Healthy Minds Healthy Lives Workshops

Untreated or ignored stress and mental health issues in rural areas impact quality of life, economic development and lives of farmers, agriculture workforce and rural families. To raise awareness and help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in the agriculture industry the Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives program was created by the Indiana Rural Health Association. Twenty-three free, one-day insightful workshops with subject matter experts will be conducted in 2022. The workshops will begin Feb. 10, 2022, in Mount Vernon, Ind. The series of workshops will continue in 22 other rural sites around Indiana through July.

The free workshops through the Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives program are open to the farming community, including agribusinesses and related service industries, the faith community, local leaders and families.

Registration opens 30 days prior to each event.?Click below to learn more.

Local soil and water districts awarded nearly $800,000 for

water quality initiatives

?The?Indiana State Department of Agriculture?and the?State Soil Conservation Board?awarded $789,825 in matching grant funds to 13 soil and water conservation districts and soil health organizations through the?Clean Water Indiana?program.?Including the district?s matching contributions, a total of $1.6 million will be implemented to improve soil conservation and water quality?initiatives.?

The Clean Water Indiana program is administered by the state?s soil conservation board. The program, led by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, provides financial assistance to landowners and conservation groups that are working to reduce runoff from non-point sources of water pollution, whether it?s on agricultural land, urban areas or eroding streambanks.

Once received, districts can use the funds to partner with other counties or address specific needs within their jurisdiction. Some examples include participating in a cost share program, hiring staff, providing technical assistance, implementing cover crop incentive programs or increasing watershed capacity.

Click below to learn more and find a list of the awardees.

?2022 Indiana Small Farm Conference pivots to a virtual platform

Click below to learn more and register.

January 6: Local soil and water districts awarded nearly $800,000 for water quality initiatives
Find the full release?here

January 11: New leadership for the Indiana FFA organization
Find the full release?here

January 31: Registration open for Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives Mental Health Workshops
Find the full release?here

The Indiana Technical Assistance Program is accepting applications!

The Indiana Small Business Development Center has opened applications for INTAP through February 20, 2022. This statewide initiative connects small businesses with critical professional assistance to complete growth and improvement projects.? Through INTAP, eligible small businesses may apply to receive up to $15,000 in professional services from a qualified vendor to complete growth and improvement projects that require specialized assistance or technical expertise such as app or technology development, intellectual property legal assistance and grant writing assistance for the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs.

To learn more about INTAP, click here.?

FEDERAL FUNDING:

Farm and Food Worker Grant Program
Find more information here

Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program
Find more information here

Biofuel Producer Program
Find more information here

Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase II
Find more information here

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) COVID-19 Small Business Funding Portal
Find more information here

STATE FUNDING:

Indiana Technical Assistance Program (INTAP)?
Find more information here

Indiana State Trade and Export Promotion (IN-STEP)
Find more information here

Export Indiana Accelerator Program
Find more information here

Manufacturing Readiness Grant
Find more information here

GENERAL FUNDING:

Food Export Midwest?
Find more information here

Grain Compliance Auditor, Indiana Grain Buyers and Warehouse Licensing Agency |?Washington, IN
Find more information here

February 10: Posey County -?Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives Workshop?
For more information and to register click here

February 19-25: National FFA Week
For more information click here

February 23: Owen County -?Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives Workshop?
For more information and to register click here

February 24: Boone County -?Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives Workshop?
For more information and to register click here

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