ABC’s of ADU’s Offers an in-depth look at what ADU's are, how to incorporate them into communities in an age-friendly way, and finally what policies are needed to successful encourage ADUs.
USDA Rural Development 502 Program, direct lending loan to purchase a home of modest size (primary residence) 504 Program, offers both 1% loans and grants available to anyone for home repair/renovation
TRANSPORTATION
Resources/ Models
Independent Transportation Network (ITN) ITN develops community-based transportation solutions designed to address the challenge of senior mobility. They are a national organization that partners with communities, advocates for policies, and focus on research and innovation. ITNcountry is their website focused on rural transportation ITN Monterey County is an affiliate program in California How it works: - ITN can give $15K to help communities get set up, including marketing/ communication materials, and tech support. - ITN Rides 2.0 is their proprietary software for ride scheduling and finance management. - Volunteer drivers provide door to door service - vehicle entry & exit, carrying items, groceries, etc. - Older adults pay annual membership (~$35) plus fee per mile; the total cost is cheaper than Uber/ Taxi. - Some grocery stores and/or medical providers reimburse all or partial rides.
Ridesheet Ridesheet is a new open-source ride scheduling software application designed for the unique needs of small, demand-responsive transportation providers. Ridesheet enables two or more providers in a community to interoperate more efficiently, improving service for their clients. Sample Implementation: Lake County Oregon (read implementation evaluation here.
Ride with Via Via helps communities to bring together all transportation modes into one system- leveraging paratransit, fixed route, and demand-responsive options to increase ridership while reducing costs. Via operates in 35 countries with 500 partner communities. Sample Implementation: Bakersfield, California View Via’s guide for funding on-demand public transi
Report from AARP: Public Transportation’s Impact on Rural and Small Towns (2017) Reveals the connection between public transit and rural communities and small towns. This paper also looks at rural public transit cost efficiency, and describes successful examples of smaller community public transit programs.
US Department of Transportation DOT is now accepting applications for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot discretionary grant program. The $1 billion RCP Program was established under President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in keeping with the Biden-Harris Administration's belief that the promise of our nation is that every American has an equal chance to get ahead. It is the first-ever Federal program to reconnect communities cut off from opportunities by transportation infrastructure, such as highways and rail lines, through solutions like high-quality public transportation, infrastructure removal, and community and main street revitalization. Eligible applicants include States, Local and Tribal governments, metropolitan planning organizations, nonprofit organizations, and transportation facility owners. The application submission deadline is Thursday, October 13, 2022 on grants.gov.
Upcoming Reconnecting Communities Webinars - "Interested in Applying?" Overview on Thursday, July 28 at 2:00 PM EDT (register here) - "Spotlight: Reconnecting for Tribal, Rural, and smaller localities and Non-profits" on Thursday, August 4 at 3:00 pm EDT - "Interested in Applying for a Capital Construction Grant?" – Date Forthcoming Subscribe to receive updates, including dates and registration on upcoming webinars, here.