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Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA)

ATTRA—Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas—is the national sustainable farming information center operated by the private nonprofit National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). ATTRA provides technical assistance to farmers, Extension agents, market gardeners, agricultural researchers and other ag professionals in all 50 states.

Associations of Counties, State

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin

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Building Better Rural Places

This guide addresses Federal programs for value-added and diversified agriculture and forestry, sustainable land management, and community development. The guide is a publication of the U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies working together for sustainable rural development in collaboration with The Michael Fields Agricultural Institute. Collaborating agencies include Resource Conservation and Development, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Forest Service, Cooperative State Research, Education & Extension Service, and Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program.

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Center for the Study of Rural America

The Center for the Study of Rural America at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City focuses on the economic and policy issues that are unique to rural America and produces studies on leading economic topics that defines the future of the people who work and live in rural America.

Change Agent States for Diversity (CASD)

The Change Agent States for Diversity (CASD) project is a consortium of eight states dedicated to supporting greater cultural diversity in the Land Grant system. The consortium will bring needed technical skills and training to each of the member states and will develop successful models and strategies that can be applied throughout the system.

Co-Intelligence Institute

Included on this Web site is material that is specifically useful to those trying to organize communities or build local community co-intelligence capacity. One resource is a toolbox of processes for community work — a list of processes that can increase the capacity of communities to respond intelligently to the changing environment around them, including crises.

Community Development Academy

A series of three courses called the Community Development Academy is offered by the University of Missouri Community Development Extension Program. The Community Development Academy is an intensive, experiential, five-day course (for noncredit or for three hours undergraduate or graduate credit), which explores ideas and develops practical skills for effectively involving and empowering local citizens and leaders in community-based efforts.

Community Resource and Economic Development

The Community Resource and Economic Development web page was initiated by the Cooperative Extension Service to provide dynamic information about programs throughout the Extension System. The intent of these resources is to inspire ideas for developing programs in a new area or with a different approach.

Community and Rural Development Institute

The Community and Rural Development Institute (CaRDI) responds to current and emerging needs in community and rural development. CaRDI collaborates with Cornell University faculty and staff, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and other local and regional institutions to address needs at the local, state and national levels.

Consortium of Regional Research Institutes and Centers (CORRIC)

CORRIC seeks to serve as an effective, unified voice for the regional research community; foster multidisciplinary and inter-institutional research and education; and promote the informed and responsible use of regional resarch and analysis for the benefit of society.

Council of State Governments (CSG)

The Council of State Governments (CSG) national and regional offices provide research analysis of agriculture and rural policy, education, public safety and justice, health, the environment, fiscal conditions, infrastructure and state trends. CSG also works on state legislation, interstate compacts and multi-disciplinary issues that cross CSG primary areas of focus and move beyond to other top trends.

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Diversity Center

The Diversity Center provides an opportunity to collaborate with Extension professionals to create new ways of effectively serving our diverse society. Use the programs and ideas to hire staff and educate new audiences. You are also invited to share your successes, failures and resources in working with new audiences. The Diversity Center is a project of the Subcommittee on Extension Diversity, a subcommittee of the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy’s (ECOP), Personnel and Organization Development Committee (PODC).

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EDEN

The Extension Disaster Educator Network (EDEN) links Extension educators from across the U.S. and various disciplines, enabling them to use and share resources to reduce the impact of disasters. Resources range from food safety to field safety, from the physical to the psychological, and from governmental process to community development.

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Farm Foundation

Farm Foundation is a publicly supported nonprofit organization working to improve the economic health and social well-being of U.S. agriculture, the food system and rural people by helping private and public sector decision makers identify and understand forces that will shape the future.

FIDAMERICA

FIDAMERICA is a network whose purpose is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the poverty-elimination projects supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Latin America and the Caribbean, by stimulating and facilitating communication, learning and knowledge management processes. In Español.

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GEsource Geography and Environment Gateway

Led by the GEsource team at the University of Manchester (UK), GEsource is a free online catalogue of high quality Internet resources in geography and environmental science. Resources are selected, catalogued and indexed by researchers and other specialists in their respective fields.

Great Plains-IDEA

Great Plains-Interactive Distance Education Alliance (Great Plains-IDEA) is a consortium of seven Colleges and Human Sciences/Family and Consumer Sciences, resulting in a network of faculty and administrators working to enhance collective efforts in post-baccaluareate education.

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Heartland Center for Leadership Development

The Heartland Center for Leadership Development is an independent, nonprofit organization developing local leadership that responds to the challenges of the future. A major focus of the Heartland Center's activities is practical resources and public policies for rural community survival.

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Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs

The Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, located at Western Illinois University, is designed to improve the quality of life in rural areas by developing public-private partnerships with local agencies on small business development and community development projects in rural areas. The Institute works on projects including rural economic and community development (including value-added agriculture), health care, education, public transportation, public management policies, housing and technology.

Illinois State Associations of Counties

  • Illinois Association of County Board Members, Kelly Murray, executive director, 413 W. Monroe St., 2nd Floor, Springfield, IL 62704-1959; (217) 528-5331, (217) 528-5562 fax, iacbm@msn.com.
  • Metro Counties of Illinois, Dwight Magalis, executive director, 1303 Brandywine Rd., Libertyville, IL 60048-3000; (847) 816-0889, (847) 247-9915 fax, magalisike@msn.com.
  • United Counties Council of Illinois, W. Michael McCreery, executive director, 217 E. Monroe, Suite 101, Springfield, IL 62701-1743; (217) 544-5585, (217) 544-5571 afx, wmmccreery@hotmail.com.

Indiana State Association of Counties

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

IFAD works towards enabling the rural poor to overcome their poverty – as perceived by the poor themselves – by fostering social development, gender equity, income generation, improved nutritional status, environmental sustainability and good governance.

Iowa State Association of Counties

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Kansas State Association of Counties

Kellogg Foundation

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation supports children, families and communities as they strengthen and create conditions that propel vulnerable children to achieve success as individuals and as contributors to the larger community and society. The organization ranks among the world's largest private foundations. Grants are awarded in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, and southern Africa.

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Joint Council of Extension Professionals

The Joint Council of Extension Professionals is a partnership of professional Extension organizations that focuses on strengthening the efforts of the member organizations and does what each cannot do individually. JCEP was organized in December 1989.

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Managing Information with Rural America

The Managing Information in Rural America (MIRA) initiative is part of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Food Systems and Rural Development (FS/RD) program. MIRA is designed to build on the strengths, tenacity, commitment and creativity of rural communities in choosing appropriate uses of technology. It facilitates this by providing grants to community teams comprised of rural residents, community organizations, and/or rural policy and education organizations to enhance social and economic community development activities. The initiative operates on the premise: People first; technology serving communities second.

Michigan Association of Counties

Minnesota Association of Counties

Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture

The Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) is a unique partnership between the College of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences at the University of Minnesota and the Sustainers' Coalition, a group of individuals and non-profit organizations. The purpose of MISA is to bring together the diverse interests of the agricultural community with interests from across the University community in a cooperative effort to develop and promote sustainable agriculture in Minnesota and beyond.

Missouri Association of Counties

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National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP)

NACDEP is an organization dedicated to improving the visibility, coordination, professional status and resource base of community and economic development Extension programs and professionals.

National Association of Counties (NACo)

The National Association of Counties (NACo) was created in 1935 and it continues to ensure that the nation's 3,066 counties are heard and understood in the White House and the halls of Congress. NACo provides an extensive line of services including legislative, research, technical and public affairs assistance, as well as enterprise services to its members. The association acts as a liaison with other levels of government, works to improve public understanding of counties, serves as a national advocate for counties and provides them with resources to help them find innovative methods to meet the challenges they face.

National Association of Development Organizations (NADO)

The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) provides training, information and representation for regional development organizations in small metropolitan and rural America. The association, a public interest group founded in 1967, is the largest and leading advocate for a regional approach to community, economic and rural development and provides a network for its members to share ideas and innovations.

National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC)

Founded in 1887, NASULGC is the nation's oldest higher education association. It's a voluntary association of public universities, land-grant institutions and many of the nation's public university systems, with campuses located in all 50 states, the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. NASULGC is dedicated to supporting excellence in teaching, research and public service. In 1963, the American Association of Land-Grant Colleges and State Universities merged with the National Association of State Universities to create the association in its present configuration as the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. Its acronym is NASULGC (pronounced na SUL jick).

National Association of Towns and Townships (NATaT)

The purpose of the National Association of Towns and Townships (NATaT) is to strengthen the effectiveness of town and township government. NATaT does this by educating lawmakers and public policy officials about how small town governments operate and by advocating policies on their behalf in Washington, D.C.

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) is recognized as the pre-eminent bipartisan organization dedicated to serving the lawmakers and staffs of the nation's 50 states, its commonwealths and territories. It is recognized nationally for its leadership. With a focus on service, NCSL is a source for research, publications, consulting assistance, meetings and seminars.

National Extension Diversity Center

Extension Committee on Organization and Policy's (ECOP) diversity task force advances extension’s vision and mission toward an effective multicultural system. This Web site provides an opportunity to link in and collaborate with Extension professionals to create new ways of effectively serving our diverse society. Use the programs and ideas here in hiring staff and educating new audiences and share your successes, failures and resources in working with new audiences.

National League of Cities

The National League of Cities is the oldest and largest national organization representing municipal governments throughout the United States. Its mission is to strengthen and promote cities as centers of opportunity, leadership, and governance.

National Rural Development Partnership

The National Rural Development Partnership acts as a non-partisan forum for identifying, discussing and acting on issues affecting rural America. The NRDP does not supplant, duplicate or compete with any program, but rather facilitates coordination and collaboration among its partners to improve implementation of rural programs.

National Tourism Education Clearinghouse

The National Tourism Education Clearinghouse is a compilation of national, regional, state and specific topic resources for tourism educators and is maintained by the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development.

NCRCRD Resources for Spanish Speaking Populations

This Web page includes presentations and handouts from the December 2001 conference, Enhancing Extension's Capacity to Work With Spanish Speaking Populations in the North Central Region; an inventory of Extension programming efforts with Spanish Speaking populations in the North Central region; and resources available to support such programming efforts. The NCRCRD has also included a list of state contacts for more specific information.

Nebraska Association of Counties

North Central Cooperative Extension Association

This site serves as an information source for NCCEA members, promotes multi-state programming and informs other interested readers about Extension in the North Central Region.

North Central Region Directory of Food Industry Research and Development Resources

This directory is intended to actively promote economic development throughout the North Central Region by establishing a simple means by which interested individuals can identify state and federal food-processing-related resources.

North Dakota Association of Counties

Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development

The NERCRD is one of four regional rural development centers in the nation. They focus specifically on rural issues affecting the 13 states of the Northeast region.

Northern Great Plains, Inc.

Northern Great Plains Inc. is a not-for-profit research, demonstration and convening organization, focusing on futures study, creating economic opportunity, and supporting a healthy environment and vital rural communities in the Region.

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Ohio Association of Counties

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Professional/Staff Development Activities of the State Extension Services in the North Central Region

This Web site is provided as an information sharing location for professional/staff development professionals from the 12 State Extension Services in the North Central United States.

Public Issues Education

This web site is a resource for Extension professionals engaged in Public Issues Education. Here you will find online access to PIE materials, publications and resources; links to information from related disciplines; and oersonal contacts around the country.

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Resource Guide on Rural Latinos

One link provided by JSRI is a set of connections to scholars with expertise in issues of Latinos in rural communities. One page of the Web site is devoted to the JSRI Resource Guide on Rural Latinos, which is a directory and listing of experts and organizations who serve rural Latinos.

Rural Assistance Center

The Rural Assistance Center (RAC) was established in Decmber 2002 as a rural health and human services "information portal." RAC helps rural communities and other rural stakeholders access the full range of available programs, funding and research that can enable them to provide quality health and human services to rural residents.

Rural Information Center

The Rural Information Center (RIC), USDA's national information service, provides funding sources, information and referral services to rural communities, officials, organizations and citizens throughout the U.S.

RUPRI

The Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) conducts policy-relevant research and facilitates public dialogue to assist policymakers in understanding the rural impacts of public policies and programs. Many policies which are not explicitly "rural policies" nevertheless have substantial implications for rural areas, and RUPRI is dedicated to understanding and articulating these implications.

Rural Development Briefing Rooms

The Rural Development Briefing Room contains information on emerging social and economic issues in rural areas, ERS rural development publications, snapshots of population, employment, poverty, income and industry tends in rural America, and data sets. The Rural Development Briefing Room is the only public source of current rural and urban unemployment and employment indicators.

Rural People, Rural Policy

Rural People, Rural Policy is a part of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Its purpose is to improve the lives of rural people by building the capacity of rural networks and the organizations that serve those living in rural communities, and to raise the awareness of rural policy at local, state, regional and federal levels, and mobilize like-minded rural constituency groups to have an impact on rural policy at the local, state and national levels.

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Julian Samora Research Institute

The home page of the Julian Samora Research Institute (JSRI) at Michigan State University includes the latest updates, publications and information from the Midwest's premier Latino research center. This site is continually updated to include local events and recent releases of interest, as well as other web links.

SETA (Office of Social and Economic Trend Analysis)

The Office of Social and Economic Trend Analysis helps participants examine the current trends and characteristics of their community, to better understand the economy of the community, to assess opportunities for ecnomic growth and to promote community teamwork. Their Web site has a number of pertinent indicators to "taking charge" and planning for economic development.

Social Capital for Development

This Web site is the World Bank�s link with external partners, researchers, institutions, governments and others interested in understanding and applying social capital for sustainable social and economic development. It includes a link to Social Capital "Let's Talk"...a moderated e-mail discussion group—or discussion list—dedicated to social capital and development.

Social Indicators Department

The Social Indicators Department at the German Social Science Infrastructure Service focuses on social monitoring in general with the following specific research areas: Social Indicators Research and Social Reporting, Welfare Research and Measuring Quality of Life, Social Inequality and Cross-National Comparisons.

South Dakota Association of Counties

Southern Rural Development Center

The SRDC supports research and extension efforts to improve the lives of people living in nonmetropolitan areas of the United States. Located at Mississippi State University, and jointly sponsored by Alcorn State University, the SRDC serves the 29 land-grant institutions of the thirteen Southern states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

State Association of Counties

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

Since 1988, the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program has helped advance farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound and good for communities through a nationwide research and education grants program. The program, part of USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, funds projects and conducts outreach designed to improve agricultural systems.

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Tourism Education Materials

This site contains the National Extension Tourism Database, a comprehensive inventory of Extension resource materials related to tourism education. The materials, generally dating from 1985-1998, are from the USDA, Agricultural Experiment Stations and Land Grant universities and include Extension bulletins, research reports, videos, training guides and notebooks, and PowerPoint slide shows. An alternative URL is http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp.

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Western Rural Development Center

The WRDC, located at Utah State University, facilitates collaborative socio-economic research and extension through higher education institutions in the 13 states and four territories of the Western region.

Will It Fly

Willitfly.com's mission is to make it easier to avoid the failure that frequently accompanies new undertakings. With expert prep modules designed to speed up knowledge transfer and support users at their time of need, Willitfly.com provides a quick way to find out if you are ready to perform according to best practices for important business tasks.

Wisconsin Association of Counties

W.K. Kellogg Foundation

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation supports children, families and communities as they strengthen and create conditions that propel vulnerable children to achieve success as individuals and as contributors to the larger community and society. The organization ranks among the world's largest private foundations. Grants are awarded in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, and southern Africa.

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Yellow Wood Associates, Inc.

Yellow Wood Associates, Inc. specializes in natural-resource-based economic development in agriculture, forestry, and water resources; community capacity and economic development, and business development. YWA provides clients with customized analyses and models of successful intervention in rural areas around the United States and abroad. They also provide training programs in community capacity building and how to select and measure appropriate indicators of community progress.

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North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
Iowa State University
107 Curtiss Hall
Ames, IA 50011-1050
(515) 294-8321, (515) 294-3180 fax

For questions, comments or concerns about the NCRCRD Web site, contact khetland@iastate.edu.

Last updated June 16, 2008