Forum / Meeting

2019 Rural Action Caucus (RAC) Summit: Bridging the Economic Divide

Oct. 10, 2019 – Oct. 12, 2019
Essex County (Lake Placid), N.Y.
  • 2019 Rural Action Caucus (RAC) Summit: Bridging the Economic Divide
    Essex County (Lake Placid), N.Y.
    October 10, 2019
    October 10, 2019, 9:00 am to October 12, 2019, 5:00 pm
  • Event

    2019 Rural Action Caucus (RAC) Summit: Bridging the Economic Divide

    Data-driven decisions – at all levels of government – are essential to addressing the breadth and depth of issues facing any community. Consequently, complete and accurate data is the keystone of truly effective public policy. The 2019 “Bridging the Economic Divide” Summit will focus on the intersection of 2020 Census data and the Federal Communication Commission’s national broadband maps. Collectively, these two aggregates will set the pace for federal investments in our nation’s critical infrastructure systems over the next decade.

    Download Agenda

    October 10

    8:30am – 2:00pm

    [OPTIONAL] Cascade Mountain Small Group Hike

    The trailhead up Cascade Mountain is just steps away from the hotel. However, hikers will ascend at moderate grades, weaving between large rocks and ending on a bald peak overlooking the mountain range. In total, hikers will travel 2.4 miles, ascending 1,940 feet from base to peak. Hiking shoes and athletic clothing are suggested. Additionally, hikers should prepare for milder temperatures at the 4,098 feet summit. Email nacomeetings@naco.org to sign up and meet in the hotel lobby.

    1:00pm – 4:00pm

    [INTIVE ONLY] Rural Impact County Challenge Action Learning Cohort Meeting

    The National Association of Counties (NACo) and County Health Rankings & Roadmaps announced another team of rural county members focused on affordable housing to improve health and equity. This group will host their first in-person meeting to kick off this year’s cohort.

    5:00pm – 7:00pm

    Welcome Reception

    October 11

    8:00am – 9:00am

    Networking Breakfast

    9:00am – 10:30am

    Making the 2020 Census Count
    The majority of “hard-to-count” counties (79 percent) are rural – accounting for roughly 16 percent of all rural counties in the country. Unfortunately, undercounting critical communities could result in decreased federal assistance for rural counties. This session will examine the challenges and opportunities to ensuring complete and accurate counts in rural counties.

    • Hon. Lena Fowler, Supervisor, Coconino County, Arizona
    • Dr. Warren A. Brown, Director, Program on Applied Demographics, Cornell University

    10:30am – 12:00pm

    Breakout Session #1 (Census)
    The first of two breakout sessions, this peer-led exercise will allow participants to share county-specific experiences with Census counts. Each group will be joined by a representative from a RAC Partner Organization to help identify challenges and opportunities for Census data collection to include in the year-end report.

    1. Tribal Outreach: This group will discuss the challenges and opportunites for engaging tribal populations during the 2020 census 
    2. County Special Populations: This group will examine the nuances to engaging special populations such as migrant/seasonal workers and college students
    3. Distrust/Misinformation: This small group will unpack the challenges to addressing apathy and reluctance to Census participation in the face of misinformation
    4. Census-Reliant Program Funding: This group will unpack the plethora of federal programs reliant upon accurate Census data
    5. Implications of High-Tech Data Collection: This group will discuss the proposed changes to the 2020 Census and the challenges and opportunities to digital census data collection
    6. Complete Count Committees: This group will discuss various approaches to complete count committees  

    12:00pm – 1:00pm

    Networking Lunch

    • Hon. Shaun Gillilland, Chairman, Essex County Board of Supervisors

    1:00pm – 2:30pm

    Mapping a Path Forward
    Access to affordable high-speed internet has been widely recognized as essential to one’s ability to compete in today’s economy. Unfortunately, inaccurate data is severely limiting our ability to identify and allocate broadband resources to best leverage economic opportunities. This session will look at how counties can leverage mapping data to increase their economic competitiveness.

    • Chris Ritzo, Program Management & Community Lead, Measurement Labs
    • Dr. Theresa Pardo, Director, Center for Technology in Government, University of Albany
    • Hon. Cynthia Hyde, Supervisor, Town of Thurman, New York

    2:30pm – 4:00pm

    Breakout Session #2 (Broadband)
    During this breakout session, each group will be joined by a representative from a RAC Partner Organization for a moderated discussion on the challenges and opportunities to connectivity and economic competitiveness.

    1. Justice and Public Safety: This group will discuss the importance of broadband in providing for the safety and welfare of a community
    2. Transportation/Infrastructure: This group will discuss the role of broadband in long-term transportation and infrastructure planning as well as the future of transportation
    3. Health and Human Services: This group will highlight the role of high-speed internet in providing critical health and human services in rural communities
    4. Education/Workforce Development: This small group will examine the importance of broadband for job training and skill development
    5. Future of Work/Emerging Sectors: This group will discuss how high-speed internet can assist rural economies in transition
    6. Economic Development: This group will underscore the impact broadband has on substantive economic development including tourism and arts & culture

    6:00pm – 9:00pm

    Reception/Dinner

    • Special Guest Justin Olsen, Gold Medalist, Bobsled, 2010 Vancouver Olympics
    October 12

    8:00am – 9:00am

    Networking Breakfast

    • Lauren Lyons, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX)

    9:00am – 12:00pm

    Plenary Workshop (Bridging the Economic Divide Report)

    Our discussions throughout the course of this summit will serve as a foundation for this plenary workshop which will bring together both narratives as we reconstruct our conversations and begin assembling a comprehensive report on Bridging the Economic Divide. This session will consist of lightning-round presentations from RAC Vice Chairs recapping the breakout sessions from the day before.

    12:00pm

    Adjourn

    1:00pm – 4:00pm

    [OPTIONAL] Olympic Complex Tour

    Participants will be provided a boxed lunch as we take a guided behind-the-scenes tour of the Lake Placid Olympic Center. Tour will include a visit to the Herb Brooks Arena – home of the famous U.S. “Miracle on Ice” victory over the Soviet Union in 1980. Email nacomeetings@naco.org to sign up.

    NACo has negotiated reduced hotel rates for the symposium at the Crowne Plaza Lake Placid, but rates will expire on September 10, 2019 or when the block is sold out, whichever comes first. The rate is $224/night + tax (currently 12%) and requires a two-night minimum stay. Call the hotel directly at 518-523-2556, press option 0 and ask for the RAC Symposium room block to receive the group rate.

    The Crowne Plaza offers complimentary self-parking and is about a two hour drive from the Albany International Airport (ALB), a 30 minute drive from the Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK) or a 50 minute drive from Clinton County owned and operated Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG.) Shuttle transportation can be arranged to and from the Albany airport by Trailways.

    Data-driven decisions – at all levels of government – are essential to addressing the breadth and depth of issues facing any community. Consequently, complete and accurate data is the keystone of truly effective public policy.
    2019-10-10
    Forum / Meeting
    2019-10-10

Data-driven decisions – at all levels of government – are essential to addressing the breadth and depth of issues facing any community. Consequently, complete and accurate data is the keystone of truly effective public policy. The 2019 “Bridging the Economic Divide” Summit will focus on the intersection of 2020 Census data and the Federal Communication Commission’s national broadband maps. Collectively, these two aggregates will set the pace for federal investments in our nation’s critical infrastructure systems over the next decade.

Download Agenda

October 10

8:30am – 2:00pm

[OPTIONAL] Cascade Mountain Small Group Hike

The trailhead up Cascade Mountain is just steps away from the hotel. However, hikers will ascend at moderate grades, weaving between large rocks and ending on a bald peak overlooking the mountain range. In total, hikers will travel 2.4 miles, ascending 1,940 feet from base to peak. Hiking shoes and athletic clothing are suggested. Additionally, hikers should prepare for milder temperatures at the 4,098 feet summit. Email nacomeetings@naco.org to sign up and meet in the hotel lobby.

1:00pm – 4:00pm

[INTIVE ONLY] Rural Impact County Challenge Action Learning Cohort Meeting

The National Association of Counties (NACo) and County Health Rankings & Roadmaps announced another team of rural county members focused on affordable housing to improve health and equity. This group will host their first in-person meeting to kick off this year’s cohort.

5:00pm – 7:00pm

Welcome Reception

October 11

8:00am – 9:00am

Networking Breakfast

9:00am – 10:30am

Making the 2020 Census Count
The majority of “hard-to-count” counties (79 percent) are rural – accounting for roughly 16 percent of all rural counties in the country. Unfortunately, undercounting critical communities could result in decreased federal assistance for rural counties. This session will examine the challenges and opportunities to ensuring complete and accurate counts in rural counties.

  • Hon. Lena Fowler, Supervisor, Coconino County, Arizona
  • Dr. Warren A. Brown, Director, Program on Applied Demographics, Cornell University

10:30am – 12:00pm

Breakout Session #1 (Census)
The first of two breakout sessions, this peer-led exercise will allow participants to share county-specific experiences with Census counts. Each group will be joined by a representative from a RAC Partner Organization to help identify challenges and opportunities for Census data collection to include in the year-end report.

  1. Tribal Outreach: This group will discuss the challenges and opportunites for engaging tribal populations during the 2020 census 
  2. County Special Populations: This group will examine the nuances to engaging special populations such as migrant/seasonal workers and college students
  3. Distrust/Misinformation: This small group will unpack the challenges to addressing apathy and reluctance to Census participation in the face of misinformation
  4. Census-Reliant Program Funding: This group will unpack the plethora of federal programs reliant upon accurate Census data
  5. Implications of High-Tech Data Collection: This group will discuss the proposed changes to the 2020 Census and the challenges and opportunities to digital census data collection
  6. Complete Count Committees: This group will discuss various approaches to complete count committees  

12:00pm – 1:00pm

Networking Lunch

  • Hon. Shaun Gillilland, Chairman, Essex County Board of Supervisors

1:00pm – 2:30pm

Mapping a Path Forward
Access to affordable high-speed internet has been widely recognized as essential to one’s ability to compete in today’s economy. Unfortunately, inaccurate data is severely limiting our ability to identify and allocate broadband resources to best leverage economic opportunities. This session will look at how counties can leverage mapping data to increase their economic competitiveness.

  • Chris Ritzo, Program Management & Community Lead, Measurement Labs
  • Dr. Theresa Pardo, Director, Center for Technology in Government, University of Albany
  • Hon. Cynthia Hyde, Supervisor, Town of Thurman, New York

2:30pm – 4:00pm

Breakout Session #2 (Broadband)
During this breakout session, each group will be joined by a representative from a RAC Partner Organization for a moderated discussion on the challenges and opportunities to connectivity and economic competitiveness.

  1. Justice and Public Safety: This group will discuss the importance of broadband in providing for the safety and welfare of a community
  2. Transportation/Infrastructure: This group will discuss the role of broadband in long-term transportation and infrastructure planning as well as the future of transportation
  3. Health and Human Services: This group will highlight the role of high-speed internet in providing critical health and human services in rural communities
  4. Education/Workforce Development: This small group will examine the importance of broadband for job training and skill development
  5. Future of Work/Emerging Sectors: This group will discuss how high-speed internet can assist rural economies in transition
  6. Economic Development: This group will underscore the impact broadband has on substantive economic development including tourism and arts & culture

6:00pm – 9:00pm

Reception/Dinner

  • Special Guest Justin Olsen, Gold Medalist, Bobsled, 2010 Vancouver Olympics
October 12

8:00am – 9:00am

Networking Breakfast

  • Lauren Lyons, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX)

9:00am – 12:00pm

Plenary Workshop (Bridging the Economic Divide Report)

Our discussions throughout the course of this summit will serve as a foundation for this plenary workshop which will bring together both narratives as we reconstruct our conversations and begin assembling a comprehensive report on Bridging the Economic Divide. This session will consist of lightning-round presentations from RAC Vice Chairs recapping the breakout sessions from the day before.

12:00pm

Adjourn

1:00pm – 4:00pm

[OPTIONAL] Olympic Complex Tour

Participants will be provided a boxed lunch as we take a guided behind-the-scenes tour of the Lake Placid Olympic Center. Tour will include a visit to the Herb Brooks Arena – home of the famous U.S. “Miracle on Ice” victory over the Soviet Union in 1980. Email nacomeetings@naco.org to sign up.

NACo has negotiated reduced hotel rates for the symposium at the Crowne Plaza Lake Placid, but rates will expire on September 10, 2019 or when the block is sold out, whichever comes first. The rate is $224/night + tax (currently 12%) and requires a two-night minimum stay. Call the hotel directly at 518-523-2556, press option 0 and ask for the RAC Symposium room block to receive the group rate.

The Crowne Plaza offers complimentary self-parking and is about a two hour drive from the Albany International Airport (ALB), a 30 minute drive from the Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK) or a 50 minute drive from Clinton County owned and operated Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG.) Shuttle transportation can be arranged to and from the Albany airport by Trailways.

  • Conference

    2023 RAC Symposium

    Register now for the 2023 RAC Symposium, Nov. 5–7, in Greenbrier County, West Virginia! 
    The Greenbrier Hotel
    101 Main Street, West, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986
    11
    05
    11:00 am

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    TestIT: How Fast is Your Broadband

    NACo has partnered with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) to develop a mobile app designed to identify areas with low or no connectivity to help ensure adequate funding for broadband infrastructure is provided across the country.
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    Agriculture & Rural Affairs Steering Committee

    Responsible for all matters pertaining to USDA agriculture, rural development programs, rural renewable energy development, research and extension, food safety, and conservation programs.  Policy Platform 2023-2024 2023 NACo Legislative Priorities
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    <p>Responsible for all matters pertaining to USDA agriculture, rural development programs, rural renewable energy development, research and extension, food safety, and conservation programs.&nbsp;</p>

  • Basic page

    Rural Action Caucus

    The Rural Action Caucus (RAC) is a key component of NACo's mission in supporting county officials in the pursuit of excellence in public service. RAC is the voice for America's rural counties, which represent two-thirds of the nation's 3,069 counties designated as rural, serving a combined population of 60 million.
    page

    <p><strong>Since 1997, the Rural Action Caucus (RAC) has represented the nearly 70 percent of America&#39;s counties that are rural, addressing critical federal, state and local issues impacting these unique communities.

Essex County (Lake Placid), N.Y.

October 10-12, 2019

Essex County, Crowne Plaza Lake Placid

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