Several members of MACDEP attended the Community Development Society Conference and Western Rural Development Center CD Update in Boise, ID last week. Materials from the conference and the update should be posted on each website soon. Looking ahead, the Mobilizing Rural Communities Conference, co-sponsored by MSU Extension, takes place Sept. 14-15 in Great Falls, MT and some scholarship opportunities are still available.

-Paul Lachapelle
MACDEP President

GIS Training Opportunity

Montana Economic Developers Association Fall Conference

Mobilizing Rural Communities Conference

Community Development Academy

Community-Based Grant Program

Deadline: August 14, 2011

Funder: Union Pacific

People's Garden Grant Program

Deadline: August 26, 2011

Funder: US Dept of Agriculture

Environmental Grants

Deadline: August 31, 2011

Funder: Patagonia

Community Challenge Planning Grant Program

Deadline: September 9, 2011

Funder: Dept of Housing and Urban Development

Boston Launches

Bike-Sharing Program

Planetizen; July 30

City Park Helps Town Through Recession

NPR; July 29

EPA Proposes Rules for Drilling Emissions
Casper Star-Tribune; July 29

$94 Billion Annual Funding Gap in Transportation

Planetizen; July 29

Automakers Agree to Strict New Fuel Efficiency Rules

New York Times; July 28

South Korea Tests 'Smart' Energy Grid

New York Times; July 28

Rural Population Hits New Low
Durango Herald; July 27

Obama Administration Considers New Forest Management Plan
Azcentral.com; July 25

Transportation Planning and Community Health

Planetizen; July 25

Former Interior Secretary Criticizes Public Lands Bill Seattle Times; July 25

The Role of Infrastructure in Economic Recovery

The Atlantic; July 25

LA Tries to Reduce Number of Cars

Metropolis; July 23

New Study Questions Carbon-Dioxide Reductions from Wind Energy
Forbes.com; July 19

Extinction of Predators Drastically Affect Ecosystems
Fastcompany.com; July 19

Land Use Factors and Travel

Planetizen; July 18

Designing Urban Parks to Promote Healthier Cities

Planetizen; July 16

Study: Forest Absorb More Greenhouses Than Previously Thought
Christian Science Monitor; July 15

Proposed Interior Budget Slashes Environmental Funding

Idaho Statesman; July 8

US Job Growth Slows in June

Financial Post; July 8

Corn Ethanol Subsidies May End
New York Times; July 7

EPA Releases New Coal Emissions Regulations

New York Times; July 5

Montana Marketing Coal Reserves to China
Missoula Independent; July 28

GNP Uses Human 'Mules' Due to Late Season Snowpack

Flathead Beacon; July 28

Montana Co-op Receives $70M to Expand Broadband Access

Montana Standard; July 28

Governor Creates Pipeline Safety Council

Billings Gazette; July 28

Widespread Contamination After Yellowstone River Oil Spill

Great Falls Tribune; July 27

Proposed Bill Would End CDL Exemption for Farmers
Billings Gazette; July 25

Study Predicts Larger, More Frequent Fires in Yellowstone

Great Falls Tribune; July 25

Yellowstone River Oil Spill Exposes Pipeline Information Gaps

Billings Gazette; July 21

Conservation Group Monitors Drilling Near GNP

Flathead News Group; July 20

Montana Land Board Considers Increase in Grazing Fees
Montana Standard; July 19

YNP Considers Additional Entrance
Bozeman Daily Chronicle; July 15

Secretary of Interior Meets with Montana Tribal Leaders
Great Falls Tribune; July 15

Federal Government to Create State Health Insurance Exchange

Helena Independent Record; July 15

Montana Congressman Attacks Lead Safety Rule

Great Falls Tribune; July 14

Montana Ranked 41st in Green Jobs

Great Falls Tribune; July 13

Economists Attack Farm Subsidies

Billings Gazette; July 12

Blackfeet College Building Receives Green Certification

Great Falls Tribune; July 12

Montana, Other States Explore Green Technology

Billings Gazette; July 9

Report Finds Montana Eighth-Least Obese State

Billings Gazette; July 8