Indy Food Fund Awards First-Ever Grantees

The Indy Food Fund announced today its first-ever grant awards totaling $49,450 to eleven organizations undertaking transformative food projects across Marion County. Through these awards the Indy Food Fund hopes to support an Indianapolis food system that provides everyone access to healthy and nutritious food, enhances ecology, and creates meaningful economic and civic opportunities for its residents and neighborhoods. Critical in Indianapolis, where 30% of adults are obese, 36% of residents have low food access, unemployment remains high, and key environmental indicators rank low compared to peer cities, the Indy Food Fund supports projects that improve access to healthy food for Indianapolis residents. For more details, check out our blog post here.

Residents in the Mid-North Neighborhoods of Indianapolis will Update Their Quality of Life Plan on February 28, 2013

On February 28, 2013 at the Normandy Barn located in the Indiana State Fairgrounds, residents from all six Mid-North Quality of Life neighborhoods will come together for their 2nd community wide update since their quality of life plan was unveiled in January, 2012. You can read about the quality of life plan here.  At the February 28 meeting residents and practitioners will share developments and learn what is on the horizon in areas of business development, crime and safety, education, aesthetics, Destination Fall Creek, housing, senior advocacy and youth engagement.  Come out and also learn about a new urban water currency program and get involved with the Mid-North's effort for an improved quality of life! You will find additional details about the meeting at the State Fairgrounds here.

Across the Nation

Action Alert: Imminent Sequestration Cuts Jeopardize Critical Programs, Impact Vulnerable Hoosiers  

Today, Congress failed to reach a last minute deal to prevent $85.3 billion in across-the-board federal discretionary spending cuts from going into effect Friday. While Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike have stated that sequestration is bad policy, they remain divided on their approach. House leaders firmly argue that new revenue should not be part of a sequestration replacement package, but Senate leaders agree with the Administration in arguing that these cuts are too deep and should be partially buffered by revenues resulting from increased taxes on the wealthiest Americans and closure of corporate tax loopholes.   Additionally, House leaders announced a couple of weeks ago that they would only consider replacing sequestration plans if a 10-year balanced budget requirement was included in the proposal.

House Passes Expanded Violence Against Women Act

U.S. Senate Banking Chair Unveils Agenda for 113th Congress

Today, the Chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Tim Johnson (D-SD), released his agenda for the committee's work in the 113th Congress.  According to the press release, the Committee will continue to focus its work on implementing Wall Street Reform, enhancing consumer protections and examining solutions for housing finance. The full agenda, found here, also listed the following issues that have significant implications for IACED members as legislative priorities you can read about on our blog post that can be found here.

Toward Full Reimbursement of Nonprofits - Office of Management and Budget Proposed Guidance

The federal government may soon be helping nonprofit organizations receive full (or at least, more) reimbursement of indirect costs from states and local governments for services they perform under federal programs, according to National Council of Nonprofits. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released its long-awaited proposed guidance on February 1, 2013 that, among other things, would explicitly require pass-through entities (typically states and local governments receiving federal funding) to either honor a nonprofit's negotiated indirect cost rate, negotiate a rate in accordance with federal guidelines, or pay a minimum rate of 10 percent for up to four years while a nonprofit works to obtain a negotiated rate. For more details, read our blog post by clicking here.