Rural Community Assistance Partnership

Practical solutions for improving rural communities

December 2012

Poverty and housing needs persist in rural America as population changes

Posted Wed, 2012/12/12 - 12:30pm by RCAP

WASHINGTON (HAC) – For decades before the current recession, rural Americans struggled with poverty and housing problems. In fact, a new Housing Assistance Council study reports, rural America encompasses 86 percent of the U.S. counties where poverty rates have remained at 20 percent or higher since at least 1990.

Certification calculator app (application)

Posted Mon, 2012/12/10 - 5:37pm by RCAP

Calculates time earned for actual work and equivalent experience for water and wastewater specialists.

The three certification specialties include water treatment, water distribution, and wastewater treatment; and each has multiple levels of advancement.

Specialists can now easily calculate their own work experience as a preliminary measure in determining whether or not they have fulfilled the minimum requirements for a particular specialty or level of certification.

Format:

Software tool

Topic:

Workforce/personnel

Source:

Other nonprofit/organization

Audience:

Operator

How the fiscal cliff would affect rural areas

Posted Mon, 2012/12/10 - 11:34am by RCAP

If you're afraid to ask the stupid question of what the fiscal cliff is and are wondering how it might affect you as a resident of a rural area, the Daily Yonder blog has provided an excellent explanation in simple terms.

Aleta Botts writes in a helpful post:

Huffington Post Green Blog editorial: Fiscal cliff spending cuts threaten rivers and clean water

Posted Wed, 2012/12/05 - 2:37pm by RCAP

In an editorial on the Huffington Post's Green Blog, Wm. Robert Irvin, President, American Rivers, presents the case that the fiscal cliff spending cuts threaten rivers and clean water. HIs editorial begins:

"Unless President Obama and Congress reach a deal before the end of the year to avert taking the nation over the fiscal cliff, automatic spending cuts, known as sequestration, will go into effect. These across-the-board cuts to federal programs could have devastating impacts on rivers and clean water."

ABC News: Pesticides in tap water linked to food allergies

Posted Wed, 2012/12/05 - 11:22am by RCAP

A Dec. 3 article on ABC News reports on a study that makes an interesting link between tap water and food allergies. The article begins:

"As food allergies become increasingly common, a new study offers the first proof that they may be linked to pesticides found in tap water.