Duration: 10/01/2001 to 09/30/2004

Administrative Advisor(s):

NIFA Reps:

Non-Technical Summary

Statement of Issues and Justification

People and families live, work and solve problems in communities. Even though the 1990s
witnessed one of the longest periods of prosperity in American history, the benefits of that
expansion have been unequally distributed. Significant portions of rural America continue to be
plagued by insufficient economic opportunities, poverty, financial insecurity, environmental
degradation and out-migration of youth and young adults. Without knowledgeable and engaged
individuals and families, a community quickly loses its vitality (Dosch, 1989). Moreover, many
communities are struggling to adapt to profound social, economic, technological and
demographic transformations (Center for the Study of Rural America, 2000). The persistence of
geographically disadvantaged rural residents and rapid social change are major challenges facing
rural communities throughout the North Central Region.

Vital and effective rural communities are dynamic, adaptive, proactive, inclusive and democratic.
Research has demonstrated that vital communities provide the leadership necessary to promote
economic development, reduce poverty, retain their population, and protect the environment. In
short, vital communities are places where many people prefer to live. Basic and applied research
is needed to understand the contributions of social, human, economic and institutional capacity to
community vitality and how community vitality contributes to the quality of life in rural
communities.

Clearly, one of the most salient factors undergirding rural community vitality and quality of life
is human capital development, population retention, and rural leadership effectiveness. The
availability, quality, and ongoing development of human capital are issues of growing concern
among rural community leaders. Given the worsening socioeconomic conditions in many rural
communities, the demographic shifts in rural population, and the declining number of individuals
in commodity-based agriculture - a traditional mainstay in many rural communities - it has
become increasingly difficult for many rural communities to expand, or even maintain, the
population base necessary to sustain a vibrant, highly-skilled, and committed citizenry (Center
for the Study of Rural America, 2000).

Specifically, research is needed to determine rural agriculture workforce projections, to ascertain
the specific employability skills which will be required and to identify socio-cultural and
institutional barriers to achieving those skills. Research is also needed to determine: (a) which
rural educational systems (formal and non-formal) have been most successful in developing
human capital, (b) why those systems have been successful, and (c) whether those systems can be
extrapolated as models for other rural communities. Bridging the informational technology gap
that has been created by the "digital divide" will be an important step in reversing the decline of
rural communities throughout the North Central Region.


Research is also needed to understand whether rural community leaders are transformational
leaders - leaders who are capable of guiding change rather than reacting to it. It is also important
to identify the ways in which rural leaders influence their followers, and to determine their
attitude toward change in their communities, particularly as it relates to facilitating the
development of human capital. Research is needed to gain a greater understanding of the needs
of under-served populations (e.g. women, Native Americans, and migrant/immigrant workers),
especially regarding the services necessary to enhance their employability. It is important to
identify and understand: (a) the linkages between these groups and rural community education,
social, and financial institutions and (b) the barriers to entry into the workforce, including
community support infrastructures, geographic and cultural isolation, and access to
communication/information networks. A strong consensus (has) formed around the need to
connect rural American to the digital economy, and to raise the skills of workers and teachers to
compete more effectively (Center for the Study of Rural America, 2000, p. 11).

Research is needed to obtain a greater understanding of the existent and potential conflicts
arising from urban sprawl. Information related to urban sprawl issues have implications for land
grant university involvement and intervention, including conflict resolution, natural resource
management, and public land management. Research can also identify new opportunities for
developing and sustaining and rural workforce, given the new population demographics and
psychographics occasioned by urban sprawl. Research is also needed to investigate the utility
and success of different models of community-based planning across the North Central region,
identify advantages and disadvantages embodied within those models, and recommend practices
that apply to issues directly related to human capital development within rural communities and
across rural regions.

Clearly, there are similarities in the challenges faced by the North Central states in which the
proposed participants reside (rural/urban, commodity/production agriculture, etc.) which
provides opportunities for pooling research and developing models that can be extrapolated to
other rural communities. These research findings and the resulting models address the
crosscutting research areas of Agricultural production, processing and distribution, economic
development and policy, and social change and development.

Objectives

Procedures and Activities

Expected Outcomes and Impacts

Projected Participation

View Appendix E: Participation

Educational Plan

Organization/Governance

The recommended Standard Governance for multistate research activities include the election of a Chair, a Chair-elect, and a Secretary. All officers are to be elected for at least two-year terms to provide continuity. Administrative guidance will be provided by an assigned Administrative Advisor and a CSREES Representative.

Literature Cited

Dosch, J. (1989). Study links education and economic development. In M. Miron (Ed.),
Social science research serving rural America. (ESCOP pp., 14-17). Madison, WI: Wisconsin
Agricultural Experiment Station.

Center for the Study of Rural America (2000). Exploring new policies for a new rural
America. Kansas City, MO: Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

Attachments

Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

IA, IL, MI, ND, NE, OH, SD

Non Land Grant Participating States/Institutions