Regional Associations and Centers

ASSOCIATION OF RESEARCH DIRECTORS-coordinates most of the food and agricultural research activities among the 1890 Land-Grant Collages and Universities and USDA, other federal and state agencies and private industry; coordinates research program planning and budgeting with the Experiment Station Committee on Organization and Policy (ESCOP), USDA and OMB; and cooperates with appropriate national bodies in developing and monitoring legislation affecting research, extension, teaching and international programs at the 1890 Universities.

ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN REGION EXTENSION DIRECTORS (ASRED)-helps to build effectiveness and efficiency of state Extension programs through effective multistate cooperation.

THE DELTA COMPACT-a collaborative effort to devise comprehensive community development solutions to the problems arising from the persistent poverty, sluggish economy, and legacy of racial segregation in the Lower Mississippi Delta region.

MID SOUTH DELTA INITIATIVE-a partnership between Delta communities in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF). The initiative focuses on 55 contiguous counties and parishes along the Mississippi River. This long-term community and leadership development initiative incorporates: capacity building and project grants and technical assistance; support for expanding regional leadership and economic policy initiatives; and technical assistance and support networks for groups and organizations that work intensely with community based programs in the region. The Foundation and its partners are creating a "learning community" to share ideas, information, best practices, and tools about building the capacity of people and communities to increase economic opportunities.

MOUNTAIN RESOURCE CENTER-a service division of Western Carolina University, provides information and technical assistance to individuals, businesses, communities, and organizations in Western North Carolina.

SOUTHEAST REGIONAL DIRECTORS INSTITUTE (SERDI)-a voluntary professional development association for regional council executive directors in a ten state region of the southeastern United States.

SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS ASSOCIATION-the purposes and objectives are to foster the study and understanding of agricultural economics and its applications to problems in the Southern United States; to promote unity and effectiveness of effort among all concerned with those problems; to promote improvement in the professional competence and standards of members; to cooperate with other organizations and institutions engaged in similar or related activities; and to increase the contribution of agricultural economics to human welfare.

SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION DIRECTORS (SAAESD)-purpose is to encourage collaboration among agricultural scientists in the South as well as inform the funders of agricultural research about research priorities, impacts, and status of projects.

SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENTISTS (SAAS)-strives to forward the interest of Southern Agriculture by bringing agricultural leaders in the educational field and industry together. The association instructs and trains individuals for the purpose of improving or developing their capabilities relating to educational activities in service to the public arena.

SOUTHERN GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION-mission of the association is to support the work of the governors by providing a bipartisan, regional forum to help shape and implement national policy and to solve state and regional problems.

SOUTHERN GROWTH POLICIES BOARD-public-private partnership devoted to economic development in the South. The board is a catalyst for the creative an sustained action needed to build a better South.

SOUTHERN LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE-established in 1947 as the southern regional component of CSG to encourage intergovernmental cooperation among 16 southern states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

SOUTHERN REGION EDUCATION BOARD-stresses the links between schools and colleges. There purpose is to help states improve the quality of education, student opportunity and student achievement.

SOUTHERN REGION PROGRAM LEADERS COMMITTEE (PLC)-created and is administratively responsible to the 1862 Extension Directors and 1890 Extension Administrators in the Southern region. The PLC exists to facilitate multi-state programming opportunities, and membership includes representatives from Agriculture and Natural Resources, Communications and Information Technology, Community Development, 4-H Youth Development, Family and Consumer Sciences, Middle Management and Program and Staff Development.

SOUTHERN REGION SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM (SARE)-a competitive grants program funded by the USDA and EPA to promote research and education about sustainable agriculture. Calls for proposals are issued each year to start the competitive process. Established in 1988, SARE has funded close to 1,900 projects that examine how to improve agricultural profitability, protect natural resources, and foster more viable rural communities. Information from the projects is disseminated through various publications.

SOUTHERN RURAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE-a regional collaborative which helps community-based institutions attract capital and use it effectively in the poorest areas of the rural South.

SOUTHERN RURAL SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (SRSA)-an educational and scientific organization established to foster the study and understanding of rural sociology and its application to the Southern region of the United States.