with virtual options
REGISTER ENTER SEMINAR
Welcome to the 2023 Rural LISC Annual Seminar, Rural Talks Innovation and Investment!
Join us as we create purposeful connections and intentional dialogue around innovative approaches to solving complex rural challenges. On December 11-14, 2023, hundreds of thought leaders from across rural America will gather, both in Coachella Valley, California, and virtually, to share and learn innovative approaches to rural community and economic development.
At Rural LISC, our mission is to support resilient and inclusive rural communities as great places to live, work, and innovate. Rural LISC strives to assist rural communities in solutioning for complex challenges by deploying resources and programs that reflect local needs. We achieve this through integrated strategies and programs focused on five pillars of rural community development: Creative Capital, Broadband & Infrastructure, Workforce Development, Housing, and Disaster Solutions. The Rural LISC Annual Seminar is where we showcase the brilliant minds across rural America who help us live out our mission every day.
Come learn and network with fellow rural community development partners and investors. The Coachella Valley awaits!
Open invitation, in person
9:00 – 9:15 AM PSTLISC’s strategy and historic role around Capacity Building across the country. Share about our resources that allow us to provide TA/CB, including HUD Section 4, HUD DCTA and USDA RPN.
Vice President, Community Building and Resilient Solutions, LISC
Program Director, Fund Development and Strategic Partnerships, Rural LISC
9:15 – 10:15 AM PSTJoin us for an engaging conversation on what capacity building looks like in practice in communities impacted by disaster. What strategies, resources and support services does LISC provide? How do communities secure TA support, receive that support and see long-term impact? Discussion will include best practices related to the HUD Section 4 program.
Vice President, Community Building and Resilient Solutions, LISC
Housing Director, RCAC
Founder and Managing Partner, KJones Advisors
Senior VP of Partnerships and Programs,FAHE
10:15 – 11:30 AM PSTDisaster recovery experts Hagerty Consulting to share what funding is available pre and post a disaster, how organizations/communities can prepare, what they should be doing during a disaster, and recommendations/does and don’ts after a disaster hits, to make themselves qualify for the most disaster public funding available.
Deputy Director of Recovery, Hagerty Consulting
Senior Advisor for Community Recovery, Hagerty Consulting
9:00 AM – 1:30 PM PSTBy Invitation Only
9:00 AM – 1:30 PM PST RPN Participants Only
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM PSTBy Invitation Only
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM PST By Invitation Only
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM PST Join us for the 2023 Rural LISC Seminar opening reception!
Vice President, LISC and Executive Director, Rural LISC
Chief Executive Officer, LISC
Chief Executive Officer, Coachella Valley Housing Coalition
Vice President, California Region Manager, Community Affairs, U.S. Bank
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM PSTBy Invitation
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM PSTVice President, LISC and Executive Director, Rural LISC
LISC CEO
9:15 AM – 9:45 AM PSTChief Executive Officer, LISC
9:45AM – 11:15 AM PSTVice President, LISC and Executive Director, Rural LISC
Chief Executive Officer, Economic Development Council (IEDC)
Director, Rural Initiative, NeighborWorks America
Senior Advisor, Public Engagement, The White House
Senior Vice President Policy, LISC
11:15 – 11:45 AM PST 11:45 – 1:25 PM PST 11:45 AM PST 12:00 – 12:15 PM PST
Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development, USDA
12:15 – 1:25 PM PST
Special Assistant to the President, Agriculture & Rural Policy, The White House
Executive Director, Rural Partners Network (RPN), USDA
Executive Director, Yalobusha County Economic Development; Co-founder, Everest; Co-founder, Base Camp Coding Academy
Senior Community Planning and Development Specialist, HUD
Supervisory Community Liaison Mississippi, USDA
1:25 – 1:45 PM PST
Senior Policy Director, LISC
1:45 – 2:00 PM PST 2:00 – 3:30 PM PSTRural LISC has worked with exceptional partners in recent years to help rural communities get and use high-speed internet, including Schmidt Futures, Lead for America’s American Connectivity Corps and the T.L.L. Temple Foundation. Join our discussion with these innovators on creative mechanisms that can unlock private and philanthropic contributions to help public broadband and digital inclusion funding reach underserved communities. LISC will share its national map of opportunity for mission-aligned investment in broadband for more than 3,500 communities and we’ll invite the audience to help charter next steps for collective impact.
Senior Program Officer – Broadband & Infrastructure, Rural LISC
Program Officer, T.L.L. Temple Foundation
Principal, Broadband Catalysts
Co-Founder, Lead for America
Senior Director, Aspen Digital
Join us for an engaging conversation on Community-Centered Economic Inclusion, a place-based framework for inclusive growth developed by LISC and the Brookings Institution that has been deployed in twenty communities across the country. In this session, you will learn more about this innovative approach, including a recent pilot in three Indiana towns. The panelists will share practical strategies and tools that you can apply in your town or community. Discover insights and gain the know-how to foster inclusive growth and community development locally.
Senior Vice President for Economic Development, LISC
Senior Director, Economic Development, LISC
Senior Research Associate, Brookings Institute
Rural communities are comprised of community organizations of which small businesses are the heart. Thriving small businesses help elevate local landscapes and are integral to creating resilient and inclusive communities. Join this discussion to hear from key partners who are critical players in amplifying the impact of small businesses.
Senior Program Officer, Economic Development, LISC
Founder and Executive Director, Causa Local
Vector Fund Director, RCAC
Initiate Program Manager, Northern Initiatives
These panelists will discuss resources and programming they have used to identify which populations are not being served and how they were able to make programming shifts to engage, recruit, and serve.
Program Officer - Workforce, Rural LISC
President & CEO, Washington County Economic Alliance
Training & Employment Manager, PathStone Corp.
Financial Opportunity Center Manager, Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County FOC
3:30 – 3:45 PM PST 3:45 – 5:15 PM PSTHousing production is transforming. This breakout session offers a comprehensive exploration of the latest advancements in manufactured, modular, 3D-printed, and tiny homes. Experts will present real-world case studies, dispel misconceptions, and highlight the potential advantages and limitations of each solution. This session aims to enlighten attendees on the immense potential and challenges of these cutting-edge housing solutions in rural communities, offering insight into some diverse and dynamic strategies to create more affordable, sustainable, and resilient homes.
Director of Industry and Community Affairs, Clayton
Director of Policy, Impact and Innovation, come dream come build
Co-founder of Azure Printed Homes
Manufactured Housing Program Manager, NPHS
Access to online banking and digital skills are paramount especially in rural communities burdened from the closure of commercial banking establishments. Come dialogue about opportunities and challenges related to rural banking and learn about new programs and approaches that are being launched to help strengthen digital skilling and access to capital networks in rural places.
Founder & CEO, National Women’s Business Community Network and the NWBCN Foundation
Chief Development Officer, GROW South Dakota
Senior VP & Head of Conversational Experiences – Consumer Digital Office, U.S. Bank
Panelists will discuss how they have used their collected data to identify populations that are not being served and to explore better solutions to gauge community and client impact.
Program Officer - Workforce, Rural LISC
President and CEO, Upskill NWA
Founder and Executive Director, Legacy Institute for Financial Education (LIFE)
Financial Administrator and Victim Witness Director, Office of the District Attorney, 5th Judicial District
Please join us for an informative session on Rural LISC’s programs and financing tools, and how these can be used in your communities. You will hear about LISC short- and long-term financing tools, including grants from HUD section 4 and other private and government sources, loan and equity investments for economic development, community facilities, housing, and small businesses. We will review grants management and compliance as well as LISC’s loan funding process and restrictions. In addition, we will provide updates on new Rural LISC programmatic initiatives, and early-stage repayable investment tools. This session will also provide an opportunity for us to hear from you on other ways we can support your work and projects.
Senior Director of Finance and Operations, Rural LISC
Operations Manager, LISC
Grants Manager, LISC
Senior Program Officer, Rural LISC
5:30 – 7:30 PM PSTSponsored by National Equity Fund, LISC and the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition
7:30 PM PST 9:20 – 10:30 AM PSTProgram Director, Fund Development and Strategic Partnerships, Rural LISC
Vice President, LISC and Executive Director, Rural LISC
Administrator, Rural Housing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development
Executive Director, Self Help Enterprises
Multi-Family Housing Director, Tierra del Sol
10:30 – 10:45 PM PST 10:45 – 12:15 PM PST With construction labor and materials costs on the rise, and interest rates on a steady incline, calling the affordable housing finance market volatile is being kind. Affordable housing developments are at risk of stalling. Join us for a conversation with debt and equity experts as they discuss the proactive, creative, and/or innovative solutions that can bring more stability to the market and ensure housing units are built in 2024 and beyond?
Assistant Director, Housing & Workforce Solutions, Riverside County
VP of Acquisition West, Raymond James Affordable Housing Investments
Managing Director West Region, National Equity Fund (NEF)
Community Development Corporation Vice President, US Bank
Vice President Relationship Management, Wells Fargo
Managing Director Community Development Banking, JPMorgan Chase
Rural places historically fall behind in high-speed internet access, creating a digital divide that has negative impacts on financial well-being, education, health and more. This panel will overview the results of a pilot project led by Rural LISC and LISC VA that explored solutions for nonprofit developers of multi-family housing to plan for, pay for and advocate for opportunities to get residents better connected, and will highlight California's first-in-the-nation program created to fund such initiatives. The Viginia pilot considered three affordable housing projects in different phases of development: a complete rehab, a retrofit and a new build. Panelist will discuss opportunities to replicate the models and the implications of addressing this gap for a range of projects and their development teams. A technical document and grant resource factsheets will be available in hard copy.
Senior Program Officer-Broadband and Infrastructure, Rural LISC
Principal, Forward Consulting, California Emerging Technology Fund
Executive Director, LISC Virginia
Vice President of Planning and Evaluation, People, Inc.
Public funding can have a transformative impact in rural communities, but navigating federal and state grants can be daunting. Join Rural LISC as well as national experts for a dynamic session exploring how to prioritize community projects, identify appropriate funding opportunities, draft a compelling narrative, and submit a successful application. During this session, participants will also learn about local advocacy strategies to better position priority projects for public funding.
Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Community Studios
Redevelopment Director, Atlas Community Studios
Join this panel of communication leaders who represent the non-profit, funder and program partner perspectives on how to measurably increase engagement and galvanize audiences around mission-driven goals. You’ll hear best practices and results from challenging projects and hear how language and overcoming stereotypes specifically impact rural communities. Session attendees will also be able to participate in thoughtful Q&A with this diverse panel of communication professionals.
Director of Communications, Rural LISC
Communications Officer, LISC
Associate Director of Communications, Aspen Institute
Director Strategic Communications, Life to Rise
12:30 – 4:00 PM PST Pick-up Boxed Lunches & Board designated bus
Eastern Coachella Valley Tour – three buses
5:30 – 7:00 PM PST Vice President, LISC and Executive Director, Rural LISC
Rural Advisory Committee, Rural LISC
