September 19, 2023

Webinar to focus on using Department of Agriculture funds for community advancement

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania — A webinar from Penn State Extension will focus on how community planners and other local leaders can use U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies, including the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Rural Development of USDA, for the creation and implementation of community plans.

Dayana Estades of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Bob Morgan, Pennsylvania State Director of Rural Development, will present the 75-minute webinar at noon on April 20.

When Americans hear USDA, we usually think of food and agriculture. However, organizers note that rural development not only supports agricultural producers, but also their communities. The agency administers more than 50 loan and grant programs to help expand economic opportunity and create jobs in rural areas. Funding supports infrastructure improvements; Business development; lodging; community facilities, including schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed Internet access.

Since 1935, the Natural Resources Conservation Service has worked to help American private landowners and managers conserve soil, water, and other natural resources. In addition, the agency’s Conservation Technical Assistance program provides technical assistance to land users, communities, state and local government units, and other federal agencies for planning and implementation. storage systems.

While particularly relevant when municipalities identify agriculture as a priority for community preservation or development, these agencies can also assist with community development in non-agricultural areas, according to organizers.

This webinar aims to help planners, elected officials and other community organizations make better use of the resources of these organizations.

“NRCS and USDA RD: Funders That Planners, Municipal Officials and Other Community Leaders Should Know Well” is the fourth webinar in the monthly Penn State Extension Winter/Spring 2022 Land-Use webinar series that runs through May. The series informs municipal and elected officials, planners, landowners, farmers and community organizations about land use issues and decisions in their communities.

All programs will be recorded and available for future viewing. Other webinar series topics and dates include the following:

— January 19: “Developing traditional neighborhoods: planning walkable and connected communities”.

– February 16: “COVID-19 and Residential Property Sales in Rural Pennsylvania.”

— March 16: “Crime prevention through environmental design”.

— May 18: “What is the connection between agricultural practices and planning in Pennsylvania?”

The cost for the webinar series is $50 for all five sessions, or $95 for all five sessions for those wishing to receive AICP certification maintenance credits from the American Planning Association. The cost is also $95 for all five sessions for professional engineers needing PDH credits. Additionally, registered landscape architects can receive continuing education credits for a fee of $65.

For anyone interested in a particular topic in the series, individual session registration is available for a fee of $15 per session.

For more information, contact Peter Wulfhorst at 570-296-3400 or by email at [email protected]. To register for the webinars, visit the Penn State Extension website.