NADO Election Update

NADO is pleased to announce the members of the 2008 – 2009 Board of Directors.  The one-year term runs from the Tuesday, October 7 board meeting during the 2008 Annual Training Conference in Anchorage, Alaska through the 2009 Annual Training Conference in Chicago, Illinois in August 2009.

Thank you to all of those association members and candidates who participated in the election process.  Elected officials are indicated in bold. New board members are indicated with an *.

East Region

• Danny L.  Brown, Chairman Russell County Board of Supervisors, Cumberland Plateau Planning District (Lebanon, VA) *
• Peter Gregory, Executive Director, Two Rivers-Ottauquechee RC (Woodstock, VT)
• Michael King, Executive Director, North Country Council (Bethlehem, NH)
• James Mylott, Executive Director, Mid-Ohio Valley RC (Parkersburg, WV)
• Donald Rychnowski, Executive Director, Southern Tier West RP&DB (Salamanca, NY)
• Wayne Strickland, Executive Director, Roanoke Valley – Alleghany RC (Roanoke, VA)
• Robert J. Thompson, Executive Director, Androscoggin Valley COG (Auburn, ME)

Midwest Region

• Bill Bolin, Executive Director, South Central Kansas EDD (Wichita, KS)
• Jerry Chasteen, Executive Director, West Central Wisconsin RPC (Eau Claire, WI)
• Sandeep Dey, Executive Director, West Michigan Shoreline RDC (Muskegon, MI)
• Doug Elliott, Executive Director, East Central Iowa COG (Cedar Rapids, IA)
• Steve Etcher, Executive Director, Boonslick RPC (Warrenton, MO)
• Tom Higginbotham, Executive Director, Northeast Nebraska EDD (Norfolk, NE) *
• Chester Jourdan, Executive Director, Mid-Ohio RPC (Columbus, OH)
• Bob Proud, Clermont County Commissioner, Ohio Valley RDC (Batavia, OH)
• Jayme Trusty, Executive Director, Southwest RDC (Slayton, MN)

Southeast Region

• Charles Blume, Executive Director, Apalachee RPC (Blountstown, FL)
• Terry Bobrowski, Executive Director, East Tennessee DD (Knoxville, TN)
• Suzanne Burnette, Executive Director, Lee-Russell COG (Opelika, AL)
• Lynn Cartlidge, Supervisor, Forrest Co. Southern Mississippi PD (Gulfport, MS)
• Jim Dove, Executive Director, Northeast Georgia RDC (Athens, GA) *
• Greg Godard, Executive Director, Upper Coastal Plain COG (Rocky Mount, NC)
• Patricia Hartung, Executive Director, Upper Savannah COG (Greenwood, SC)
• F. Clarke Holmes, Chief Executive Officer, Central Mississippi PDD (Jackson, MS)
• Wendell Lawrence, Executive Director, Lincoln Trail ADD (Elizabethtown, KY)
• Ronald Matthews, Executive Director, North-central Alabama RCOG (Decatur, AL)
• Joe McKinney, Executive Director, Land-Of-Sky Regional Council (Asheville, NC)
• Ron Mitchum, Executive Director, Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester COG (North Charleston, SC) *
• Lenny Stoltz, Executive Director, Bluegrass ADD (Lexington, KY) *

 Southwest Region

• Jake Brisbin, Executive Director, Rio Grande COG (El Paso, TX)
• John Guthrie, Executive Director, Western Arkansas PDD (Fort Smith, AR)
• Jeff Kiely, Assistant Director, Northwest New Mexico COG (Gallup, NM)
• Stan McGee, CAO, Acadiana RDD (Lafayette, LA)
• Cletis Millsap, County Judge, Hopkins County, Ark-Tex COG (Texarkana, TX)
• Blaine H. Smith, Executive Director, Assn. of South Central Oklahoma Govts. (Duncan, OK)
• Hubert Quintana, Executive Director, Southeastern New Mexico EDD (Roswell, NM)
• Betty Voights, Executive Director, Capital Area COG (Austin, TX) *

West Region

• Chesley Christensen, Mayor, Mt.  Pleasant City, Six County EDD (Richfield, UT)
• Lisa Dawson, Executive Director, Northeast Oregon EDD (Enterprise, OR)
• Dick Edenstrom, Executive Director, First District Assn. of Local Govts. (Watertown, SD)
• Kathleen Simko, President, Sage Community Resources (Boise, ID)
• Ken Sweet, Executive Director, Northern Arizona COG (Flagstaff, AZ)
• Patricia Ullery, Executive Director, Big Horn Mountain County Coalition (Cowley, WY) *

Associate

• Jack F. Couch, Executive Director, Kentucky Council of ADDs (Frankfort, KY) *
• Jane Marden, Director, Community and Economic Development, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (Arlington, VA)
• Linda Salmonson, Economic Development Manager, East River Electric Power Co-op (Madison, SD)

Election of Association Officers

During the 2008 Annual Business Meeting on Tuesday, October 7 in Anchorage, Alaska, voting members of the association will elect officers for the 2008 – 2009 term.  As outlined in the organization’s bylaws, six officers serve as the Executive Committee of NADO.  The positions include:  president, first vice-president, second vice president, secretary, treasurer and immediate past president.  

Each regional member organization receives one vote, and a representative of each regional development organization must be present to vote for officers.  The three associate board members will represent the associate membership and each shall have one vote.  Information was mailed July 31 containing, resolutions, rules, voting credentials, biographies and statements of all nominees for NADO officers.  

NADO Officer Candidates

President: Sharon Juon, Executive Director, Iowa Northland Regional COG (Waterloo, IA)

First Vice President: Michael Norton, Executive Director, Northwest Arkansas EDD (Harrison, AR)

Second Vice President: Tim Ware, Executive Director, Mid-East Commission (Washington, NC)

Secretary: Russell Cowley, Executive Director, Six County Association of Governments (Richfield, UT)

Treasurer: John Leonard, Executive Director, South Georgia Regional Development Center (Valdosta, GA)

The Nominating Committee will hold a meeting from 10:30 am to noon on Sunday, October 5 at the Anchorage Hilton Hotel.  The committee meeting, which will include interviews of each candidate, is open to the full membership.  The following members were appointed by President Leanne Mazer to serve on the committee:

Jack Scriber, Executive Director (Chair)
Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency
(Southeast Region)

Don Rychnowski, Executive Director
Southern Tier West RP&D Board
(East Region)

Jay Trusty, Executive Director
Southwest RDC
(Midwest Region)

Jake Brisbin, Executive Director
Rio Grande COG
(Southwest Region)

Kathleen Simko, President
Sage Community Resources
(West Region)

Penny Redington, Executive Director
Texas Association of Regional Councils
(Associate)

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EDA Disaster Assistance Funding Available

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has announced the availability of funds and pre-application procedures for its Supplemental Appropriations Disaster Relief Opportunity funding.  Under the FY2008 disaster supplemental appropriations act (Pl 110-252), EDA received $100 million as a supplemental appropriation for disaster assistance investments in regions experiencing severe economic distress as a result of the flooding, storms or tornadoes in the Midwest and other recent natural disasters.

EDA will allocate the funding among its six regional offices to cover necessary expenses related to disaster relief, long-term recovery and the restoration of infrastructure.  For individual project applications, EDA encourages the submission of applications geared toward the development and implementation of long-term, regionally-based, collaborative economic redevelopment strategies.

Funding proposals will be accepted on a continuing basis and applications will be invited and processed as received.  Generally, up to two months are required for EDA to reach a final decision after receipt of a complete application.

For more information regarding application criteria, distribution of funds and match requirements go to, www.eda.gov.

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Fiscal Year 2009 CDFI Assistance Available

On August 12, the Department of Treasury announced the availability of $54 million (subject to final appropriations) in FY2009 funding for its Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) program. The program provides assistance to certified CDFIs allowing them to provide affordable financing and related services to low-income communities and populations that lack access to credit, capital and financial services.  Eligible applicants can apply for financial assistance, technical assistance, or a combination of both.  Applications are due October 29. For more information, go to www.cdfifund.gov.

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NADO News and Notes

RPO America Nominating Committee Convenes

The RPO America Nominating Committee has convened to nominate a slate of candidates for officer positions of the National RPO Council of Peers for 2008 – 2009.  The committee comprises the Transportation Task Force Chair of NADO and representatives appointed by NADO President Leanne Mazer and National RPO Council of Peers Chair Brian Tapp.

The individuals serving on the nominating committee are:

• Terry Bobrowski, Executive Director, East Tennessee Development District
• Dan Bollinger, Executive Director, Southwest Georgia Regional Development Center
• Joni Herren Graves, Transportation Planning Program Manager, Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
• Dewayne Hellums, Director of Transportation, North-central Alabama Regional Council of Governments
• Mike Norton, Executive Director, Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District
• Shawn Seager, Senior Transportation Planner, Mountainland Association of Governments (UT)
• Tim Ware, Executive Director, Mid-East Commission (NC)

Elections for the position of chair, vice-chair and secretary will take place on Sunday, August 17 during the RPO America Annual Business Meeting, occurring from 4:30 – 6:30 pm at the Holiday Inn and Suites in Duluth, Minnesota in conjunction with the National Rural Transportation Peer Learning Conference.  The slate of candidates nominated by the committee include:

• Chair: John Marshall, Transportation Manager, Western Piedmont Council of Governments and Unifour RPO (NC)
• Vice Chair: Chris Fetzer, Northern Arizona Council of Governments
• Secretary: Laura Lewis Marchino, Assistant Director, Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado, Inc.

For more information on RPO America, visit www.ruraltransportation.org.

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Annual Training Conference Update Corner

Kentucky County Officials Can Earn Training Credits
As in previous years, any Kentucky county official attending the conference is eligible to receive training credits through the Training Incentive Program of the Kentucky Department for Local Government (DLG). This year, officials can earn up to 23 hours of credit.  All Kentucky County Officials attending the conference will receive a form in their registration packets; for each session (including mobile workshops) they attend, they must have the appropriate box initialed by that session’s speaker, moderator or NADO staff person.  Extra forms will be available at the conference registration desk.  Each official is responsible for submitting the form to the DLG office (information is provided on the form).  If you have any questions, please contact NADO Deputy Executive Director Laurie Thompson at 202.624.5948 or lthompson@nado.org.

Last Chance to Order a NADO Fleece Vest or Jacket
We will be accepting orders for the NADO fleece vests and jackets until Monday, August 25.  They will be available when you check in at the conference registration desk at the Anchorage Hilton.  Made by Columbia, and adorned with NADO’s logo, the jackets and vests will be perfect for the weather.  To order, please visit www.nado.org/conference_files/fleeceform.pdf.  To assure on time delivery in Anchorage, we must have your order by August 25.  Remember, we will not be selling these at the conference, so stay ahead of the curve and order yours (on ones for your staff and board members) now!

Special Tour: Kenai Fjords Resurrection Bay Cruise
If your spouse is looking for an exhilarating activity during the conference, they should consider experiencing the breathtaking views from a catamaran boat tour of the Kenai Fjords Resurrection Bay.    The boat will depart at 7:00 am on October 6 from Seward, Alaska and return at 9:30 pm.  The cost is $150.  For more information about the tour and to find out how to register, visit www.nado.org/conference_files/glacier.pdf.

This Year’s Mobile Workshops are a Huge Hit
The mobile workshops are starting to fill up, even though we are only seven weeks out from the conference.  We will maintain a waiting list, but to assure you get the tour(s) you want, we suggest you register as soon as possible.  Visit www.nado.org/conferences/annual.php for conference information, brochure, registration form and links to various Alaska sites.

Please remember that mobile workshops are for registered and paid conference attendees only. 

Be sure to visit the conference Web site (www.nado.org/conferences/annual.php) for regular updates and many valuable tidbits about Anchorage and the conference.

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New Executive Directors

Kerry Metzger has been named executive director of the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association in Cambridge, OH.  He replaces Don Myers who passed away unexpectedly earlier this year.  For additional information, visit www.omegadistrict.org.

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Job Announcement

The Central South Dakota Enhancement District is seeking a Community Development Specialist/Planner.  Primary responsibilities are to provide technical assistance to units of governments and local leaders in a seven county area in central South Dakota in the areas of economic and community development with an emphasis on specialized plan development and rural and urban land use planning and zoning.  This is a full-time salaried position with a benefits package.  Salary DOQ.  Mail cover letter and resume to Central South Dakota Enhancement District, c/o Executive Director Marlene Knutson, P.O. Box 220, Pierre, SD 57501 or email to mknutson@csded.org.  The position is open until filled.

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NADO Calendar of Events

2008 National Rural Transportation Peer Learning Conference, August 17 - 19, 2008
Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, Duluth, MN

2008 Annual Training Conference, October 3 - 7, 2008
Hilton Anchorage, Anchorage, AK

Community Development through Brownfields Revitalization, November 5 - 6, 2008
Hotel Fort Des Moines, Des Moines, IA

2009 Washington Policy Conference, March 2 - 4, 2009
Marriott Crystal Gateway, Arlington, VA

2009 Annual Training Conference, August 29 - September 1, 2009
Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, Chicago, IL

2010 NADO Annual Training Conference, August 28 - 31, 2010
Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina, San Diego, CA

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