SRDC History

The history of the Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC) is a story of collaboration, innovation, and a longstanding commitment to strengthening rural communities across the South.

The SRDC is one of the nation’s four Regional Rural Development Centers (RRDCs), established under the Rural Development Act of 1972. Along with the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development, and Western Rural Development Center, the SRDC continues a regional approach to addressing the opportunities and challenges facing rural communities.

The SRDC began its work in 1974. According to its first Annual Progress Report, February 1, 1974, marked the Center’s first official day of operation, while March 28 of that year marked the approval of its first plan of work. From the beginning, the SRDC embraced an interdisciplinary approach, emphasizing the integration of research and Extension efforts. These foundational principles continue to shape the Center’s work today.

While rural people and communities have changed over the past five decades, the need for collaboration and shared knowledge has remained constant. The SRDC has brought together research, Extension, and education across organizational and state lines to address emerging rural development issues and support communities throughout the region.

Today, the SRDC operates at Mississippi State University and works across Land-Grant Institutions throughout the Southern region. Its regional network encompasses 30 universities across 13 states and two territories, connecting 1862 and 1890 institutions and including a 1994 tribal partner. The Center also contributes to national rural development efforts through collaboration with the other Regional Rural Development Centers, regional research and Extension associations, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

More than 50 years after its founding, the SRDC remains grounded in the same principle that shaped its earliest work: rural communities are stronger when people, institutions, and ideas come together.

Explore the milestones, people, and partnerships that have shaped the Southern Rural Development Center’s history.