Volume 3, No. 1, Spring 2012
Firescaping-2 Fruit Tree Pruning-2 Step By Step Hoop House Guide-4 Record Keeping and Credit Workshops-7 Medusahead-8 4-H Shooting Sports-9 USDA Updates-10
www.unce.unr.edu
Low-growing succulents are good plant choices next to the house.
“FIRESCAPING”
JoAnne Skelley, UNCE Nevada Wildfire Awareness Week is winding down. Unfortunately, wildfire season in Nevada never ended this past year with fires destroying homes in the fall and winter in Western Nevada. As Nevadans we have to face it: we live in a hazardous wildfire environment all year long. Since there will never be enough fire trucks to defend each and every house, we homeowners have to take responsibility for our home’s survival. Actions we take before the fire to reduce and modify fuels (which includes our ornamental and native plants) can make a difference.
Sometimes people express concern that changing out a landscape to one that is more focused on wildfire defense means bare ground and that it will be ugly. A well-done firescape doesn’t need to look any different from a traditional landscape design; in fact, it can look better. We can easily have beauty and reduced fire risk. Firescaping might add more noncombustible hardscape such as patios, boulders, walkways, walls, etc. It may include noncombustible mulches such as pea gravel, decomposed granite or rock. It can create fuel breaks and may use water features. It eliminates tall plants along the foundation, particularly the junipers that often make up a traditional landscape. It replaces them with lower-growing, herbaceous (non-woody) perennials right next to the house. This and other practices can reduce ignition potential from flying embers and slow a fire’s spread.
Fruit Tree Pruning
As gardeners we can contribute to improving the fire safety of our homes by modifying our landscapes to make them less ignition prone and less combustible. Our goal in landscaping should be to develop a landscape with a design and plant choice that offers the best defensible/ survivable space while enhancing the aesthetics of our property. This is firescaping, When you plan your firescape, the combining of fuels management with think, “Lean, Clean and Green” within 30 landscape design. On Saturday April 7, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) Master Gardeners participated in a community training and fruit tree pruning session at Pyramid Lake Community Orchard. Master Gardener and Certified Arborist, Michael Janik , taught basic fruit tree training and pruning techniques. Afterwards, UNCE Horticulture Specialist, Heidi Kratsch, and a group of Master Gardener and Pyramid Lake community volunteers spent the afternoon practicing their newly learned techniques. They pruned nearly 100 trees. The result was an orchard full of trees that are beginning to bloom and ready to produce an abundance of fruit for all to share.
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feet of your home. Lean means shorter plants, less than two feet tall with small leaves. Clean means nothing dead in, under or around the plant. When green, healthy and moist, herbaceous plants, such as flowers, are better choices than woody trees and shrubs. Create a noncombustible area three to five feet from the house. Keep it free of woodpiles, wood mulches, dead plants, dried leaves, needles and debris. Cut tree limbs back from chimneys and the roof. In your landscaping plans this year incorporate firescaping, because, as this year’s Wildfire Awareness Week theme states: “Wildfire survival takes a community. You can make a difference!” For more information on firescaping or defensible space, go to www.livingwithfire.info part of University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. JoAnne Skelly skellyj@unce.unr.edu
Step By Step Hoop House Guide: Pyramid Lake
The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension hosted a demonstration construction workshop on March 31, 2012 on the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation. The morning began with presentations on hoop house management and crops, followed by identifying materials, tools, and costs associated with the construction of the units. Immediately after lunch, actual construction of a 14 x 84 hoop house structure took place.
The event was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency and the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s Native Programs. “The goal of this workshop included providing education and information for season extension growing, providing fresh vegetables for reservation families and communities, and creating an opportunity for reservation residents to establish a small farming business that
would sell locally grown produce to local people and businesses in the area ,” said Randy Emm, native programs coordinator for Cooperative Extension. For more information on the workshop contact: Randy Emm at 775-316-1184 or at emmr@unce.unr.edu or Kathy Frazier at frazierk@unce.unr.edu
Locals build a hoop house with the help of UNCE in April
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1. Erecting the framing
2. Securing the fence posts
4. Duct tape to prevent tears
7. Measuring the hoop spacing
10. Laying out the “hoops” (PVC)
13. Bending PVC onto rebar
16. Hangars for PVC “perlin”
5. Squaring it up
8. Rebar for the hoops
11. Twine to secure plastic
14. The rebar anchors the PVC
17. Connecting the perlin
3. PVC pipe lashed to framing
6. Measure twice
9. Setting the anchors
12. Twine tied to base of rebar
15. PVC hoops every 3 feet
18. Attaching perlin to hoops
19. Stretching out the plastic
22. Make sure plastic is even on all sides
25. Backfilling with dirt
28. Picking a good spot for the lettuce, we’re almost done
31. Securing door to framing
34. A fencepost to latch the door against on windy days
20. Twine from rebar goes over
23. Rolling plastic w/1x lumber
26. Wrapping the door
29. Attaching a brace to door
32. Attaching a latch
35. The finished product
21. Securing plastic with twine
24. Securing plastic to framing
27. Again rolling plastic w/1x lumber
30. Attaching the hinges
33. A latch modification (in case you get locked inside)
36. The crew smiling
hoop house Lessons There’s an old saying, “expect the unexpected.” It’s good advice, particularly if you’re starting a new project; as we have been. Still, it was hard to watch as recent winds shredded the industrystandard 6-millimeter polyethylene covers on the Walker River Community hoop house.
But even as we performed the disheartening chore of stripping what was left of the covers from the hoops and gathered the smaller pieces of the covers before they could take to the wind, we kept another old saying in mind. “Learn from your mistakes.” “As far as I can tell the vent on the north end blew open or may have been left open, but that is where the wind
got in and ballooned it and lifted up the rebar and hoops and that’s what did all the damage to the tarp”, said Victor Williams, the project coordinator for the hoop house. In the meantime, all was not lost: the shredded covers are being reused for greenhouse insulation and other uses.
Carson City Hoop House
A hoop house was built under the great leadership of Randy Emm and Vic Williams at Carson High School in Carson City this spring. It was built as part of “The Greenhouse Project” http:// carsoncitygreenhouse.org/ or http://carsoncitygreenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/The-Greenhouse-ProjectFact-Sheet.pdf.
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The hoop house is being used right now to harden off the flower baskets that will beautify downtown Carson City as of June 1. Then it will be used for food production for the needy in CC. Students at Carson High School will be hired on an Americorps grant to plant, maintain, harvest and deliver food to various food banks in CC.
The Greenhouse Project provides experiential opportunities to Carson High special needs students, to students in the agriculture and plant science program and to Future Farmers of America.
UNCE Native Programs Record Keeping and Credit Workshops By Kathy Frazier, UNCE Education Outreach Specialist
The University of Nevada
Cooperative Extension Native Programs and Risk Management Agency’s Record Keeping and Credit Workshops began the week of April 9, 2012. We left for a week long tour of several Nevada Indian Reservations. A cohesive theme of financial record keeping, credit, credit scores, risk, and debt was evident throughout each of the individual presentations within the workshop. The first workshop of the tour was held at the Duckwater Shoshone Reservation, Duckwater, NV on April 10, 2012. The Duckwater Shoshone Reservation is located 70 miles southwest of Ely, NV. We met in the Natural Resources office with approximately 11 people in attendance. The following day, Tuesday April 11, 2012, we were at the South Fork Indian Reservation, Lee, NV, which is 26 miles south of Elko. The workshop there was held in the South Fork Tribal Administration building with 10 people in attendance. We left Elko, NV early Wednesday morning, April 12, 2012, and traveled 97 miles north to the Duck Valley Shoshone Paiute Indian Reservation, Owyhee, NV located on the Nevada-Idaho border. The Hoop House Demonstration and Construction workshop was held on Wednesday in which 30 people were in attendance. A Hoop House at the Domestic Violence Shelter was constructed that afternoon following the workshop. We remained in Owyhee for another day for the Duck Valley Record Keeping and Credit Workshop held on Friday, April 13, 2012. These workshops
were held at the Human Development Center (HDC). We got a weeks rest and continued the following week on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 to the Walker River Paiute Indian Reservation in Schurz, NV. There were 17 attending this workshop which was held at the Community Center. The following Thursday, April 26, 2012 we were scheduled for the Pyramid Lake Paiute Indian Reservation, Nixon, NV. The workshop was held in the Tribal Chambers in the administration building. The attendance at this workshop was 13. The following week on Monday April 30, 2012 we headed for the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation, McDermitt, NV. Fort McDermitt is located 74 miles north of Winnemucca on the Nevada-Oregon border. 9 people attended this workshop. Each workshop began at 10 a.m. with the introduction of presenters by Randy Emm, UNCE FRTEP Coordinator. This was followed by a Risk Management Overview by Malieka Landis, UNR Research Analyst. She discussed the definition, levels, and management of risk and why this should matter to you. Malieka also gave the Risk Management Insurance presentation regarding the different types of crop and livestock insurance. Jennifer Kintz, UNCE, Hawthorne, NV, gave her presentation on Credit Scores. This was the highlight of the workshop and seemed to attract a new and younger audience than we’ve had in the past. Jennifer is a former loan officer and has a wealth of knowledge and experience in this field. Jennifer and Randy also presented a Family Living Budget which compared each location with the national
average in terms of rent, vehicle expenses, groceries, clothing, insurance, etc. Raylene (Fawn) Swan is the Fiduciary Trust Officer at the Western Nevada Agency, Office of Special Trustee/ Department of the Interior in Carson City, NV. She gave her presentation on Individual Indian Monies (IIM) Accounts and financial literacy. The Office of Special Trustee was created in 1994 as a result of the Cobell class action lawsuit against the Federal government for financial mismanagement of trust assets. This also created major interest in the audience as the second portion of the Western Shoshone payment is forthcoming in the very near future. Options for investment were presented. At the end of each workshop, time and internet permitting, individual credit scores were obtained for interested attendees. This proved to be a “not too painful” experience for those who had never attempted to research their credit scores. A lot of useful information for improvement was made available. This series of workshop was very successful. Requests for follow-up and/ or spin-off workshops were made by local tribal members and administration. Thanks to Annette GeorgeHarris, Duckwater Natural Resources Director; Desiree Beem, South Fork Tribal Administrator; Leilani Hanchor and Reggie Premo, Duck Valley UNCE; Randy Emm and Victor Williams, Walker River UNCE; Della John, Pyramid Lake Tribal Administrator; and Maxine Smart, Fort McDermitt Vice-Chairman for your hospitality and coordination efforts for a successful workshop.
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MEDUSAHEAD
Threats of wildfire have raised our awareness of cheatgrass, a nonnative invasive grass that begins to dry out in May, increasing fire hazards. However, it’s not the only grass we need to worry about. Medusahead, Taeniatherum caput-medusae, is an invasive weed that is changing the ecology of Western rangelands, and may well be worse than cheatgrass. The weed is named after the Greek goddess Medusa, who had snakes writhing around her head. The long, curved awns on the weed’s seed heads twist and spread as they dry, resembling snakes. The awns are barbed and can lodge in animals’ ears, noses, eyes, and paws, causing pain and infections. Native to the Mediterranean region of Europe, medusahead first arrived in the United States in the 1880s, and spread rapidly in the 1930s. Today, it can be found growing throughout the Truckee Meadows, where it’s spreading fast. Medusahead is a winter annual that most commonly germinates in the fall, like cheatgrass. It is extremely competitive and will grow in many of the same locations as cheatgrass. Also like cheatgrass, it grows early in the spring, robbing the soil of moisture needed by native plants. By mid to late June, or two to four weeks later than cheatgrass, it is generally fully mature and dry, posing a serious fire hazard. You’re probably wondering how medusahead could be worse than cheatgrass. So far, it sounds similar, right? Medusahead has another trick, or competitive advantage, that sways the balance. As the weed grows, it accumulates silica from the soil minerals. Silica is the mineral we use to make glass. Because of the high silica content, animals will not graze medusahead, except when plants are very young. The high concentration of silica also retards decomposition of the weed. This allows a dense layer of
Today, it can be found growing throughout the Truckee Meadows, where it’s spreading fast. litter to accumulate, creating tremendous fuel loads and inhibiting the growth of more desirable species. Medusahead is probably easiest to identify before and during flowering. Before and right at first flowering, the plants are a striking neon green color. Mature plants are purplish to tan and 6 to 24 inches tall. The seed heads are one-half to 2 inches long without the awns, which are an additional 1 to 3 inches long. The entire spike is stiff and springy, and tends to remain intact, even when dry. We can identify plants for you at University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. Bring in fresh samples, including as much of the weed as possible. Bag the sample to avoid dribbling and spreading the seeds. As with all annual weeds, the key to control is to interrupt seed production. If you find mature medusahead on your property, however, you’ll likely have many seeds already deposited in the soil. Small numbers of plants can be removed by pulling and bagging them, taking care not to spread the seeds. Mowing encourages plants to grow close to the ground, where flowering can still occur. Be aware that mowing mature plants will simply distribute the seeds more widely. Some control can be achieved by applying herbicides such as glyphosate in early spring when plants are small, up to about 2 inches tall. Most years, this is in April. Unfortunately, glyphosate is a nonselective herbicide that will also kill beneficial vegetation. If you know you have seed present, you may choose to apply a preemergent herbicide such as imazapic or aminopyralid in the fall to kill germinating seedlings. Always carefully read and follow all label directions prior to using herbicides. Susan Donaldson is a water quality and weed specialist for University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.
neon green color prior to flowering
dry infestation along a trail; high risk of spreading
seedhead drying; note twisted awns flowering – note the change to a silvery color
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Educate
closeup of a green plant at flowering
Starting a 4-H Shooting Sports Club
Why start a club? There are many benefits to 4-H
shooting sports. The first is teaching safety. Every year you hear of youth being killed in youth sports such as football, baseball and track yet shooting sports has never had a death and only one reported accident in Texas where a youth accidently shot himself in the foot. All shooting sports instructors are certified with state training and they must pass UNCE fingerprint/background screening. Like many 4-H Programs the 4-H Shooting Sports Program has a national committee, national rules and guidelines and a national curriculum. This makes it one of the best organized youth programs one could be part of. The skills youth learn are discipline and focusing their mind. Many parents have reported seeing improvement in concentration for youth to do school work. Youth also develop life skills of self confidence, decision making, communications and concern for their community. This sport is a great equalizer; no matter what kind of youth you are you can do shooting sports. It is open to all because it is a sport that focuses on using your mind. Shooting sports is a lifelong activity and thus a great family activity that is both affordable and young and old can participate on equal ground. To become a 4-H Shooting Sports Leader, the application and screening is the first step. A potential 4-H leader must fill out a leader application, submit three references and have fingerprints taken. A shooting sports 4-H leader must also take a state training in the discipline they plan to teach. Nevada offers this training twice a year and rotates the training to different locations around the state. The training takes two days and the cost is minimal. There are usually five disciplines offered and outlined in the 4-H Shooting Sports Program (http://www.unce.unr.edu/4H/ programs/stem/shooting/files/pdf/ShootingSportsProgram.pdf); pistol, rifle, shotgun, archery and muzzleloader. The archery discipline is both “Barebow”, which is limited to equipment and accessories with a set combined manufacturer’s suggestion retail price, and “Free-Style” where there is no top limit on cost of equipment. Air Pistol, Air Rifle and .22 Rifle; also have both a “limited” class, which is limited to a set combined manufacturer’s suggested price, and “unlimited” again with no top limit on cost. Muzzleloader class may use any safe muzzle loading rifle of single-barrel design; any caliber established for use in the contest; with a flintlock, a caplock or inline ignition; and equipped with metallic sights at 4-H events. The shotgun discipline is similar- it has one class; gun must be 12 gauge or smaller; and a short list of other discipline-specific gun design rules such as semi auto-
matic shotguns not being permitted unless equipped with a shell catcher. In addition, it is also recommended that all instructors have First Aid and CPR training. Safety is always first consideration with any 4-H Shooting Sports Activity. Once all of your background checks are done and you have completed state training you can start a club. Now you need youth, a place to shoot and equipment. Youth 9-19 years old can participate in 4-H shooting sports, once they fill out an enrollment form. The local 4-H Office can help you recruit members. Equipment must be to 4-H standards as listed in the Nevada 4-H Shooting Sports Program materials and as briefly discussed above. One of the main guidelines is 4-H uses equipment affordable to most any family. Also most counties have some equipment owned by the 4-H club and usually acquired using specific grants. This equipment is free to use, however youth need to pay for any ammunition and targets used. Now you need a place to shoot. This is the hard one and in fact it might be the first thing you look at before starting a club. There are usually county ranges but in larger counties this means miles of travel and additional cost. Sometimes there is a private party willing to let you use an old building or there is the great outdoors. Nevada has a lot of public lands, and if the weather is good you can set up a temporary shoot range in a safe location. You must of course follow all local regulations for shooting in open spaces, and all firing materials must be removed from public lands. Like all clubs, success is built on consistent meetings, such as: same time same place. Positive teaching methods and realistic goal setting for both the youth and leaders are also important. 4-H Shooting Sports can be one of the most rewarding experiences for youth and adults. It is a sport that can be done for life, and many opportunities are available for youth to learn transferrable skills. There are several resources and brochures available on the UNCE website at http://www.unce.unr.edu/4H/programs/ stem/shooting/. If you are interested in starting a 4-H shooting sports club, or just want more information on the process, please contact the UNCE office nearest you.
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“$12 Million in Community Facilities Funds Available to Rural Nevada” (CARSON CITY, MAR. 21, 2012) Rural Communities and nonprofits in need of essential public services like fire trucks, or to build senior centers or health care clinics -- take note: USDA Rural Development has nearly $12 million in funds available to assist. Municipalities, tribes, and nonprofits in rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less are eligible. Community Facility loan rates are at record low levels and the term is flexible. For example a school bus could be financed for a 5-7 year term, and a fire
station could be financed for 30 years. For instance, the Wells Family Resource Center used CF funds to put in new flooring, and the City of Caliente used CF funds to purchase two pumper trucks. For FY 2012 USDA Rural Development has $11,868,125 in direct loan funds, $1.27 million in guaranteed loans, and $89,400 in grants available. There is also $64,900 available for Economic Impact Initiative grants for communities with an unemployment or underemployment rate of 19.5% or greater.
Call USDA Rural Development at (775) 887-1222, Ext. 104 to learn more. For detailed information you can also access the new Community Facilities Direct Grant and Loan Application guide online at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ SupportDocuments/Community%20 Facilities%20App.pdf Contacts: Kelly Clark/USDA RD Special Projects/Public Affairs Specialist Kelly.clark2@nv.usda.gov /(775) 8871222 x130
“Rural Business Enterprise Grants Help Towns, Tribes, Economic Development Authorities” (CARSON CITY, APR. 17, 2012) Tribes, economic development authorities, non-profits and towns in rural Nevada that want to support rural business or create a revolving loan fund for business may want to consider applying for USDA Rural Development’s Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG). The purpose of the RBEG is to support the creation and growth of sustainable rural business opportunities and jobs. The only eligible entities are public bodies, private nonprofit corporations, rural development authorities, and federally recognized tribes. Individual businesses are not eligible.
Funds must be used to facilitate the development of small and emerging private business enterprises in rural areas. Costs may include but are not limited to business planning, feasibility analysis and technical assistance, and acquisition and development of land and associated equipment. The Lincoln County Regional Development Authority used an RBEG to set up a revolving loan fund which has been very active in helping new businesses get started. In this competitive program, priority is given to applicants from rural communities that are economically distressed, with a population of 50,000 or less. Nevada currently has grant funding of
$172,000 available. Grant awards range in size from $2,500- $100,000. The deadline to apply for grants is May 7, 2012. For more information, in southern Nevada contact Business and Cooperative Programs Specialist David Foster at (702) 262-9047 Ext. 103. In northern Nevada contact Business and Cooperative Programs Specialist Michelle Kelly at (775) 887-1222, Ext. 118. Contacts: Kelly Clark/USDA RD Special Projects/Public Affairs Specialist Kelly.clark2@nv.usda.gov /(775) 8871222 x130
“Home Repair Grant Available”
USDA Rural Development of-
fers a Section 504 Home Repair Loan and Grant program to eligible rural Nevadans including eligible tribal members. This program offers loans at a 1% interest rate and/or grants for needed home repairs to make general improvements, remove health and safety hazards or provide improvements for household members with disabilities. Some examples include repairing leaking roofs, faulty plumbing and electrical wiring, replacement of non-insulated windows or doors, and repairs to flooring
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to eliminate tripping hazards. Additional repairs or remodeling can be accomplished for those needing accessibility features such as ramps or handrails for access to homes, installing grab bars in bathrooms, roll-in showers, or ADA compatible toilets. Over the course of the past year all of the above repairs have been made to homes in the Ely, McGill and Ruth areas as well as in other areas of the state. All tribal members who meet the income eligibility requirements and have the ability to repay a loan may be considered for loan funds. Only Elders 62 and older, and who
cannot repay a loan, are eligible for grant funds. Extensive discussions have occurred between USDA RD staff members and the Ely Shoshone Band Tribal Housing Authority, and Ely Band Members can contact Wesley Allison at the Housing Authority Office for more information and an application for the program. Interested Housing Authority officers or other interested parties can contact Tom Stephens, Area Director, USDA Rural Development at (702) 262-9047 Ext 112 for more information on the program in your area.
“USDA Rural Development Accepting Grant Applications for Small, Socially Disadvantaged Agricultural Producers and Cooperatives in Rural Areas” (CARSON CITY, APR. 17, 2012) Last week Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is accepting grant applications to provide technical assistance to small, socially disadvantaged agricultural producers and cooperatives in rural areas. For fiscal year 2012, approximately $3 million in grants are available through USDA Rural Development’s Small, Socially Disadvantaged Producer Grant Program (SSDPG), which was authorized in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill). The maximum grant award per applicant is $175,000. Funding is available to cooperatives or associations of cooperatives where at least 75 percent of the governing board or membership are small, socially
disadvantaged producers. Small, SociallyDisadvantaged Producers include farmers, ranchers, loggers, agricultural harvesters, and fishermen, who have averaged $250,000 or less in annual gross sales of agricultural products in the last 3 years, and are a member of a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic or gender prejudice, without regard for their individual qualities.
Completed applications for grants must be submitted on paper or electronically according to the following deadlines: Paper copies must be postmarked and mailed, shipped, or sent overnight no later than July 24, 2012 to the Nevada State Office, 1390 S. Curry St., Carson City Nevada, 89703 be eligible for FY 2012 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2012 grant funding.
Grants can be used for technical assistance to provide product improvements, business plan development or economic development activities. Grants may be made to cooperatives, groups of cooperatives, and Cooperative Development Centers. Grant applicants must be able to verify their legal structure in the State in which they are incorporated. Grants may not be made to public bodies or to individuals.
For additional information, see the April 25, 2012, Federal Register, page 24678, or click here http://www.gpo.gov/ fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-04-25/html/20129997.htm
“USDA Invites Applications for Grants to Provide Broadband Service to Remote Underserved Rural Communities” (WASHINGTON, MAY 3, 2012) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack yesterday announced that USDA is accepting applications through the Community Connect Broadband program for grants to provide broadband service to residents of remote, rural communities.
Community Connect grants are made available to the most rural, unserved and economically challenged areas. The funds are used to build broadband infrastructure. Awardees are also required to establish community centers that offer free public access to broadband.
“Ensuring that all Americans have access to reliable broadband is a key part of the Obama Administration’s effort to help create jobs and expand economic opportunities in rural areas,” Vilsack said. “These grants not only are critical for businesses and residents, they also help first responders, educators and health care professionals by providing them with access to broadband service.”
In 2008, two Nevada applicants, the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe, and the Arizona Nevada Tower Corporation-on behalf of the Walker Lake Volunteer Fire Department and Walker River Paiute Tribe, received Community Connect funding. The Fallon Tribe’s grant for $432,000 was used to provide wireless broadband services to the Fallon Indian Reservation and Colony, and to build a computer lab in the tribe’s community
center. The Arizona Nevada Tower Corporation’s $993,704 grant was used to provide broadband access in the Walker Lake area and to install a computer center at the Walker Lake Volunteer Fire Department. Information on available funding and application requirements are published on page 26241 of the May 3, 2012 Federal Register. More information on Community Connect Grants, including the application guide, can be viewed on the USDA Rural Development Community Connect website at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/utp_ commconnect.html
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“USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Improve the Quality of Rural Housing� (CARSON CITY, May 15, 2012) USDA Rural Development is offering Housing Preservation Grants (HPG) to intermediaries such as town or county governments, public agencies, federally recognized Indian Tribes, and non-profit and faith-based organizations to assist with rural home repairs, home weatherization, and to help improve accessibility. The grant application deadline is June 25, 2012. If approved, the grant funds are then distributed to qualified homeowners or owners of multi-family rental properties or cooperative dwellings who rent to low- and very-low-income residents. USDA does not provide funding directly to homeowners under this program.
Grants can be used to weatherize and repair existing structures, install or improve mechanical systems or provide access to people with disabilities. Housing Preservation Grants help bring job growth and stability to low-income communities while improving the living conditions of rural Americans. In Nevada, the Yerington Paiute Tribal Housing Authority used its 2010 Housing Preservation Grant funding of $50,000 matched with tribal funds of $50,000 to install four 3.2 kW AC solar photovoltaic arrays at their Elder Plex. In 2012, the Tribe is using additional HPG funds to replace 21 hot water heaters with more efficient hot water heaters in their
low rent apartments and rental homes, remove 10 existing wood stoves in their low rent apartments, and replace existing flooring in rental homes. For fiscal year 2012, USDA may award up to $4.1 million in competitive grants through the Housing Preservation Grant program. In Nevada, applicants are encouraged to apply for no more than $50,000 based on the maximum available allocation for our state. Applications are due June 25, 2012. For more information on how to apply, please see page 27179 of the May 9, 2012 Federal Register or click on this link http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/ FR-2012-05-09/html/2012-11036.htm .
Randy Emm
Frank Flavin
Reggie Premo
Kathy Frazier
Victor Williams
Leilani Hanchor
Jordan Lubek
Randy is the Indian Reservation Program Coordinator at UNCE. His programming focuses on providing farmers and ranchers with information and resources designed to improve organization and operation of tribal lands.
As the Director for the Western Area, Frank oversees four county offices in Northern Nevada. He is co-director of the Nevada Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP).
Reggie is the program facilitator for the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program funded by CSREES to assist Native American farmers and ranchers to access the various USDA program offerings.
Kathy coordinates workshops in risk management workshops, tribal record keeping, and tax management. Kathy is also the coordinator for the Nevada Indian Agriculture Summit.
Victor assists with youth development and is the coordinator for hoop house construction projects statewide.
Located on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation to implement the Veggies For Kids Program and other FRTEP programming.
Jordan educates on a variety of new practices for community sustainability and planning. His programming focuses on the use of geospatial data and technology to better improve productivity and communication in a changing global environment.
Walker River
Reno
Duck Valley
Pyramid Lake
Walker River
Duck Valley
Reno
www.unce.unr.edu The University of Nevada, Reno is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, creed, national origin, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation in any program or activity it operates. The University of Nevada employs only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States.