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Rural Design Challenges Grant Opportunity

The Citizens' Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) has issued a request for proposals for rural communities to host a facilitated workshop on design challenges in exchange for in-kind design expertise and technical assistance. Successful applicants will receive a grant of $7,000, as well as in-kind design expertise and vaulable technical assistance. The Citizens' Institute on Rural Design is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Proposals are due Tuesday, March 5, and the workshops will be conducted in the summer and fall of 2013. For more information, visit http://rural-design.org/apply.
DOT Issues NOFA for Small Business Transportation Resource Center Program

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of the Secretary (OST), and the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) have put out a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Small Business Transportation Resource Center Program contract. The Federal Register Notice containing this announcement notes that business centered community based organizations, transportation-related trade organizations, colleges and universities, and some chambers of commerce, may compete for this center, which will serve the South Atlantic states. The program will provide technical, financial, marketing, and other assistance to small businesses who compete for and manage DOT-funded programs. 
TLPA Offers Online Taxi Driver Courses
 
The Taxi, Limousine and Paratransit Association is now offering a 9-course Taxicab Driver Education Online Training Program. The courses are offered as a bundle, or can be purchased as ten bundles for larger transportation agencies. Topics covered include customer service, passenger sensitivity, driver wellness, safety, financial management, and marketing. Click to view the complete menu of courses offered. 
MDOT Releases Report on Transportation for Older Adults in Rural and Tribal Areas of Michigan

Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has released
Recommendations for Meeting the Mobility Needs for Older Adults in Rural Michigan. This report highlights some of the steps that MDOT can take to improve access, ridership, and education about public transportation, and provide better alternative transportation options. Three rural Indian Tribes were also included in the discussion. 
DOT Releases Pocket Guide to Transportation 2013

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has released the 2013 edition of the Pocket Guide to Transportation. The Guide includes statistical information about safety, the US transportation system, livable communities, environmental sustainability, and other topics. 
FTA Releases Transit Workforce Development Funds
 
The Federal Transit Administration has announced the appropriation of $7 million in Innovative Transit Workforce Development Program Funds to 17 organizations in 12 states. These funds will allow recipients to train a new generation of transit professionals, emphasizing innovative ways of recruiting young people into the profession. 
National RTAP Announces 2013 Photo Contest, 
"Putting Training to Work" Accepting Submissions

National RTAP is currently accepting submissions for the fourth annual Photos Across Rural and Tribal America photo contest, with the theme, "Putting Training to Work." Photo submissions should depict an aspect of training within your rural or Tribal transit system. Whether it is an image demonstrating an activity covered in training, or a photograph of training taking place, we want to see your interpretation of "Putting Training to Work!" Prizes for this year's winners are an Olympus TG-1iHS 12 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom for the winner, and a $250 American Express Gift Cheque for the runner-up. 

To read the contest rules and download the consent forms needed with every photo submission, please view the press release on our home page. Questions can be directed to Pam DiGiovanni at pdigiovanni@nationalrtap.org, or 888-589-6821. 
January 24, 2013
Events
January 29, 2-3:30
Online

January 30, 2-3:00
Online

February 1, 2-3:30
Online

February 3-June 9
Online Certificate Program
 
February 7, 2-3:30
Online (registration full)
 
February 19-21
Cincinnati, OH
 
Feburary 19-21 
Durham, NC
April 22-24 
St. Louis Park, MN
 
February 20-21
Orlando, FL
 
March 11-15
Tampa, FL

April 9-11
Phoenix, AZ

All event times listed as Eastern Time
Resource Spotlight
Resource Library Search Tip

Do you have a hard time searching for resources in the Resource Library? One important thing to remember is to be as concise as possible when typing a search term into the search box. For example, if you are looking for the START training module, type in "start" or "START" rather than "START training module." The latter will not come up.

To view more search tips, view How to Search, Download and Order. 
National RTAP is a program of the Federal Transit Administration dedicated to creating rural and Tribal transit solutions through technical assistance, partner collaboration and FREE training materials.