Press & Outreach
CRL Education/Outreach for CCHD:
CRL presents CCHD webinar
On May 15, 2013, the California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity hosted a webinar about the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), a funding source for micro-business development. Presented by Beth Hyser, the session was aimed at 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that serve low income people in rural or urban areas. Pre-applications for the next cycle of the CCHD grant program will be available from Sept. – Nov. 1, 2013.
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops created the CCHD grant program 40 years ago to provide funding to groups of low income people who are empowered to address the causes of poverty in their communities. CCHD has provided nearly 8,000 grants to community groups address a range of issues such as micro-enterprise development, community marketplaces or co-operatives for small artisans and growers, legal advocacy to enforce fair wages, environmental justice, affordable housing in low-income neighborhoods, and church/parish based social action organizing. Catholic Rural Life works with CCHD to offer free outreach and consulting to rural community groups that address poverty.
at 2012 Rural Ministry Conference
On March 5, 2012, rural pastors and rural ministry advocates from throughout the midwest gathered in Dubuque, Iowa for an ecumenical conference hosted by the Wartburg Theology Seminary to explore the challenges and opportunities for those working in small towns and rural parishes.
Jim Ennis presented a repeating workshop – “Addressing Rural Poverty and Human Development” highlighting CRL’s work with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). Catholic Rural Life is working with CCHD to increase the number of successful CCHD grant applications from rural communities to address poverty. CCHD was created 40 years ago by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to provide funding to groups of low income people to empower them to address the causes of poverty in their communities. CCHD has provided nearly 8,000 grants to community groups who seek justice and lasting change for people in poverty.
Jim highlighted research conducted by CRL. He also discussed outreach and consulting efforts in 19 dioceses in 2011. CRL provided education and consulting services to 25 groups in 12 dioceses including project screening, writing and publicizing CCHD success stories from rural areas, and one-to-one technical assistance. Six community groups submitted pre-applications and five groups submitted final applications. Grant awards will be announced in June. Visit the CCHD section of this website for more information on our education and consulting services.
CRL (then NCRLC) and CCHD in the News:
“Consulting services available to rural groups for grant aid” – Steubenville Register, June 7, 2013
“CCHD Makes a Difference in Rural America” – NCRLC website, April 2013
“New Consulting Services for Rural Groups Interested in CCHD Grants” – Agua Viva, Sept. 2011
“Catholic conference working to address rural poverty” – newsletter – Catholic United Financial, Aug. 2011
“Groups can find help applying for CCHD grants to address poverty” – archived web story, The Catholic Messenger, Davenport, IA, Aug. 10, 2011
“New consulting services available for rural groups interested in CCHD grants” – The St. Cloud Visitor, July 22
