CD Wire - March 1, 2021

Mission Statement:

Ohio State University Extension Community Development
helps communities enhance their well-being
and create social, economic, and environmental conditions
in which they can thrive.
OSU Extension Community Development

AD Update:

-David Civittolo, Interim Assistant Director

Central State University Extension Community Economic Development Colleagues Meeting with OSU Extension CD

CSU & OSU Extension CD Meeting 2021--02-25

Last week was hopefully the first of many meetings to take place between OSU Extension CD educators and Central State University Extension CED educators. The two-hour meeting provided ample opportunity for everyone to get to know each other and to have lively discussions about collaborating on future projects.

It was also decided that we will continue meeting on a regular basis to ensure the communication lines remain open. It will certainly be exciting to learn about the first collaboration and where it will take place in Ohio.

I want to thank my OSU Extension CD colleagues for hosting the meeting and appreciate their commitment to creating a long-term partnership. For those that missed the meeting and would like to watch the recording, please let me know.

CD In-service April 15 from 9:30 a.m. to Noon

Please continue to hold April 15 for our Spring CD In-service. The meeting will be held via Zoom with plenty of breaks scheduled during the morning. If you have a topic that you would like to be included on the agenda, please send Sandy or me an email.

Have a great week and remember: "It takes two flints to make a fire." -Louisa May Alcott

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

Connect Extension Virtual Chat: Innovation in Extension - March 2:

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted all our lives in countless ways. Each of us has had to change and innovate on all fronts, including in our work.

One of the outcomes of the pandemic are the varied and creative ways in which Extension professionals are adapting and innovating, as we continue to deliver on our promise of enhancing lives through research-based information. The innovations are in many different areas and aren’t simply focused on technological innovation. This conversation will be about the evolving meaning and nature of innovation in Extension, and the best practices that are emerging in this unprecedented time. What have we learned about innovation? What will we take to move forward?

Click here to join the virtual chat on March 2 at 2 p.m. A Connect Extension account is required to participate in virtual chats. Cooperative Extension professionals can get their free Connect Extension accounts at connect.extension.org/join. Virtual chats are a text-based engagement.

Smart and Resilient Communities Seminar: Urban Cooling Technology - March 3:

Smart and Resilient Communities Join the first Smart and Resilient Communities Research Seminar, Facilitating Urban Cooling Technology Innovation and Adoption through Living Laboratory Experiments, on March 3 from 2 to 3 p.m.

This presentation, free and via Zoom, will highlight several university-government-industry collaborations that are being used to demonstrate, test, and improve technologies and strategies for urban cooling. A key component of the approach is a focus on targeted and equitable mitigation to maximize benefits for the most at-risk populations.

This webinar will feature Dr. David Sailor, Director of the Arizona State University Urban Climate Research Center, School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning. Smart and Resilient Communities Research Co-Leads Gulsah Akar (Knowlton School) and Steven Quiring (Geography) are hosting the seminar.

Register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Wooster Campus Research Library Spring Learning Series begins March 4:

Freshen up your research and writing skills during the Wooster Campus Research Library's Spring Learning Series. Seminars begin on March 4. 

  • Literature Review Seminar - March 4 from 12 to 1 p.m. Registration: go.osu.edu/Litrev
  • Beyond Google Scholar - March 11 from 12 to 1 p.m. Registration: go.osu.edu/goscholar
  • "They Say, I Say:" Writing in the Sciences - March 18 from 12 to 1 p.m. Registration: go.osu.edu/theysay
  • Introduction to Scholarly Publishing - March 25 from 12 to 1 p.m. Registration: go.osu.edu/pub

Ohio Land Grant Hemp Conference - March 5-6:

2021 Ohio Land Grant Hemp Conference March 5-6

Register by March 3 for the 2021 Ohio Land Grant Hemp Conference: Looking Back to Plan for the Future!

This two-day conference is brought to you by OSU Extension and Central State University.

On March 5, join the OSU Extension team for a day of virtual sessions that will cover topics such as fiber, pest management, economics, and more. Then join the Central State team on March 6 for a virtual trade show, highlighting hemp processors, seed and clone companies, equipment, and more.

This conference is free, but registration is required. Register here; deadline to register is March 3 at 11:59 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact Cindy Folck (afolck@centralstate.edu) or Teresa Funk (funk.67@osu.edu).

EPN Webinar focuses on Water Affordability and Equity - March 9:

EPN Webinar - March 9, 2021

EPN Webinar - March 9 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

  • Equity strategies in water affordability for marginalized communities

The Environmental Professionals Network (EPN) at The Ohio State University is partnering with the Water Management Association of Ohio and TerrAqua, to co-host a virtual event on March 9 focusing on water affordability and equity strategies to support residents in marginalized communities. In addition to the featured program, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in networking roundtables connecting students and water resource professionals. Click here to learn more about this virtual event and to register.

Grant Writing 101: Writing a Grant Proposal for Private Funders - March 9:

Join the Office of Foundation Relations on March 9 at 3 p.m. to learn about writing effective grant proposals, identifying potential funders, and navigating the application process. While the focus of this training is on private foundations, much of the information is applicable to proposal development and grant-seeking broadly. Read more.

Data Visualization Demo using Datawrapper - March 10:

In this installment of the Free Data Visualization Tools Series, a tool used to create charts and maps – Datawrapper - will be explored. This 30-minute presentation on March 10 at 2:30 p.m. will include an overview of the tool and its capabilities, as well as a demonstration on how to create data visualizations with it. Read more.

Growing Research Opportunities (GRO) Academy - Nominations due March 12:

The Office of Research is accepting self-nominations now through March 12 for a new leadership development program -- the Growing Research Opportunities (GRO) Academy. This program will equip faculty with the skills needed to lead complex, interdisciplinary collaborations in pursuit of external funding. Visit the GRO Academy nomination page for more information and to apply.
 

JCEP PD Opportunity: Hallway Conversations - March 17:

Ohio JCEP Hallway Conversations - March 17, 2021 Ohio JCEP will be presenting its first 2021 professional development opportunity, Hallway Conversations, on March 17 at 9 a.m., to facilitate informal networking and socialization across Extension.

To register, visit go.osu.edu/hallwayconvos. View the flyer for additional information. Plan to wear green!

Staff Career Development Grant Program - Info Session March 18:

The USAC Governance Subcommittee and the Office of Human Resources is offering a live information session for prospective applicants to the Staff Career Development Grant Program. This program is designed to support the professional development of Ohio State staff in their respective units; grants are awarded for costs associated with a professional development activity.

An information session will be held on March 18 from 4 to 5 p.m. via Zoom. Attendees will be provided an overview of the grant application process and will be able to ask questions to both USAC Governance Subcommittee members and OHR staff.

Applications are being accepted through March 31. Read more.

Solar Electric Economic Analysis Webinar Series - March 30 - April 8:

North Central SARE
The North Central SARE PDP grant is coming to an end, and you are invited to join the last webinar series to learn about economics and feasibility of solar electric systems for farms, residences, and businesses. The cost is free. Register here.

Who should attend:

  • People who work with farmers and citizens interested in solar: Extension Educators, Rural Bankers, Ag service providers, USDA, State government.
  • If you have attended their webinar series before, this will be review; if not this is great opportunity to learn about solar applications on farms. 

What is the payback for Solar PV systems? A common question with not such as easy answer. Farmers and businesses are receiving marketing materials to invest in solar, yet the economic feasibility of solar is not always clear. This workshop will cover how solar electric systems work, how to determine the value of energy, and how the complexity of subsidies and policy make general statements about feasibility more complex. This workshop will cover these issues in detail and provide participants with the information they need to speak confidently with farmers about solar electric systems. 

Instructors:

  • Eric Romich: Ohio State University Extension: Eric has over 10 years of experience teaching about solar PV and has advised on dozens of projects including a 12 MW utility scale project in Wyandot County, OH.
  • F. John Hay: Nebraska Extension: John has over 10 years of experience teaching about farm, residential, and business solar projects and has advised on dozens of projects. John installed his own 4.4 kW solar array at his home in 2017.

Webinar schedule:

Part 1: Introduction to Photovoltaic Solar  
Date: March 30 - 9 to 10:30 a.m. (Central)  

Part 2:  System Cost and Financial Parameters
Date: April 1 - 9 to 10:30 a.m. (Central)  

Part 3: Incentives, Electrical Rate Structure 
Date: April 6 - 9 to 10:30 a.m. (Central)  

Part 4: Interpreting Economic Analysis and Optimizing for Owners Goals
Date: April 8 - 9 to 10:30 a.m. (Central)

Resource Kit available for Exploring Meat Processing Business:

A team of Ohio State business and meat science specialists have compiled a Meat Processing Business Tool Kit for people who are exploring the meat processing business. Designed as a decision-making aid for people exploring investing in or expanding a meat processing facility, this online tool kit can help entrepreneurs evaluate the business and navigate business planning. The Meat Processing Business Tool Kit is available in the Business section at the OSU South Centers webpage and at the OSU Extension Meat Science webpage.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers saw shortages of meat in large supermarkets caused by disruptions in large packing plant operations.

On the webpage housing the tool kit, users will find information to help get started, including understanding the capacity for such a business, maps of federal and state inspection facilities and auction sites, as well as livestock inventory. To aid in decision making regarding business models, there are samples of cooperative and corporate business models, with business planning templates, financial worksheets, and information about funding sources. Contacts are also listed for those using the tool kit and seeking additional assistance with their business planning.

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SCHOLARLY / CREATIVE / OPPORTUNITIES:

USDA AFRI Grant Program Informational Webinars continue through March 4:

Informative Webinars are scheduled to take place the week of March 1 to learn more about funding opportunities in the USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) competitive grants program at the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). More information is available here. Registration is required to participate in each of the webinars.

The webinars are designed to provide information about AFRI programs, introduce new NIFA staff to applicants, and answer questions.

Prior to the webinars, please review the AFRI Requests for Applications and the AFRI Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants for New Investigators FAQs for basic information about these opportunities. Questions may be directed to: AFRI@usda.gov.

The webinar schedule is as follows and you must register for each that you are interested in:

Overview of AFRI Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities Program Area
Tuesday, March 2, 1-2:30 CST
Registration link for Overview of AFRI AERC


Overview of AFRI Animal Health and Production and Animal Products Program Area
Tuesday, March 2, 3-4:30 CST
Registration link for Overview of AFRI AHPAP


Overview of AFRI Education and Workforce Development Program Area
Wednesday, March 3, 1-2:30 CST
Registration link for Overview of AFRI EWD


Overview of AFRI Agriculture Systems and Technology Program Area
Wednesday, March 3, 3-4:30 CST
Registration link for Overview of AFRI AST


Overview of AFRI Plant Health and Production and Plant Products Program Area
Thursday, March 4, 1-2:30 CST
Registration link for Overview of AFRI PHPPP

2021 National ESP Conference Call for Proposals due March 8:

2021 National ESP Conference - October 25-28 The national Epsilon Sigma Phi Conference will be held in Savannah, Georgia on October 25-28.

Proposals are due by March 8 for concurrent session seminars, ignite presentations, research presentations, and posters. Read more.

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REMINDERS / UPDATES / NEWS:

February Director's Video Update Recording:

The link to the February 17th Director’s Video Update recording is available here with the integrated audio transcript.

The remaining Director’s Video Updates for 2021 will be held on April 14, May 19, June 30, August 18, October 6, November 17, and December 15. All video updates will be held at 9 a.m. A registration link will be forwarded two to three weeks prior to each update, and the videos will be recorded for those who cannot join the live sessions.

Farmers Market Vendor COVID-19 Survey:

A team of researchers from Virginia Tech and North Carolina State University is assessing the impact of COVID-19 on farmers markets nationwide. They are seeking input from farmers market vendors on practices implemented in response to COVID-19 and hope to use this data to better understand how resources can be developed for these groups.

The survey can be accessed through this link. Please share this survey within your networks.

New F&A Rates to go into Effect July 1:

Ohio State has completed negotiations with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on a new 4-year Facilities and Administrative (F&A) rate agreement. These new rates should be used in proposals for awards that begin on or after July 1, 2021 and will apply through the end of Fiscal Year 2024 or until a new agreement is established.

The Office of Sponsored Programs will work with sponsors to obtain the new F&A rate on current awards whenever possible. However, if additional funds cannot be obtained, direct costs will be protected and will not be reduced to cover the increase in the F&A rate, unless it is required by a sponsor. Click here to learn more about the new rates and how they may impact your research.

New Institutional Data Website Launched:

The Office of Research recently formed the Office of Strategic and Competitive Intelligence (OSCI) focused on supporting the university’s research and academic enterprise by providing data analytics services on the research landscape, funding trends, and industry intelligence. The office also includes the institutional research team that supports the university’s accreditation process and external data reporting.

OSCI recently launched a collaborative campus data resource, facts.osu.edu, which provides access to validated and publicly reported institutional data. This site will continue to evolve as new data is released and new dashboards are developed.

Articles/Publications of Interest:

Conference to discuss progress on NW Ohio water quality efforts (CFAES News)

Putting healthy food in reach (CFAES News)

CFAES Research News (March 2021)

CFAES DEI Newsletter (February 2021)

Ohio Sea Grant eNewsletter (February 2021)

The Drop (NCRWN eNewsletter February 2021)


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