Livable Rural Communities
The Livable Rural Communities Taskforce of the National Rural Development Partnership (NRDP) is a national network of leaders and advocates who work with State Rural Development Councils (SRDCs) and other stakeholders to respond to growth and changing landscapes in rural areas, as well as to enhance the livability of rural communities.
Each state, and even each region within each state, has its own challenges pertaining to growth in rural areas. Some rural communities want to grow in order to gain economic prosperity. At the same time, some rural communities are fighting to contain the sprawl of suburbs and cities, protect open space, or preserve agricultural lands. Still other rural communities are growing, and yet yearn to maintain the social amenities, natural resources, and air and water quality in their region. Despite the differences among these rural areas, all of them have a stake in the livability of their communities.
- To empower rural areas in their desire to plan for and manage growth as they see fit.
- To seek out and inform rural constituents of resources and programs that enable rural areas to respond appropriately to their changing landscapes.
- To share strategies and ideas about how to utilize economic development tools without losing the quality of the natural and social environment.
- To preserve and enhance the livability of communities.
- To bring together and learn from government agencies and other organizations that are working on livability, sustainable development, smart growth, and changing landscapes as they relate to rural areas.
- To expand community choices, especially with respect to transportation, housing, agriculture, and business
development.
- To explore the way in which transportation planning processes, land use and zoning policies, town planning tools, environmental regulations, and development strategies help or hurt communities in their desire to foster or contain growth.
The NRDP has a long history of including at least one workshop within every conference that pertains to smart growth, natural resources, sustainable development or changing landscapes. Indeed, the 1998 Conference held in Massachusetts focused almost exclusively on these issues. Several Executive Directors of State Rural Development Councils, as well as NRDC members and other federal government representatives, have significant interests in the issues of livable rural communities, open space, and smart growth. Despite the history of these issues, there is still work to be done. Recognizing that now is an excellent opportunity for the NRDP to formalize its long-standing participation in these priorities, and to officially recognize its commitment to livable communities and healthy landscapes, the NRDP Executive Board approved the Taskforce in August 2000.
2003
Conference Call on Heritage Tourism
Conference Call on Rural Regional Planning-April 24
Conference Call on Affordable Rural Housing
2002
Collection of Rural Smart Growth Case Studies - Winter/Spring 2002
Conference Call on Green Infrastructure - March 2002
Conference Call on Rural Brownfields - February 2002
If you have any questions about the NRDP Livable Rural Communities Task
Force, would like to become a member, or would like to request materials please
contact Anthony Swift at:
anthony.swift@ost.dot.gov or (202) 366-7107..
