State Rural Development Roundtables (2006)

Rural communities face important challenges to remain strong and vibrant. Some of these challenges are beyond the capacity of rural communities to control, while many others can be successfully tackled when local people and organizations work together on high priority issues they have in common.

The question is this: What are the crucial rural development issues that deserve serious attention in the months and years ahead? One important way to gain insights on these issues is through a “roundtable.” A roundtable provides the equal forum for discussing, digesting, debating, and deliberating on the challenges and opportunities facing rural communities. When the table is round, everyone is equal and everyone is heard.

The Southern Rural Development Center, in cooperation with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, asked Southern states to hold listening sessions to identify priorities for the future of rural communities. The dates and locations for each state are outlined below. Final reports are linked for those that are currently available.

Georgia May 3 Macon Contact: John McKissick, University of Georgia Final Report Abbreviated Summary Mississippi May 4 Oxford Contact: Alan Barefield, Mississippi State University Final Report Abbreviated Summary South Carolina May 9 Columbia Contacts: Dave Lamie, Clemson University, and Louis Whitesides, South Carolina State University Final Report Abbreviated Summary Oklahoma May 18 Norman Contact: Mike Woods, Oklahoma State University Final Report Abbreviated Summary Arkansas June 14 Little Rock Contact: Tammy Seefeld, University of Arkansas Final Report Abbreviated Summary Alabama June 16 Auburn Contact: Joe Sumners, Auburn University Website Final Report Abbreviated Summary Tennessee June 20, 22, 27 Jackson, Cookeville, Morristown Contacts: George Smith and Michael Wilcox, University of Tennessee Website Final Report Abbreviated Summary

Kentucky July 19, 20, 31 Hopkinsville, Frankfort, Paintsville Contacts: Gae Broadwater, Kentucky State University, and Lori Garkovich, University of Kentucky Final Report Abbreviated Summary Louisiana September 6 Calhoun and Winnsboro Contact: James N. Barnes, Louisiana State University Final Report Abbreviated Summary Virginia September 6 Campus of Virginia State (Petersburg) Contacts: Crystal Tyler-Mackey, Virginia Tech, and Albert Essel, VA State Final Report Abbreviated Summary North Carolina October 18 Raleigh Contact: Ed Jones and Jim Zuiches, North Carolina State University Final Report Abbreviated Summary West Virginia October 11 Pipestem Contact: Jenny Fertig, West Virginia State University Final Report Abbreviated Summary Florida Survey Contact: Hank Cothran, University of Florida Final Report Abbreviated Summary Texas Survey Contact: Greg Taylor, Texas A&M University Final Report Abbreviated Summary