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<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">USDA’s Rural Utilities Service & EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities have set February 24<sup>th</sup> as the deadline for small towns & rural communities with
economic challenges to apply for </span><a href="http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/cool-connected-announcement-federal-planning-assistance-broadband-and-sustainable"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue">Cool & Connected</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">,
a pilot initiative that will offer technical assistance to the communities to develop an “action plan” to “promote smart, sustainable community development” by using existing or new broadband capacity to “create walkable, connected, economically vibrant main
streets and small-town neighborhoods.” Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest to EPA’s Ed Fendley at
</span><a href="mailto:fendley.ed@epa.gov"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue">fendley.ed@epa.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> by the 24<sup>th</sup>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">USDA Seeks Applications to Support Rural Businesses and Create Jobs
</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Approximately $300,000 is expected to be made available in Oregon under the
<a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYwMTI4LjU0NDE5MTMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MDEyOC41NDQxOTEzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2NzkzMjUzJmVtYWlsaWQ9a3VyaS5naWxsQHN0YXRlLm9yLnVzJnVzZXJpZD1rdXJpLmdpbGxAc3RhdGUub3IudXMmdGFyZ2V0aWQ9JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&100&&&http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-business-development-grants/or">
<span style="color:#0E21EB">Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program</span></a>. The grants will be awarded competitively. Eligible applicants include public bodies, government entities, Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations. This year’s announcement
also includes a Native American set aside that is funded through a national competition.
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="gdp" style="mso-margin-top-alt:9.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">The Rural Business Development Grant Program supports targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private,
rural businesses that have fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross revenue. For additional information, see the
<a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYwMTI4LjU0NDE5MTMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MDEyOC41NDQxOTEzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2NzkzMjUzJmVtYWlsaWQ9a3VyaS5naWxsQHN0YXRlLm9yLnVzJnVzZXJpZD1rdXJpLmdpbGxAc3RhdGUub3IudXMmdGFyZ2V0aWQ9JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&101&&&http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-business-development-grants/or">
<span style="color:#0E21EB">RBDG website</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="gdp" style="mso-margin-top-alt:9.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">If you are planning to submit an application in Oregon, we encourage you to contact a
<a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYwMTI4LjU0NDE5MTMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MDEyOC41NDQxOTEzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2NzkzMjUzJmVtYWlsaWQ9a3VyaS5naWxsQHN0YXRlLm9yLnVzJnVzZXJpZD1rdXJpLmdpbGxAc3RhdGUub3IudXMmdGFyZ2V0aWQ9JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&102&&&http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-business-development-grants/or">
<span style="color:#0E21EB">local Business & Cooperative Program Specialist</span></a>. You may also contact our State Office for more details about the application requirements and process:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="gdp" style="mso-margin-top-alt:9.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Lisa Siesennop<br>
Business & Cooperative Programs Director<br>
USDA Rural Development <br>
1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 1801<br>
Portland, OR 97204<br>
(503) 414-3367<br>
<a href="mailto:Lisa.Siesennop@or.usda.gov"><span style="color:#0E21EB">Lisa.Siesennop@or.usda.gov
</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Complete applications must be received by the USDA Rural Development Oregon State Office no later than
<b>4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 2, 2016. </b> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><strong><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";font-weight:normal"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span><![endif]><strong><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH
</span></strong>grants are to restore or reconstruct the facades of buildings that have been heavily altered over the years. The purpose is to return them to their historic appearance and potentially qualify them for historic register designation (local or
national). These grants are part of the SHPO's Preserving Oregon Grant Program for the 2013-15 biennium. Grants may be awarded up to $20,000.
<strong><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Application Deadline: May 13, 2016</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/oprd/HCD/FINASST/docs/DiamondsGrantInformation2016.pdf"><strong><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:blue;text-decoration:none">2016 Diamonds in the Rough Grant Information</span></strong></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/oprd/HCD/FINASST/docs/OnlineApplicationInstructions_DRPO2016.pdf"><strong><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:blue;text-decoration:none">2016 Diamonds in the Rough
Online Grant Instructions</span></strong></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><a href="http://oprdgrants.org/"><strong><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:blue;text-decoration:none">OPRD Grants Online Program</span></strong></a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"> <a href="http://www.oregon.gov/oprd/HCD/FINASST/docs/2015DiamondsGrantAward.pdf">2015 Diamonds in the Rough Awards </a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><strong><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Contact</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Kuri Gill <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Grants and Outreach Coordinator <o:p>
</o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Phone: (503) 986-0685 <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Email: <a href="mailto:kuri.gill@oregon.gov">kuri.gill@oregon.gov</a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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