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ICMA's Guide to Smart Growth in Rural Communities |
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Many rural communities are facing challenges, including rapid growth at metropolitan edges, declining rural populations, and loss of working lands. This report from the International City/County Management Association focuses on smart growth strategies that can help guide growth in rural areas while protecting natural and working lands and preserving the rural character of existing communities.
To download the report, click here. |
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Economic Growth and Sustainability Funding for Rural Areas Available |
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Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager today announced that USDA is accepting applications for business and community development grants to help rural communities create wealth, attract more residents, and become economically self-sustaining. The funding is being provided through USDA Rural Development’s Rural Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG) program, which provides grants for technical assistance and planning activities to improve economic conditions in rural cities or towns of 50,000 people or fewer. For more information: Click Here |
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USDA Program to Transition Land to Beginning Farmers |
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USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan has announced the Transition Incentives Program that encourages retired farmers to transition their land to beginning or disadvantaged farmers. "Ensuring that our nation's land is returned to production using sustainable methods is critical not only for our future food supply, but also for the economic future of our rural communities," said Merrigan. "Access to land is one of the greatest challenges faced by new farmers. The Transition Incentives Program is one more tool in the USDA toolkit to protect family farms and support beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers."
For more information: http://www.agweekly.com/articles/2010/05/17/news/ag_news/news89.txt |
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Assessing the Theory and Practice of Land Value Taxation |
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At a time when local governments are increasingly strapped, the land value tax – taxing the value of land more than buildings – is an efficient source of revenue that avoids the negative effects that can accompany other taxes, such as local wage or income taxes, a new report from the Lincoln Institute for Land Policy states. According to the report, switching to a land value tax might result in a number of outcomes: lower house prices; more improvements per acre of land; higher population density; more employment and higher wages; and less sprawl.
Click Here to Read More. |
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