News from the Idaho Rural Partnership (IRP): Aug. 2018
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Welcome
to IRP's e-bulletin,
The Idaho Ruralist.
Thanks to
Battelle Energy Alliance, Operator of Idaho National Laboratory
for their generous support of this publication.
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We hope you find
The Idaho Ruralist
of value, wherever you live and work.
Although you may opt out of this newsletter via the "unsubscribe" option at the end of this issue, we hope you stay tuned!
Have questions or ideas to share? Let us know!
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In This Issue:
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WeCAN Partnership
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The
Idaho Ruralist
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Business Sponsorship:
a Plan for Mutual Success
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Idaho CEDS
—Statewide Economic Strategies
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Capitol for a Day
— The Statehouse on the road.
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2018 PRA Meeting
—Partners for Rural America to meet in Cedar City, UT
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Ideas Into Action
—Housing
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Western Community Assessment Network
Regional collaboration IRP, U. of I. on the map
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This is an exciting time for the Idaho Rural Partnership (IRP) and our counterparts in Wyoming and Montana.
Thanks to the efforts of Professor
Lorie Higgins
and our partnership with U. of I. Extension, IRP is part of a three-year, USDA-funded
Tri-State Design Team (see group below at our Montana meeting).
We share our experience in rural community development, capacity building and civic dialogue across our three states.
Community Reviews are assessment and strategic planning programs that provide information and tools to help rural communities address priority issues and enhance quality of life for their residents. Two outcomes of this effort are the group itself: WeCAN, or the
Western Community Assessment Network,
and a new website at
communityreview.org.
The Assessment Map displays nearly 150 communities that have hosted a review/assessment. Click on a pin to see each report and the assessment date. Or visit the Resource Database to find resources by geography, topic and type; this is a great tool for any community. Finally see a current list of recent and pending reviews.
This regional collaboration has even attracted interest from a national foundation looking to learn from our experiences in civic engagement, leadership and capacity building, ripple effects mapping, and helping rural communities
turn ideas into action.
Collaborations like WeCAN is one way we practice what we preach. When we work together on common goals, we can achieve great things.
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Business Sponsorship Opportunities: Show Your Support for Rural Idaho!
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IRP Means Business!
When communities and residents thrive, business is good and Idaho wins. IRP relies on private sponsors and donations to help us increase local capacity and build effective peer networks for businesses, leaders and residents. What's more, sponsors help us broaden our understanding of business needs, and together we put our rural market data and insight to good use.
We leverage each dollar through volunteers and in-kind donations to cultivate a stronger future, and we gratefully acknowledge our sponsors during community reviews, in our print and digital media.
Click here
to learn how your business can be part of rural Idaho's success story!
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The
2018 Partners for Rural America (PRA)
Annual Meeting is set for September 16-19, 2018 in Cedar City, Utah. IRP's membership in PRA helps us learn from partners and apply that knowledge to help rural Idaho.
Prior meetings have been hosted by our partners in Wyoming, Virginia, Arizona and Maryland. These are opportunities for State Rural Development Councils (SRDCs) to conduct organization business, plan for the future and learn from successful initiatives.
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CEDS: Building Pathways to Accelerate Idaho
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The
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
is a locally-based, regionally-driven plan for economic development.
In 2017, the Economic Development Districts of Idaho (EDDI) approached IRP's Board to partner on a CEDS for the State of Idaho and invited us to provide long-term oversight of its implementation. IRP was selected for our existing network of partners from diverse areas with a single focus: creating resilient rural economies.
Economic development planning
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informed by and expressed via the CEDS
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helps engage community leaders,
residents, business and government
. A statewide CEDS lets us leverage private sector involvement and inform strategic regional strategies.
Ultimately, this helps build capacity among stakeholders to create an environment for statewide economic prosperity.
This partnership extends IRP's capacity and our ability to serve rural Idaho more effectively. Please consider a donation to help IRP pursue similar opportunities.
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IRP Joins Capital For A Day
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Executive Director Jon Barrett represents IRP at Governor Otter's
Capital for a Day
program. Recent Capital for a Day events have been held in Genesee, Firth, Declo, and Dayton.
Our long history of 'boots-on-the-ground' community outreach lets us respond to questions and concerns raised by host communities and participants. Pictured above is Governor Otter with Wilder Mayor
Alicia Almazan.
IRP Board Co-Chair Roy Valdez with the Department of Labor is at right.
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Ideas into Action: Housing
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IRP's strength is in our diversity of skills sets and expertise. In light of the growing housing crisis in Idaho, this makes partners like Idaho Housing and Finance Association key to understanding essential issues, strategies and resources to address local housing needs.
Board Member and IHFA's Housing Resources Coordinator Erik Kingston knows the housing challenges faced by Idahoans. He's created
a primer
on basic housing roles and how local communities can conduct a housing needs assessment as a first step.
"With Idaho's focus on Workforce Development, housing is the foundation of a successful strategy," says Kingston. "
Housing is where jobs go to sleep at night,
and housing at different price points represents a perpetual wage subsidy for local employers."
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Help Us Build a Strong Rural Idaho
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IRP embodies the barn-raising tradition of working work together for a stronger community. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to IRP to support our work.
You can help us serve more communities
or target a specific community. Any level of support is needed and welcome.
Please send sponsorship checks to
:
Idaho Rural Partnership
c/o Region IV Development Association
PO Box 5079
Twin Falls, ID 83303-5079.
Contact Idaho Rural Partnership directly at 208-332-1730 or
contact us by email
if making payment by credit card is preferred.
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Thanks to our long-term sponsors!
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Thanks also to Idaho Department of Labor for donating office space and to the Idaho Housing and Finance Association for ongoing support of The Idaho Ruralist e-bulletin and other outreach materials.
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1090 E. Watertower St., Suite 100
Meridian, Idaho 83642-8441
208-332-1730 (office)
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