Untitled Document
RI Rural Development Council

Dear Mary and Paul:

Here is a copy of the recently completed and released 5-year Strategic Plan for Agriculture in Rhode Island. This was authored by Cris Coffin and Ben Bowell of American Farmland Trust. It is the first strategic plan for agriculture in Rhode Island and was the first (we believe) that was done solely through private funding. We received funds for the van Beuren Charitable Foundation, Newport, RI for this Plan and for continued efforts supporting the achievement of its goals.

Our RI Rural Development Council is proud to be one of the administrators in this planning process and a member of this "RI Agricultural Partnership" group in continued support of the goals.

This is our latest contribution to the SRDC "food systems" goals. The Plan was announced at Rhode Island's annual "Agriculture Day at the Statehouse" this May 12, 2011.

Regards,
Gerard N. Bertrand
RI Rural Development Council
35 Belver Avenue, Suite 117
North Kingstown, RI 02852
Phone/Fax: 401-667-0071
Website: www.ruralri.org

2010 Govenor's Conference on Affordable housing

Illinois Rural Partners is engaged in and supportive of rural housing issues, needs, funding and new initiatives as demonstrated by its involvement in the recent Governor’s conference at Chicago’s Navy Pier on October 25, 2010. More than 400 people came together to unite around the theme of “Embracing the future: sustaining affordable housing”. Governor Quinn gave the luncheon keynote address.

The Illinois Development Housing Authority, a corporate Rural Partners member, did an outstanding job of planning such a comprehensive and well organized conference on rather short lead time. The depth and breadth of speakers and topics gave attendees encouragement and satisfaction that their hard work is paying dividends.

Jerry Townsend, current Board Chair of Rural Partners, stated that “He was privileged to moderate a panel on the subject of Rural Housing Programs and Issues and he was impressed with
the positive attitude, commitment and successes of the speakers and so many who attended the conference”. Topics were far reaching and covered everything from single family housing financing and rehab, to senior housing, to supportive living facilities but also unique initiatives to develop housing close to work and public transpiration and incorporating renewable energy and green building into affordable housing. A common theme was that local leaders and residents must be committed and supportive or developers and lenders will go elsewhere.

One of the highlights of the conference was presentation of the first annual awards for innovation and excellence in affordable housing throughout Illinois something that the Rural/Small Cities Housing Working Group has encouraged. Special thanks go to George Dinges of Development Services Group, Cynthia Struthers of the Illinois Institute of Rural Affairs, USDA Rural Development , Rural Partners , Bill Pluta of IHDA and others for getting this off the ground. Nominations exceeded expectations with nine in the rural, small city or non-metropolitan category; seven in the metro area outside Chicago category and 18 in the metro Chicago category. The winner of the rural award was Downtown Commons in Jacksonville, a project of 22 single-family townhomes which enables residents to live near work, public transportation and needed support services. Go to IHDA’s website at www.ihda.org and click on announcements for more information about the awards. Click here to View awards

Many left the conference with plans to attend net year and keep the affordable housing momentum going.

Jerry Townsend, Chair
Illinois Rural Partners Board of Directors

e-Vermont: The Community Broadband Project

What is e-Vermont?
The e-Vermont Community Broadband Project is a new initiative to help rural Vermont towns take full advantage of the Internet and advance a wide variety of local needs including economic development, school innovation, job creation, downtown marketing, community engagement, and e-commerce. Two dozen communities statewide will be selected to work with the new e-Vermont Partnership in a comprehensive effort combining online services, training, access, awareness, and planning.

By reaching the bedrocks of Vermont communities—schools, businesses, municipal government, libraries, health and social services groups—the e-Vermont Project will promote new collaborative efforts for identifying and implementing previously untapped resources and help our towns fully realize the potential of the digital age.

The e-Vermont project will learn from each of the selected towns and share these best practices in the utilization of digital tools through symposia and conferences statewide.

2010 Regional Rural Summits

2010 North Central Region Rural Convening

2010 Northeast Rural Summit

2010 Southern Region Convening

2010 Western Rural Summit

 
 
 
 

2009 Annual Reports

Nebraska 2009 Annual Report
Vermont 2009 Annual Report

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