregon Community Foundation’s community grants may now be submitted through its online application system. The
application deadline is Jan. 15.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black">The
<a href="http://www.oregoncf.org/grants-scholarships/grants/community-grants"><span style="color:#9D454F">community grants program</span></a> is a broadly accessible, responsive statewide grants program. Its long-term goals are to strengthen the social fabric
of our communities and improve life in Oregon. More immediate goals are to respond to evolving, community-identified needs and to build civic leadership and engagement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Rural Webinar Series (free)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman \,serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman \,serif"">Starting January 13, 2016, the Rural Business Program at the University of Texas at San Antonio – Institute for Economic Development is teaming up with the University
of Nebraska, Sam Houston State University and the University of Minnesota to bring you a quality rural webinar series.</span>
<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman \,serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.25in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman \,serif"">This no-cost webinar series will<b> focus on positive trends impacting the Great Plains states</b> from Minnesota to Texas and places in-between. This monthly
series is offered to local elected officials, economic development specialists, housing agencies, and others engaged in rural development practices. These webinars are educational in focus and will lead up to the Minnesota Symposium on Small Towns June 8-9,
2016 and the Texas Rural Challenge on June 9-10, 2016.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman \,serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent:.25in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman \,serif"">Save the Dates. Here’s a sneak peek at the upcoming webinar series. All webinar times are Noon - 1pm.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent:.25in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman \,serif"">Jan 13 Welcome: Rewriting the Rural Narrative</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent:.25in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman \,serif"">Feb 24 Brain Gain of the Newcomers to Rural America</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.25in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman \,serif"">Mar 23 Leadership Demands in Rural America</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.25in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman \,serif"">Apr 6 Baby Boomers and the Rural Housing Supply</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.25in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman \,serif"">May 4 Rural Entrepreneurship and the Quest for an Empowered Rural Economy</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.25in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman \,serif"">June 1 Great Plains Opinions and Attitudes</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman \,serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.25in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman \,serif"">Please RSVP via this link:
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.25in"><a href="http://cp.mcafee.com/d/5fHCN8SyM_tBMQsLIcCXCQQkkjhPtZVYsrjhh7c9LLcICQQkkjhPtZVZUSnhdSHma4EreIjVkC2zVkDjBtB2A-00CPVkDjBtB2A-00CTbF-CesvW_ec3zhOVt_HTbFFILsyOOCM-C_R4kRHFGTosVkffGhBrwqrhdEECQuKA0akdyrhdw0NjCRotW3u4o_IRzZB2w0FgS9LUlzcDVo5aMmzZfypSsGMU02rod7bOr1In0l8Qg2llpg8Cy02dwTIiNEwjKyUq82VEw19fPh04E_IPh05zZB2yhEw3o6y0nHpKxEw0nO4Er4Qg37NBZ3rwUTnrkDeWJ6PHo"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman \,serif"">http://z.umn.edu/greatplainswebinar</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.25in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman \,serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.25in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman \,serif"">Virtual seating is limited and registration will close on January 8. Links to webinar will be provided the day before each session.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;text-indent:.25in">Program Presenters:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#7A0019;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:105%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:#FEF7E5;vertical-align:baseline">
Randy Cantrell,<a href="http://cp.mcafee.com/d/5fHCNEgdEIfTpsd7bX39KVJd554QsTvuv76QQkhP2rXPb9Jd554QsTvuvudBQjtGRyxa6PH4-l9wE-l9QVnpgFfw09I-l9QVnpgFfw09JOWvFzD7-LPz0UQsKnvWZOWqrbT8IIFIfFLZh5dqWqJS7el3PWApmU6CQPqa9J7HF02B3oCQjo0ebstftrCT7Wt3O4tElTLgrMTYaNCjYI2Bobh-DNcXelos01dI6zBVdwSbwaAq81aGIE4jh016MrS9oQg9Thsd41sQg0ADVEw2kvSpEw2N-Oxh8Qg1I3h0bRITgQg0bV2kdyq81zUO-xJMsrN3CV">
Rural Futures Institute at the University of Nebraska</a><o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#7A0019;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:105%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:#FEF7E5;vertical-align:baseline">
Michael Fortunato,<a href="http://cp.mcafee.com/d/k-Kr3x8SyM_tBMQsLIcCXCQQkkjhPtZVYsrjhh7c9LLcICQQkkjhPtZVZUSnhdSHma4EreIjVkC2zVkDjBtB2A-00CPVkDjBtB2A-00CTbF-CesvW_ec3zhOVt_HTbFFILsyOOCM-C_R4kRHFGTosVkffGhBrwqrpdEECQuKA0akdyrhdw0G4WdZW3um-4_zj8JNQYLirq4LFxLUlzcDVo5aMmzZfypSsGMU02rod7bOr1In0l8Qg2llpg8Cy02dwTIiNEwjKyUq82VEw19fPh04E_IPh05zZB2yhEw3o6y0nHpKxEw0nO4Er4Qg37NBZ3rwUSt-bHbbf">
Center for Rural Studies, Sam Houston State University, Texas</a><o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#7A0019;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:105%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:#FEF7E5;vertical-align:baseline">
Diane Smith,<a href="http://cp.mcafee.com/d/2DRPoQrhovKOUqenS6jtPqqaa9EVK-Y-edFEEzC4TTCmjqqaa9EVK-Y-YrbECXlH52kdDm9YGj1hYGjFOKOxiv00jpYGjFOKOxiv00jrBQ_j7efZvD61NEVsK_RXBQQSnKhppjovjvWyaqRQRrIesG7DR8OJMddI6Qkjqfni05a6NdECM0uG_6lJx5KeDY01MTYaNCjYI2Bobh-DNcXelos01dI6zBVdwSbwaAq81aGIE4jh016MrS9oQg9Thsd41sQg0ADVEw2kvSpEw2N-Oxh8Qg1I3h0bRITgQg0bV2kdyq81zUO-xJMsrOVp-">
American Rural</a><o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#7A0019;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:105%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:#FEF7E5;vertical-align:baseline">
Gil Gonzalez and Celeste Cavazos,<a href="http://cp.mcafee.com/d/avndxMQrhovKOUqenS6jtPqqaa9EVK-Y-edFEEzC4TTCmjqqaa9EVK-Y-YrbECXlH52kdDm9YGj1hYGjFOKOxiv00jpYGjFOKOxiv00jrBQ_j7efZvD61NEVsK_RXBQQSnKhppjovjvWyaqRQRrIesG7DR8OJMddLCQkjqfni05a6NdECM0si2Tj3W44bs01MTYaNCjYI2Bobh-DNcXelos01dI6zBVdwSbwaAq81aGIE4jh016MrS9oQg9Thsd41sQg0ADVEw2kvSpEw2N-Oxh8Qg1I3h0bRITgQg0bV2kdyq81zUO-xJMsr4eBL">
Rural Business Program, The University of Texas at San Antonio</a><o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#7A0019;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:105%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:#FEF7E5;vertical-align:baseline">
Kelly Asche,<a href="http://cp.mcafee.com/d/1jWVIe6x8SyM_tBMQsLIcCXCQQkkjhPtZVYsrjhh7c9LLcICQQkkjhPtZVZUSnhdSHma4EreIjVkC2zVkDjBtB2A-00CPVkDjBtB2A-00CTbF-CesvW_ec3zhOVt_HTbFFILsyOOCM-C_R4kRHFGTosVkffGhBrwqrsdEECQuKA0akdyrhdw0BqNzaDdGMXQ6YJiu6_xmcOvBwkH1qfQ-9DpOH3w09JwQsL9I6Ns1kzh09llB0yq808S3uNb6y1eWbxEwbCy04A_d40iz-Pd40mfSka96y0dwq81uJCW6y01v8ixIjh0cv6nQdK3zsxIwBHOC">
Center for Small Towns, University of Minnesota Morris</a><o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#7A0019;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:105%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:#FEF7E5;vertical-align:baseline">
Ben Winchester,<a href="http://cp.mcafee.com/d/k-Kr3x8g43qb3ZSn3hO-MOrKrjhhhd7dTTDNNJd54sMC-YOOrjhhhd7dTTDTzpt4TqJoEixIWNfBioafBitelSkajU02rfBitelSkajU02rsKDWoVN_HYUMed7bBT-LsKCCOZObbar3Wr_khjmKCHtxPBgY-F6lK1FIsrhhdEZt80kEr4Syr01u7P-59lxPqIeZ1L5RmUiCmMTYaNCjYI2Bobh-DNcXelos01dI6zBVdwSbwaAq81aGIE4jh016MrS9oQg9Thsd41sQg0ADVEw2kvSpEw2N-Oxh8Qg1I3h0bRITgQg0bV2kdyq81zUO-xJMsr97OqFSHW">
Extension Center for Community Vitality, University of Minnesota</a><o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#7A0019;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:105%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:#FEF7E5;vertical-align:baseline">
Cheryl Hudec,<a href="http://cp.mcafee.com/d/5fHCNAe418SyM_tBMQsLIcCXCQQkkjhPtZVYsrjhh7c9LLcICQQkkjhPtZVZUSnhdSHma4EreIjVkC2zVkDjBtB2A-00CPVkDjBtB2A-00CTbF-CesvW_ec3zhOVt_HTbFFILsyOOCM-C_R4kRHFGTosVkffGhBrwqrudEECQuKA0akdyrhdw0RFlx_NEmGTcCv-Ev6xeiT00sd_2IpA_b0Fm2QvFYjePBm700jr1EVujodyU2F6y0iGHa14Qg0hI6Zymd42tQn3h0nd4099-q80B7ZCq80IvIEkid40r0Qg2ZrdQd402-gB3oCy0o-cLErs76TUqF7SOg3nl">
Pioneers Youth Leadership, Texas</a><o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#7A0019;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:105%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:#FEF7E5;vertical-align:baseline">
Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel,<a href="http://cp.mcafee.com/d/1jWVIi41Aq6jqb3ZSn3hO-MOrKrjhhhd7dTTDNNJd54sMC-YOOrjhhhd7dTTDTzpt4TqJoEixIWNfBioafBitelSkajU02rfBitelSkajU02rsKDWoVN_HYUMed7bBT-LsKCCOZObbar3Wr_khjmKCHtxPBgY-F6lK1FIQsCQkjqfni05a6NdECM0vxY_xilosT0_LgrMTYaNCjYI2Bobh-DNcXelos01dI6zBVdwSbwaAq81aGIE4jh016MrS9oQg9Thsd41sQg0ADVEw2kvSpEw2N-Oxh8Qg1I3h0bRITgQg0bV2kdyq81zUO-xJMsr_BTc">
University of Nebraska Extension</a><o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><img border="0" width="406" height="149" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D13974.FFD69EA0" alt="cid:part10.02050608.06070906@umn.edu"><o:p></o:p></p>
<pre>-- <o:p></o:p></pre>
<pre>Benjamin S. Winchester<o:p></o:p></pre>
<pre>Senior Research Fellow<o:p></o:p></pre>
<pre>Extension Center for Community Vitality<o:p></o:p></pre>
<pre>University of Minnesota<o:p></o:p></pre>
<pre>(320) 589-5033<o:p></o:p></pre>
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