# Presentation: 365505

## RD’s CommunityDevelopmentPrograms and You

**Roles and Expections for States Without EZ/ECs**

## Community Development is a Core Mission of RD

**30 years of statutory responsibility**

## Statutory Authorities

**Rural Development Acts of 1972 & 1980  (7 USC 2204)**
**Community Development technical assistance**
**Outreach**
**Coordination within Executive Branch**
**Design tools & systems for removal of impediments to local action**

## Statutory Authorities--2

**Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 USC 1921)**
**Statewide rural community development strategic planning**
**Tribal strategic planning**
**Community-level strategic planning technical assistance for small and economically distressed communities**

## Statutory Authorities--3

**Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993; Taxpayer Relief Act 1997; Community Renewal Tax Relief Act of 2000**
**Rounds I, II, and III of Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities (EZ/EC)**

## Community Development

**Building Strong Communities Through Strategically-Planned Development**

## Some Elements of CD

**Uses projects, but  builds communities**
**Based on a strategic plan**
**Integrates one project with another**
**Engages many partners**
**Leverages outside resources**
**Involves broad participation**
**Holistic development**
**Teaches community to be self-sustaining**

## Long-Term CD: First Steps

**1. Building a **
**solid**** ****foundation**

**2. Building broad**
**participation**

**3. Finding**
**partners**

**4. Creating**
**sound**** ****strategies**

**5. Converting vision**
**into**** ****workplan**

## Next Steps

**6. Finding**
**resources**

**7. Creating**
**successes**

**8. Building community**
**capacity**

**9.**** ****Adapting**** ****strategic plans**

**10. Achieving**** ****sustainable**
**development**

## CD Record Shows Importance

**57 EZ/ECs have raised over $3.2 billion since 1995**
**Only 6% from EZ/EC grants**
**Only 18% from Rural Development**
**Non-RD percentages growing over time**
**Community capacity increasing**
**Reflects CD assistance in getting started, skill building**

## Why CD is Important

**Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) includes CD measures**
**Overall (BMS data shows impact)**
**Value of TA in communities without funding (CCs, REAPs) = $8 million/FTE**

## State Office Roles

## Community Development Roles

**Provide technical assistance to rural communities and tribes**
**Identify emerging rural issues **
**Coordinate strategic planning efforts**
**Develop and implement community development projects**
**Design, maintain and monitor strategy formulation**

## Some Ways RD Can Help Rural Communities

**Identify non-Rural Development funding sources**
**Advise on critical issues**
**Help communities find partners**
**Teach critical skills**
**Provide helpful information**

**Notes:**
We will assist

Leadership programs

Enable low-income residents to improve their communities through active involvement in decision-making and project implementation.

“do with” - Helpful to think of Community Development as a process rather than a thing.

Our strength and experience is in the management and operation of our Housing, Utilities and Business Programs.  Most needed is enhancement of our skills in understanding community change processes and the ability to use a variety of techniques and methods to strengthen residents in our rural communities.  So how do we incorporate Community Development into our other activities?

## State Office CD Responsibilities

**CD Program review & evaluation**
**Statewide strategic planning**
**Participate in State RD Council**
**Build partnerships**
**Manage CD information**
**Engage in professional activities**
**Serve the needs of rural places**
**Nurture supported communities**

## State Staffing and Support for These Programs 

**Typical staffing and reporting structure (CDPD & Specialists)**
**Staffing affects outcomes**
**Expectations for performance ****(handout)**
**RD GPRA Goal IV**
**Outreach and community assistance are elements of State Director performance**

## Management Control Reviews in  FY01 Disclosed Weaknesses

**CD staffing has been reduced to dangerous levels**
**Inconsistent organization, training and support from state to state**
**Some states do not report CD activities**
**Inconsistent contact with supported communities**

## ...and Directed Corrective Action

**Dedicated and distributed FTE resources to CD**
**More training in professional community developer skills**
**Increased logistical support to CD staff from State Office**
**Community board training led by State Office CD staff**

## Even if you don’t have an EZ or EC, you may still have a designated community

**Champion Communities**
**REAP Zone**
**RCAP Communities**

## Champion Communities

**EZ/EC applicants who chose to continue without grants **

## CC Particulars

**135 communities in 33 states**
**Benchmarking their way to success**
**RD provides Technical Assistance**
**USDA preference points in funding**
**800 jobs created, 144 farmers markets established, 136 new businesses, 53 education programs**
**$460 million raised, $164 million federal money**

## How You Can Help Champions

**Provide State Director points or priority  for funding**
**Technical assistance**
**Networking help**
**One-on-one training**
**State or regional Champions meetings**

## Rural Economic Action Partnership Zones (REAP)

**Community and economic development in sparsely-populated regions or those with non-poverty distress**

## REAP Zones

**Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones**
**Characterized by:**
**Geographic isolation**
**Low-density settlement patterns**
**Over-dependence on agriculture**
**Population loss, outmigration, and economic distress **
**Have strategic plans similar to EZ/EC/CC**

## REAP Zones Particulars

**Pilot Program**
**5 communities - 2 each in ND and NY and 1 in Vermont**
**Technical Assistance, priority in funding**
**541 jobs created, 166 houses rehabbed, 1074 new water hookups**
**$135 million raised, $62 million Federal**

## Rural Community Advancement Program (RCAP)

**Bringing community empowerment to state-designated communities**

## RCAP Communities

**Established in 1996 Farm Bill**
**Over 200 small & low-income communities**
**Designated by each RD State Office **
**Priority points in RD funding**
**Task Force developed recommendations**
**Proposal in Under Secretary’s office**

## What You Can Expect from the OCD National Office

**Technical assistance (Regional Desk Officers to serve your needs)**
**Web (intranet, extranet, internet)**
**Publications (for customers & staff)**
**Training (for staff & supported communities)**
**Data services (Web Reporting System, MAP, BMS, TAIS)**

## What You Can Expect from the OCD National Office

**Web (intranet, extranet, internet)**
**ocdi.usda.gov**** **
- Intra**net **
** ****Only available to USDA personnel.  **
**Tools**
** ****insider info **
**correspondence **
**instructions **
**useful links for community developers**

## What You Can Expect from the OCD National Office

**Web (intranet, extranet, internet)**
**ocdx.usda.gov**** **
- Extra**net **
**Only available to password holders (designated communities and USDA personnel) **
**massive source of CD data and program accountability **
**Benchmark Management System **

## What You Can Expect from the OCD National Office

**Web (intranet, extranet, internet)**
**www.rurdev.usda.gov/ocd**** **
- Inter**net -- OCD home page -- program descriptions -- publications -- regulations -- under reconstruction**
**www.ezec.gov**
- Inter**net -- EZ/EC home page -- community pages -- community tools -- NOFAs -- internationally known site for development -- partner linkages**

## Technical Assistance Information System

**Under development now**
**Track status of CD clients**
**Help build CD curricula and “lesson plans”**
**On-line resources to deliver CD assistance**
**Reports on resources used and results achieved**

## Key Web Sites

**EZ/EC--http://www.ezec.gov**
**OCD--http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ocd**
**OCD Intranet--http://ocdi.usda.gov **
**RDDATA Site--http://rddata.usda.gov**

## Recap:  What You Can Expect from the OCD National Office

**Technical assistance (Regional Desk Officers to serve your needs)**
**Web (intranet, extranet, internet)**
**Publications (for customers & staff)**
**Training (for staff & supported communities)**
**Data services (Web Reporting System, MAP, BMS, TAIS)**

## Call us at           202-619-7980
ocdi.usda.gov
www.rurdev.usda.gov/ocd
www.ezec.gov
www.rddata.usda.gov

**ocdi.usda.gov**
**www.rurdev.usda.gov/ocd**
**www.ezec.gov**
**www.rddata.usda.gov**