Southern Rural Development Center
 

Box 9656
410 Bost Extension Bldg.
DELIVERY: 190 Bost-North
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Phone: (662) 325-3207
Fax: (662) 325-8915
http://srdc.msstate.edu

 

 

 

Around the SouthSeptember 2007, Vol. 3 No. 9

In this Issue . . .


SRDC Items of Interest

  • Southern SARE and SRDC Announce 2007 RFP for Sustainable Community Innovation Grants
    The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program and the Southern Rural Development Center are interested in investing in Sustainable Community Innovation Grants -- projects that work to strengthen both agriculture and Southern communities by building explicit linkages between sustainable agriculture and rural community development. Such efforts help improve and advance an understanding of the mutual benefits that accrue to both agriculture and community when such key linkages are established and maintained. The proposal deadline 11:59 PM, Eastern Time, October 1, 2007. Reference the RFP for full details at http://www.southernsare.uga.edu/currentcalls/sci.doc.


National Items of Interest

  • Newest eXtension Site Focuses on Entrepreneurs and Their Communities
    extension has just announced the "soft" launch of its fifth Community of Practice web site: Entrepreneurs and Their Communities, available at http://www.extension.org/entrepreneurship. This web site will serve as an additional resource that local business owners can depend upon for unbiased information on a variety of business-related topics. Like all other websites launched as part of extension, the Entrepreneurs and Their Communities site is populated with various frequently asked questions (FAQs) responding to the most common set of questions that users are likely to ask. It also offers users the opportunities to submit questions not addressed in the FAQ system, inquiries that will be answered by land-grant university personnel with expertise in these specific topical areas. "The extension entrepreneurship website is a product of countless hours provided by a core team of 20 Extension educators and rural development partners drawn from all parts of the U.S.," said Bo Beaulieu, Director of the SRDC, and team coordinator. Over the next few months, the extension entrepreneurship team will be adding a number of products to the website, including a synopsis of state and local policies enacted to spur and support entrepreneurship; learning lessons offering a variety of self-paced educational programs; and various case studies on innovative ways communities nationwide have designed and launched local entrepreneurship-friendly programs. Those interested in recommending improvements or additions to the site are urged to submit their recommendations to Bo Beaulieu.

  • Texas A&M University Now Offering Two New Academic Programs in Community Development
    The Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences at Texas A&M University announces two new academic programs. One program is a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Development. This undergraduate major is designed to prepare students to address important social and economic issues in metropolitan centers, urban fringe areas, and rural communities. The department also has created a twelve-hour graduate Certificate in Community Development. It addresses issues of decision making and leadership, human organization and communication, institutional capacity and enhancement, and resource mobilization and management. For additional information regarding these programs, contact Dr. John K. Thomas, Program in Rural Sociology and Community Studies, Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2261. Information is also available online at http://www.rpts.tamu.edu/communitydevelopment.

  • WRDC Releases New Publication: Sustainable Rural Community Development: An Annotated Bibliography
    This is the first edition in an ongoing publication project focused on sustainable rural development. Given the importance of viable economies, ecological systems and cultural continuity, the WRDC believes it is important to begin the process of developing a bibliographic repository for literature relating to sustainable development. This publication is available at http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/pub__8058368.pdf.


Funding Opportunities

  • SRDC's Grant Connections: Rural Development Funding Opportunities
    Volume 9, Number 6, August 2007
    http://srdc.msstate.edu/funding/aug07.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.


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.


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courtesy of USDA NRCS.

  

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