DATE: December 15th, 2022
TIME: 2:00pm To 4:00pm
LOCATION: Virtual—Microsoft Teams
What: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Placemaking and Innovation Challenge Grant (RPIC) — Fort Jones and RCAC Community Kick Off Call Attachments:
• Community Assessment Form
• SOW Draft
• Sample Two-Year Work Plan Template
Time What Description Notes
5 Min. Introductions
10 Min What is “Placemaking” • Planning Support, Technical Assistance & Training
• Improving social, physical, and
economic well-being.
• Economic Vitality
30 Min Review of RPIC Scope
and Initiatives
• Purpose
• Timeline
• Goals
15 Min Review Key Tasks • Community Engagement
Sessions
• Plan Development
• What are your goals?
15 Min Review existing
initiatives
• Main Street Project
• Pedestrian Safety
• Branding
• CalTrans Transportation
Concept Report
15 Min Next Steps • Complete Community
Assessment
• Complete Two-Year Work Plan
• Identify Time Frame for
Planning Visit
Additional Questions
This Task Order details the responsibilities of the Town of Fort Jones and the Rural Community Assistance Corporation to provide visioning and planning support, technical assistance and training to foster and implement Placemaking Activities that will create greater social and cultural vitality aimed at improving Town Residents’ social, physical, and economic well-being.
Scope of Agreement:
Town of Fort Jones Responsibilities:
• Designate one or more individuals to fulfill the role of Community Coordinator (CC) to facilitate and implement the Town of Fort Jones work related to the Placemaking Plan.
• Work with RCAC to compile information for Performance Progress Reports in accordance with the grant contract parameters. These reports will be completed prior to June 30th and December 31st, and include a narrative description of progress toward responsibilities, outputs and outcomes.
Community Coordinator Responsibilities:
• Work with RCAC to prepare a detailed annual work plan that will be reviewed and updated quarterly and complete the Community Assessment. • Work with RCAC to create and disseminate outreach materials for all community engagement sessions
• Work with RCAC to continue identifying local gaps that can be served through catalytic community economic development projects, identify action items for placemaking activities and participate in the development of a placemaking plan. • Participate in all RCAC-sponsored phone calls and on-line trainings as well as online and/or on-site technical assistance visits as practicable to support development and implementation of the placemaking plan.
RCAC Partnership Responsibilities:
• Work with Town of Fort Jones to organize, conduct outreach for, and facilitate community engagement sessions focused on the development of the placemaking plan and placemaking projects.
• Work with the Town and Town Council to evaluate opportunities to access additional USDA programs to improve local infrastructure, finance a new Fire Station, and increase affordability and access to broadband. • RCAC will work with the Town of Fort Jones in developing a completed Placemaking Plan that addresses a continuation of the Community Branding Initiative, Main Street Revitalization Projects, Housing, and Disaster Mitigation Strategies.
• RCAC will provide technical assistance and facilitation of community engagement sessions meant to identify action items for the placemaking plan through conference calls or virtual meetings, on-site visits, email and phone meetings as needed in order to build local capacity to execute placemaking projects. • RCAC will work with the Town of Fort Jones to develop an action plan for implementation of catalytic community projects and identification of resources, financial and other, to support implementation.
Rural Community Assistance Corporation
Building Rural Economies
Internal Three-Year Work Plan
BRE Internal Three-Year Work Plan 1 | P a g e
Sponsoring Organization or Agency: Town of Fort Jones
RCAC Point of Contact: Aaron Reimler, Rural Development Specialist – Economic Development Date:
Proposed Outcomes: Development of a Placemaking Plan focused on Main Street Revalorization, Branding, Tourism, and Housing Needs
Funding (Per Unanet)
Federal or Primary Funder(s) (i.e. RCDI18, RCBG18etc.) Rural Place Making and Innovation Challenge Grant Bank Fund Match N/A
Federal Funds Match (i.e. Tech, HHS, HUD, EPA, etc.) applicable for RCDI only N/A Year 1 Work Plan:
Task
Work Product
(Outcome) Milestone or Objective
RCAC Staff
Assigned
Site Visits
(Planned/Expected)
Start
Dates
End
Dates
Task 1
Assessment and Orientation
Assessment Completed Conduct introductory
calls with new council
members and local
leadership.
Aaron Call Held on
12/15/2022
9/1/2022 12/31/202
2 Task 2
Task 3
Task 4
BRE Internal Three-Year Work Plan 2 | P a g e
Task 5
Task 6
Year 2 Work Plan:
Task
Work Product
(Outcome) Milestone or Objective
RCAC Staff
Assigned
Site Visits
(Planned/Expected)
Start
Dates
End
Dates
Task 1
Task 2
Task 3
Task 4
BRE Internal Three-Year Work Plan 3 | P a g e
Task 5
Task 6
Rural Community Assistance Corporation
Building Rural Economies
Community Assessment Form
BRE Community Assessment Form 1 | P a g e
Organization or Agency Name: Town of Fort Jones, California Address: 11960 East St., Fort Jones, CA 96032
Primary Contact Name & Title: Rachel Agron; Deputy City Clerk Phone & Email: (530) 468-2281; [email protected] Area(s) to be Served: Fort Jones, CA
Population: 697 Unemployment Rate: 9.3% Poverty Rate: 23.36% Is the service area part of an Opportunity Zone*? Yes X No Is the service area identified as a distressed area, disaster area, or persistent poverty area? Yes No If yes, describe:
What are the three most critical economic development needs in the service area? 1:
2:
3:
Does the service area have a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) or other written economic planning strategy?
Yes No If yes, who has a copy?
Does your organization have a current Strategic Plan? Yes No Is economic development one of your organization’s long-term goals? Yes No If yes, do your organization’s establishing documents (Charter, Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Mission Statement, etc.) reflect this goal? Yes No
Does your organization invite community members to participate in identifying economic development priorities and/or projects? Yes No
If yes, briefly describe how:
What are your organization’s economic development goals for the service area? BRE Community Assessment Form 2 | P a g e
List your organization’s current economic development efforts (projects or programs):
What are the local and regional barriers to economic development? Are there water/sewer or housing issues that hinder economic development efforts? Has your organization worked with RCAC previously? Yes No How can the BRE program help build your organization’s capacity to meet the economic development needs and goals identified above?
Training/TA for organization-wide strategic planning
Training/TA to identify and/or implement community economic development projects Training/TA to work with individual entrepreneurs toward business startup or expansion Training/TA to identify and secure economic development project/program funding Training/TA to become a CDFI or establish a Revolving Loan Fund Training/TA to ensure the long-term sustainability of the organization Training/TA to identify and develop local or regional strategic partnerships Are there other types of capacity building needed? Yes No If yes, please describe What other economic development resources exist in the community and region? Is your organization part of any economic development networks? Yes No If yes, list:
Is your organization a CDFI or does it have a Revolving Loan Fund? Yes No If yes, describe the organization’s lending experience and capacity:
BRE Community Assessment Form 3 | P a g e
Describe your organization’s current staffing or attach an organizational chart? Does your Board of Directors include one or more individuals who are part of an underrepresented group (for example women, minorities, veterans, or persons with disabilities)? Yes No
Describe any staff positions responsible for economic or small business development activities? Is there an existing employee who can serve as a Community Coordinator**? Yes No If yes, does this individual have economic development experience? Yes No If yes, does this individual have small business development experience? Yes No Describe the individual’s experience:
If your organization receives pass through funds, have funds been identified for match? Yes No Not Applicable
If yes, what is the source of that funding?
If yes, are the funds currently in place? Yes No
Estimate your organization’s overall operating budget for this fiscal year? Estimate the funding needed by your organization over the next 3-5 years to meet economic development goals and sustain economic development efforts? What funding sources have been identified to meet this need? Has your organization previously been a recipient of Federal funds? Yes No If yes, give examples of the types of Federal funding received:
Is TA needed to help ensure the long-term financial sustainability of your organization? Yes No If yes, describe:
BRE Community Assessment Form 4 | P a g e
Does your organization have written policies and procedures (i.e. employee, financial, procurement, conflict of interest, etc.)?
Yes No If yes, describe which of the above or others:
Date :
* Opportunity Zone: Economically distressed communities where new investments, under certain conditions, may be eligible for preferential tax treatment. Opportunity Zone maps can be found by clicking the links below.
https://www.cims.cdfifund.gov/preparation/?config=config_nmtc.xml http://www.statsamerica.org/opportunity/map.aspx
** Community Coordinator: Person responsible for facilitating and implementing an organization’s community and economic development work with RCAC. The Community Coordinator is the focus of RCAC’s capacity building efforts throughout the three-year partnership.