Around the South Newsletters


Compiling SRDC and national news, recent publications, upcoming conferences and events, and job opportunities, this monthly newsletter furnishes a brief overview of announcements from the Southern region.


Recently Launched: CREATE BRIDGES Curriculum

CREATE BRIDGES is a pilot project designed for multi-county regions to raise awareness of the role retail, accommodations, tourism, and entertainment businesses play in the local economy; determine challenges, barriers, and opportunities related to those businesses; and develop and implement strategies to strengthen the retail, accommodations, tourism, and entertainment sectors within a region.

CREATE BRIDGES is a collaborative partnership between the Southern Rural Development Center, the University of Arkansas, the University of Illinois, the University of Kentucky, New Mexico State University, North Carolina State University, and Oklahoma State University. It is currently active in eight regions throughout the six partner states.

CREATE BRIDGES was developed and implemented with funding from Walmart and was awarded the NET Excellence in Tourism award in 2021.

The goal of the curriculum is to educate community and economic development practitioners on how to recreate the processes used in CREATE BRIDGES. The curriculum bridges theory into practice, emphasizes the processes used to attain results, and hopes to offer a new perspective on how to engage communities with workforce development.

To view the CREATE BRIDGES curriculum, visit https://srdc.msstate.edu/programs/create-bridges/curriculum

USDA ERS Releases Updated Rural-Urban Continuum Codes for U.S. Counties

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (USDA ERS) recently released the updated Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUUCs) for U.S. counties and county equivalents across states and territories. Originally developed in the 1970s, the RUCCs are updated each decade following the Decennial Census. These codes are widely used for conducting research, planning programs, and informing policy.

Starting with metropolitan and nonmetropolitan designations through the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, the RUCCs provide additional subcategories, resulting in nine classifications.

1 = Metro - Counties in metro areas of 1 million population or more
2 = Metro - Counties in metro areas of 250,000 to 1 million population
3 = Metro - Counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 population
4 = Nonmetro - Urban population of 20,000 or more, adjacent to a metro area
5 = Nonmetro - Urban population of 20,000 or more, not adjacent to a metro area
6 = Nonmetro - Urban population of 5,000 to 20,000, adjacent to a metro area
7 = Nonmetro - Urban population of 5,000 to 20,000, not adjacent to a metro area
8 = Nonmetro - Urban population of fewer than 5,000, adjacent to a metro area
9 = Nonmetro - Urban population of fewer than 5,000, not adjacent to a metro area

For comparisons between the 2023 and 2013 versions of the RUCCs, it is important to note changes that were implemented to what is considered an urban area by the Census Bureau for 2020 data. The minimum threshold was changed from 2,500 to 5,000 persons.

To learn more about the RUCCs, view a map, and access the data (available in an Excel file), visit 

https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/rural-urban-continuum-codes/documentation/.

SRDC Repository: Recent Readership Snapshot

In 2023, the Southern Rural Development Center partnered with the Mississippi State University Libraries System, through Scholar’s Junction to host an archival system. Through this site, viewers can locate, download, and share annual reports and articles from the SRDC Special Topics Series. The system also includes a dashboard that tracks views and downloads of the posted content. In the latest metrics report,

Heirs’ Property had 39 full-text downloads.
The most popular downloaded articles were:


Coming Together for Racial Understanding had 25 full-text downloads.
The most popular downloads were:

To read more articles from these and other critical issue areas in the SRDC Special Topics Collection, visit https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/srdc/

 

Regional Spotlight

Transforming Rural Futures: A Placemaking Partnership

Rural placemaking is a strategic solution to address persistent challenges faced by rural communities. It fosters community engagement, enhances the physical environment, and cultivates a sense of identity. By investing in placemaking, we tackle the multifaceted issues of rural decline, transforming these areas into thriving, attractive spaces. This approach not only contributes to local economic development but also ensures that rural communities become appealing places to live, work, and visit, thereby securing a sustainable and vibrant future for residents.

In a groundbreaking collaboration, the Community & Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky (CEDIK) joined forces with the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA-RD) to pioneer a transformative placemaking initiative. Specifically, CEDIK created a digital toolkit and hosted two national virtual conferences to empower rural leaders in cultivating vibrant and livable communities through placemaking.

This cooperative agreement launched the interactive Rural America Placemaking Toolkit. This resource empowers rural leaders nationwide to assess their community’s readiness for placemaking activities and replicate successful projects. Whether you aspire to host community conversations, or engage in cultural and community assessments, the toolkit provides relevant processes for community leaders interested in placemaking efforts.

The virtual placemaking workshop, with approximately 1500 participants in 2022 and 900 in 2023 from all corners of the country, provided a platform for interactive learning, collaboration, and engagement. The Under-Secretary of Rural Development emphasized the importance of investing in physical, digital, and social infrastructure to fortify successful rural communities. Popular sessions explored themes such as the value of rural restaurants, community revitalization, rural partnerships, and equity considerations. CEDIK staff are currently planning the next conference that will be held in Summer 2024.

This joint effort between CEDIK and USDA-RD represents a collaboration fostering rural prosperity. The Rural America Placemaking Toolkit serves as an ongoing valuable resource, equipping rural leaders with insights, case studies, and resources relevant to their communities. Hosting the conference online helped remove barriers to participation and allowed us to reach broader rural audiences. This innovative partnership sets a precedent for collaborations empowering rural communities, aligning with the goal of building robust, lively, and resilient rural futures. Learn more at www.ruralplacemaking.com.