Va Rural Center News

Regional Rural
           Caucus Meetings

After successful weekly Rural Caucus meetings during the General Assembly, Va Rural Center has been asked to organize Regional Rural Caucus meetings.

·         The Rural Center will host the first meetings in May and June

-          Watch for Details

-          Ask about Sponsorship Opportunities

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Pilot Grant Program to Improve Internet Connections in Public Libraries - Va Rural Center invited by the Library of Virginia to serve on Advisory Board 

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded $6,959,771 in combined grant funding to Connected Nation, a
non-profit broadband Internet advocacy group, and the American Library Association’s Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) to support improved Internet connections for public libraries in Arkansas, California, Kansas, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, and Virginia.  Read the full article

Message from the Rural Center

 Va Rural Center Leads New Initiative!

Rural Community Strategic Action …

• The foundation is being laid

• The search for funding is underway

• Sponsorship opportunities are open!

A process to empower rural communities to achieve results that improve the quality of life at the local level.

• Va Rural Center will facilitate and lead the process. Once established, local leadership will move the collaboration
  to build a comprehensive support system to achieve results oriented economic stability.

A deeper understanding of how to establish and achieve results and report progress:

• Assemble the stakeholders

• Utilize existing data

• Create action

• Assess performance

• Monitor & Report

Va Rural Center ~ Board In Action

Board members effect Rural Communities in a positive way on a daily basis!

Danville Regional Medical Center Partners with Blacksburg Medical School to Bring Physicians to the Dan River Region

Danville, VA, February 18, 2009 - The Edward Via Virginia College Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) and Danville Regional Medical Center (DRMC) announced plans to begin medical residency programs at Danville Regional Medical Center in July 2010 to help address the shortage of physicians in the Dan River Region. The United States is facing a severe shortage of physicians. Ward Stevens, VCOM’ s Assistant Vice President for Development has been elected to the Council for Rural Virginia Board of Directors.  Read the Press Release

Crossroads Institute - Business to Business Expo at Crossroads Institute in Galax, Virginia    . . . . .   Article and Video    

“Probably the most important thing we do is to try to support existing business,” said Neal Satterwhite, director of the Blue Ridge Crossroads Economic Development Authority. “Even if somebody has been in business for some time, in today’s economic conditions it is important for them to very closely understand their business.” by Allen Worrell, News Writer© thecarrollnews.com 2009 - Read more

Oliver McBride, Executive Director at Crossroads serves on the Council for Rural Virginia Board of Directors and as Chairman of the Board.

Virginia's Region 2000

Work continues on the grant received by Virginia’s Region 2000 to develop the  inventory of region's vertical assets. Funds were awarded from the Virginia Productivity Investment Fund to develop a geographic information-based system to inventory the region’s vertical assets, aimed at faster deployment of wireless broadband services.

The project is expected to serve as a model for other regions and organizations in the state interested in fostering the deployment of broadband service to unserved and underserved areas. 

Brian David, Executive Director of the Region 2000 Economic Development Council, and
Gary Christie, Executive Director of the Region 2000 Local Government Council serve on the Council for Rural Virginia Board of Directors. 

Learn More -  Contact Traci Blido, Communications Director/Programs Manager for Virginia’s Region 2000.

Va Rural Center Focus

Rural Center Focus Areas include:

Virginia Department of Education Receives $50,000 Grant From Verizon to Expand Teachers' Professional Development Opportunities - Grant Will Train Teachers on Use Of Verizon's Thinkfinity.org Educational Resources

Read the full article     So, What is
                                     Click the logo-learn about free educational resources

The Virginia Electronic Technology Center (VECTEC)

 Move Your Business On-Line - VECTEC offers a wide array of education programs including Technology Short Courses, Web Site Workshops and Electronic Commerce Forums across the state of Virginia.  On-line Registration and Course Schedule 

Offices in Hampton Rhodes, Southwest/Lebanon and South Boston.  Learn More

Broadband Growth to Help Rural Patients -  Learn more

Successful Broadband Deployment - a matter of Place & Leadership  Broadband and Technology - The federal government will issue billions in grants to bring broadband to underserved places. Strong local leadership will make this program more successful.   By Bill Bishop

Read more – Place Matters With the Spread of Broadband

Infrastructure/Broadband: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation award grant to Virginia Library Association will bring eligible public Libraries to higher standard of Broadband connectivity. Va Rural Center will serve on the Advisory Board and help develop the processes.

New Markets Tax Credit Financing

Virginia Community Capital (VCC) Brings Capital to Two New Healthcare Centers - New primary care doctors offices in Duffield, VA. and Pyramid Health Center in Lynchburg, VA

WEBER CITY — U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher and Holston Medical Group President Dr. Jerry Miller announce a federal tax credit that will assist in the completion of a new health care facility in Duffield.  Read more

Learn more about Virginia Community Capital      Questions - Email
 

The Virginia Department of Health Office of Minority Health and Public Health Policy and the Virginia Rural Health Association hosted the event. Sponsors included:

Questions - Contact: 

      Rural Resource  - Difficult economic times, job loss, no medical insurance?  Talk to the staff at the local Community
                                     Healthcare Center

• If you have health coverage, share this information with someone who does not.
   

Federally-funded health centers care for you, even if you have no health insurance. You pay what you can afford, based on your income. Health centers provide

1. checkups when you're well

2. treatment when you're sick

3. complete care when you're pregnant

4. immunizations and checkups for your children

5. dental care and prescription drugs for your family

6. mental health and substance abuse care if you need it

Health centers are in most cities and many rural areas. Type in your address and click the 'Find Health Centers' button to find health centers near you.

Contact the health center to schedule an appointment or to find a health center closer to you.
 

Health Coverage Matters – Staying Covered After Job Loss

The U.S. Department of Labor has published an online toolkit to help people keep health coverage and manage retirement benefits after losing a job.  Learn more at www.InsureMoreVirginians.net    

 Virginia Healthcare Foundation  -   Who Serves the Uninsured?
 

Read On - March Edition Features

 Feature - Honorable Patrick O. Gottschalk, Virginia Secretary of
  Commerce & Trade - Rural Caucus - February 23, 2009

Feature - The Honorable Dave Nutter Addresses Virginia State Rural Health Summit