Tag Archives: rural development

What is Community Development? – Revised Publication

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Back in January, I discussed definitions of community development under the banner What is Community Development?  That post actually followed one on how Community Development Precedes Economic Development. If you still have questions about what Extension Community Development looks like, Greg Taylor, Craig Carpenter, Jamie Rae Walker, and I have updated the What is Community Development? Extension fact sheet, available at here, at https://communities.tamu.edu/selected-publications/,  or at the AgriLife Bookstore. The publication primarily targets Extension faculty and presents how various aspects of community development overlap with other traditional areas… Read More →

Silver Buckshot in Targeting Economic Development

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Several years ago, I saw a quote, “There is no silver bullet. There may be silver buckshot.” I have no idea where I saw this quote, but it’s really stuck with me. You might be more familiar with the saying, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Similar idea, but less colorful, right? I like the bullet/buckshot analogy because it fits so well with the idea of targeted economic development. In fact, a speaker at a conference in North Carolina remarked a few years ago that he… Read More →

Economics of Rural Transit Publications Available

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Mobility is important to older adults’ quality of life. Mobility can be a challenge as we age, and it can be even more challenging for people in rural areas who must travel longer distances to reach destinations. At the same time, sparsely populated rural areas can struggle with funding and business models to meet the needs of local residents. Sarah Fasanando, masters student in the School of Public Health, Jim Mjelde, and I have two new publications addressing rural transit. Rural Transit Needs for Older Adults (EAG-061) discusses… Read More →

Thinking Beyond the Town Line: Strengthening Rural Development through Cooperation

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We talk about regionalism all the time. Collaboration and partnership with surrounding communities is crucial for rural areas. Check out this great webinar recording from the Orton Foundation. Vibrant examples from Michigan, Kentucky, and South Carolina with an intro by of Brett Schwartz of NADO explaining why regionalism is important. Hang in there for the Q&A where the panelists discuss the tension and complementarity of collaboration and competition, among other things. Click the video image below to view the webinar or click here: Some really good thoughts in… Read More →

USDA Home Repair and Home Ownership

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Many of our rural communities tell us about the need for home repair and home ownership. Here is a video on USDA home loan programs. Interested in learning more? See http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/single-family-housing-programs.

Cultivating Community Wealth: Strategies for Building Rural Wealth, Part 1

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This post is part of an eight-week series on Cultivating Community Wealth. Why a community “does what it does” is really a statement about the values the community or organization possesses. –Steve Deller in Rural Wealth Creation (p. 161) Wow. Read that one more time. A deceptively simple, intensely powerful sentence. Actions matter. Intentions matter. A community that allows its poor to be further marginalized is making a statement. A community that supports entrepreneurs, volunteers, or youth is also making a statement. Why your community chooses certain wealth… Read More →