Southern Rural Development Center
 

Box 9656
410 Bost Extension Bldg.
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Phone: (662) 325-3207
Fax: (662) 325-8915
http://srdc.msstate.edu

 

 

 

Around the SouthApril 2007, Vol. 3 No. 4

In this Issue . . .



SRDC Publications

You Talked, We Listened. The SRDC announces its brand new report on entrepreneurship in the rural South titled "The Voices of the People."
The Southern Rural Development Center, in partnership with its fellow Regional Rural Development Centers and the National Coalition for Rural Entrepreneurship, conducted nine listening sessions around the South to gain insight into the state of entrepreneurship in rural communities and to better understand which policies and programs can help foster entrepreneurship in these areas. This report, "The Voices of the People: Strategies for Expanding Entrepreneurship in the Rural South," highlights key needs outlined by rural people, organizations and community representatives taking part in the Southern region listening sessions held in Fall 2005. From their perspective, the findings represent a core set of activities that must be launched if rural communities in the South are to be successful in creating an environment where entrepreneurship is promoted, nurtured and sustained over the long term. The report is available electronically at http://srdc.msstate.edu/publications/238_voicesofthepeople.pdf. If you would like to receive a hard copy of this report, please send your request to publications@srdc.msstate.edu.
The Voices of the People: Strategies for Expanding Entrepreneurship in the Rural South


SRDC Items of Interest

  • Dr. George F. Smith Receives the 2007 Bonnie Teater Community Development Educator Lifetime Achievement Award
    The Southern Rural Development Center is proud to honor Dr. George F. Smith as the 2007 recipient of the Bonnie Teater Community Development Educator Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Smith currently serves as Professor of Resource Development at the University of Tennessee. It is quite difficult to summarize the numerous contributions Dr. Smith has made in the community development arena. His work began with University of Tennessee Extension in 1974 and he has since garnered the mutual respect of agents, community leaders and rural development professionals not only in his state, but throughout the region and the nation. “Leaders inside and outside of agriculture and community development respect and trust George Smith,” said Clark Garland, professor and chair of the University of Tennessee’s Agricultural Economics Department Awards Committee. “People admire his competence, integrity, leadership and professionalism.” The list of areas in which Dr. Smith has conducted successful educational programs is impressive. Most people would be hard pressed to develop sound educational programs in just one
    area. Dr. Smith, however, has done so in multiple rural development areas, including environmental stewardship, economic development, small business development, leadership and community facilities and services....To read more about Dr. Smith's work, check out the full announcement at http://srdc.msstate.edu/07teaterawardrecipient.pdf.


Other Items of Interest

  • Auburn University Offers Intensive Economic Development Training Course
    Presented by the Economic & Community Development Institute (ECDI), a partnership of Auburn University and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the annual two-week Intensive Economic Development Training Course introduces participants to all phases of economic development. This year's course will be held during the weeks of July 23-27 and September 10-14. Program leaders and faculty are experienced in economic development strategies and techniques and have tailored the course to the expressed needs of economic developers in Alabama. Created by Extension in 1985, the course has over 700 alumni, including most of the state's top economic development professionals. For more information, or to register online, please visit the Course website at http://www.auburn.edu/outreach/ecdi/intensivecourse/.


Funding Opportunities

  • SRDC's Grant Connections: Rural Development Funding Opportunities
    Volume 9, Number 3, February 2007 -- Available April 27
    http://srdc.msstate.edu/funding/april07.htm

    The SRDC staff compiles Grant Connections primarily for the faculty of land-grant colleges and universities in the South to provide funding information in support of activities in agricultural economics, education, human sciences, rural sociology, youth development, and other related disciplines.


SRDC Sponsored Conferences & Trainings

  • E-Commerce Strategies for Small Businesses and Communities
    A Rollout of New Extension Educational Curricula developed as part of the SRDC and CSREES/USDA "Rural E-Commerce Extension Initiative: A National Demonstration Project"
    June 4-6, 2007
    Lied Lodge and Conference Center
    Nebraska City, Nebraska
    http://srdc.msstate.edu/ecommerce/07training/

  • eCommerce: An Opportunity Whose Time Has Come
    Offered by the NCRCRD in cooperation with the SRDC
    Online Breeze Conference
    February through June, 2007
    10-11:30 a.m. CST
    http://www.ncrcrd.iastate.edu/projects/breeze/ecommerce/index.htm


Other Conferences & Trainings


Job Opportunities


Submit Announcements

Job announcements and other items of interest may be sent to Rachel Welborn, rachelw@srdc.msstate.edu, for possible inclusion in future issues.


Subscribe to Around the South

Subscribe to Around the South: http://srdc.msstate.edu/news/signup.htm

Some photos on this page
courtesy of USDA NRCS.

  

You are receiving this newsletter because you are subscribed to the SRDC's electronic mailing list.

 Copyright © 2005  
http://srdc.msstate.edu/news/