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 SouthMarch 2006, Vol. 2 No. 3

In this Issue . . .


SRDC Publications

  • SRDC's 2005 Annual Report, Fresh Ideas for Rural Development, Now Available
    We are pleased to share with you the latest report of activities undertaken by the SRDC over the course of the 2005 fiscal year. While continuity, consistency and quality are attributes that we strive for at the Center, we constantly seek to delve into new efforts that we believe are needed in order to respond to the emerging opportunities that exist in the Southern region. This is especially the case for those rural development issues that our region’s land-grant university research and Extension communities are well positioned to address. As such, our 2005 report is designed to offer more in-depth attention to five key areas that the SRDC has given special attention to in recent years – topical areas that we believe are “fresh ideas for rural development.” Read about the five areas as well as the SRDC's ongoing activities at http://srdc.msstate.edu/publications/annual05.pdf.

  • New Measuring Rural Diversity Policy Series Brief Released
    The newest brief in this series (Volume 3, Issue No. 1), "Creating Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas," written by Michael R. Ratcliffe with the United States Census Bureau, provides an overview of the metropolitan and micropolitan statistical area concept and standards. It also focuses on the relationship between settlement form and function, how this relationship is represented within the metropolitan and micropolitan statistical area classification, and how the classification relates to urban and rural definitions. This brief concludes with some thoughts on how the use of metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas in analysis, policy development and program implementation affects our understanding of what these areas represent. This brief is available on the SRDC website at http://srdc.msstate.edu/measuring/series/ratcliffe.pdf.


SRDC Items of Interest

  • Doeksen Recipient of 2005 "Bonnie Teater Community Development Educator Lifetime Achievement" Award
    The SRDC is proud to honor Dr. Gerald Doeksen as the 2005 recipient of the "Bonnie Teater Community Development Educator Lifetime Achievement" award. Dr. Doeksen is Regents Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Oklahoma State University, a special professorial rank achieved by only a handful of OSU faculty having a superior record of scholarship and exceptional national standing. More information is available at http://srdc.msstate.edu/news/doeksen_05btaward.pdf.

  • The SRDC, in partnership with the SSRC, Organizes Latino/Hispanic Task Force
    The growth of Latinos/Hispanics in the South has been particularly sizable over the past decade. Recent data indicate that nearly 25% of the growth in rural America over the 1990-to-2000-time period was linked to the expansion of the Latinos/Hispanic population. Without question, many parts of the South - both urban and rural in nature - have been impacted by the in-migration of Latinos/Hispanics into their communities.

    In an effort to further understand and strengthen our rural development-related efforts in the South, the SRDC, in collaboration with the Social Science Research Center at Mississippi State University, joined forces in helping identify a team of land-grant faculty in the region (and beyond) having an interest in addressing the needs of the Latino/Hispanic community. With the help of land-grant administrators in the South, an initial list of faculty engaged in research or Extension outreach education activities involving the Latino/Hispanic population were identified. These individuals met face-to-face just prior to the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) conference, held last month in San Antonio. The decision was made during the course of that meeting to create a task force that will be charged with identifying - and implementing - priority research activities and pursuing multi-state Extension training. Both the research and Extension efforts will be a critical part of the SRDC/SSRC's efforts to better understand and address the needs of the region's Latino/Hispanic population, especially those needs that will depend on proactive community development initiatives.

    If you are interested in joining this important task force, please contact Bo Beaulieu (ljb@srdc.msstate.edu) or Rachel Welborn (rachelw@srdc.msstate.edu).

  • Reserve Your Spot at the Southern Institute for Rural Development April 24-26, 2006!
    Previously postponed due to Hurricane Katrina, the Southern Institute for Rural Development has now be rescheduled for April 24-26, 2006, in West Monroe, LA. Hosted by USDA Rural Development in Louisiana, in cooperation with the SRDC, this institute is designed for professionals who are, or wish to become, actively involved in rural development work at the local, multi-parish (county), state or regional level. This conference will provide participants a more in-depth understanding of topics that are vital to the long-term health of rural areas: strengthening rural economies, developing resilient communities, embracing change in population diversity, and building on local talents and strengths. An excellent slate of speakers has been secured. Register now to reserve your spot to hear them! For more information visit http://srdc.msstate.edu/sird06/.


Other Items of Interest

  • Amenities and Rural Development Book Now Available
    Amenities and Rural Development: Theory, Methods and Public Policy, edited by Gary Paul Green, Steven C. Deller and David W. Marcouiller, is now available in print. This book "explores the paradigmatic shift in how we view land resources and the potential for development in amenity-rich rural regions...Scholars and policymakers concerned with economic development and natural resource management will find this comprehensive volume of great interest." Part of the NEW HORIZONS IN ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS series, this work was supported via funding from the National Research Initiative of CSREES/USDA and the Regional Rural Development Centers.

  • Auburn University's Economic Development Institute Offers "Strategies for Retail Development" Course
    "Strategies for Retail Development" is a new course being offered by Auburn University's Economic Development Institute. EDI will bring in some of the nation's leading retail developers, economic development experts, and community planners to share their knowledge and experiences. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions and engage in constructive dialogue about the challenges, possibilities, and potential of retail as an essential economic development strategy. This course will be offered April 18-19, 2006, at the Dixon Conference Center on Auburn's campus. For more information, or to register, please visit the course website at http://www.auburn.edu/edi/edprodev/forum.html.

  • Carsey Institute Releases Report Demonstrating Significant Change in Rural America
    New realities are facing rural America, according to a new report from the Carsey Institute. The demographic makeup of rural America is changing as some places grow with the migration of retirees and baby boomers into amenity-rich areas, while other places lose young people and grow older. Racial and ethnic diversity, meanwhile, continues to increase. "Demographic Trends in Rural and Small Town America," is part of a series of Carsey Institute policy reports on topics concerning rural America. The report is available on the Institute's website at http://www.carseyinstitute.unh.edu/documents/Demographics_complete_file.pdf.

  • Civic Enterprises Report, The Silent Epidemic: Perspectives of High School Dropouts
    Commissioned by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this report's central message is that while some students drop out because of significant academic challenges, most dropouts are students who could have, and believe they could have, succeeded in school. This survey of young people who left high school without graduating suggests that, despite career aspirations that require education beyond high school and a majority having grades of a C or better, circumstances in students’ lives and an inadequate response to those circumstances from the schools led to dropping out. Read more on the Civic Enterprises' website at http://www.civicenterprises.net/pdfs/thesilentepidemic3-06.pdf.

  • Economic Research Service's Rural Hispanics at a Glance
    Rural Hispanics at a Glance     provides the latest information from the 2000 Census and other Federal data sources about Hispanics living in nonmetro counties. This six-page brochure highlights growth and geographic dispersion, demographic characteristics, and the most recent indicators of social and economic conditions for this population. It emphasizes rapid Hispanic population growth, particularly in new rural destinations of the Midwest and Southeast, and it illustrates differences in age structure between Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites. The report also provides data on important demographic, labor market, income, poverty, and social service indicators for nonmetro Hispanics. Using a visually interesting format that incorporates text bullets with charts and maps, it quickly provides information on key indicators of the rural Hispanic population to assist public officials, community organizations, private decision makers and others in their efforts to enhance the economic opportunities and quality of life for this rapidly growing population. It is available on the ERS website at http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/eib8/.

  • Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's Partners in Community and Economic Development Features "Attracting Economic Development--At What Cost?"
    Volume 15, Number 3 of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's Partners in Community and Economic Development features a cover story on "Attracting Economic Development--At What Cost?". This issue is available online at http://www.frbatlanta.org/invoke.cfm?objectid=C5C6B425-5056-9F06-999A250BF74D505B&method=display_body.


Funding Opportunities

  • SRDC's Grant Connections: Rural Development Funding Opportunities
    Volume 8, Number 3, February 2006
    http://srdc.msstate.edu/funding/feb06.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


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/