Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Discussions centered on the current status of the project renewal and accomplishments from the fourth year of the NE-1029 project. The proposed project renewal would have two objectives: LOCAL/REGIONAL FOODS Objective: To better understand the emerging opportunities and threats to the economic structure of non-metropolitan communities arising from the potential shifts in local and regional food systems. COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND NATURAL/HUMAN-MADE DISASTERS Objective: To identify and analyze policies and strategies contributing to the viability and resiliency of communities in responding to economic and policy changes and to shocks, natural and human-made. It was noted that successful research has been on-going in each objective and the NE-1029 project has been very productive. Peter Stenberg would continue in following up on the new project proposal. The incoming Project officers will be Todd Gabe (ME), Chair, and Brian Whitacre (OK), Secretary. The next meeting will take place in Arlington, Virginia, if the new project is accepted.

The last year was productive for the NE1029 research group as more than 100 papers were reported. Among these were 34 publications in peer reviewed journals and 10 book chapters. Participants also reported 20 manuscripts presented at professional meetings and/or published in conference proceedings, and 37 technical reports and staff papers published. Objective 1: Identify and analyze ongoing and potential changes in rural labor markets and the impacts of migration, commuting, and workforce development policies on rural labor markets. Researchers in Colorado and Idaho analyzed how different economic development strategies involving food (local foods, value added agriculture, new distribution models) or natural resources (agritourism, ecosystem services) may be influencing communities. Outputs included a series of models and results based on secondary data, survey data and/or IMPLAN models customized to regions of Colorado. The research has been disseminated in academic meetings, to community stakeholders (producer groups, public health groups, ag advisory councils) and in targeted workshops of producers and food system stakeholders. Researchers in Missouri and Iowa studied the impact of Wal-Mart on rural wages. Prior research suggests that Wal-Mart decreases the average retail wage. This is possible if it has market power, employs more part-time workers, employs workers with lower skills, or employs a different mix of skills, such as fewer managers per worker, or offers lower wages but higher benefits relative to other retailers. Their hypothesis is that in rural areas Wal-Mart is a large demander relative to the labor supply and may increase the average retail wage. Using a weighted regression they found that Wal-Mart increases rural retail wages. In Maine, researchers developed (and have been improving) a new demand threshold method to examine the retail and service sectors of communities located in Maine. The method was initially applied to the Town of Orono, and a project report was released in April of 2011. Researchers are currently using the demand threshold method to study the retail and service sectors of other Maine communities. They also conducted Retail Trade Area Analyses for rural Maine communities to assist economic development professionals and local officials in their economic development efforts. Research on the retail and service sectors of Maine communities has been used by economic development professionals to identify gaps in the local economy, which might be candidates for new business attraction and local entrepreneurial activity. The Economic Research Service focused significant research effort on digital economic policy and on-farm renewable energy use. The digital economic policy research analyzed the economic relationship between the Internet and rural economies. The on-going study examined the economics of communication and information service delivery and on-line economic activities (such as e-commerce) with respect to farm and rural businesses examining various farm business characteristics and the likelihood of Internet use in management. A briefing room on rural digital economy is available at: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/telecom/. The research has been used by Congress, the Federal Communications Commission, USDA-Rural Utility Services, and other federal policy making entities. On-farm renewable energy use is an on-going study of farm-level interrelationships with the renewable fuels sector. The study showed that farm operators not only grew biomass crops but invested in renewable energy production for on-farm use as well as selling to the electrical grid. Bio-digesters, wind energy, and solar energy though rapidly increasing, still were only minor factors in farm operations. Researchers in New Hampshire addressed new ways for enhanced economic development in rural areas. One avenue was the creation of a supply demand model for New Hampshire's potential for cellulose to ethanol production plant using local biomass. Dissemination activities focused on annual presentations at a number of professional societies spanning different disciplines. A paper was presetned at a workshop hosted by the USDA's Economic Research Service. That activity led to correspondence with a potential joint effort with the FCC. Besides these outlets, the survey methods and techniques were shared with over 400 students at the University of New Hampshire in resource economics and applied statistics courses. North Carolina researchers evaluated the impact of USDAs low-cost broadband loan programs on the U.S. agricultural sector. The broadband loan programs increase access to high-speed internet in recipient communities, which can raise farm sales by increasing both farm output and prices received by producers. Further, high-speed internet may drive down costs by providing information on cheaper inputs and better management practices, leading to an overall improvement in farm profits. Using data from the 1997, 2002, and 2007 U.S. Census of Agriculture, they employed an inverse probability reweighting technique in a panel fixed effects model to show that the two USDA broadband loan programs have had positive causal impacts on farm sales, expenditure, and profits. The positive effects for crops are larger than those for livestock and animal products. Ohio researchers have been assessing how the Great Recession and associated housing bust altered migration behavior and land use activities in a sustained era of high fuel costs. In addition their research shows how declining, economically struggling communities can make a comeback and how emerging shale natural gas mining will affect the Ohio economy. The latter research suggests much more modest effects on job creation than industry reports suggest and points out communities need to more coherently plan for the boom-bust cycle. The findings of the policy brief were disseminated via press releases, web-based publications, radio interviews, and by public presentations. The targeted audience for these policy briefs and related presentations include informed decision makers, economic development officials, and elected/appointed government officials, and interested members of the public. To leverage greater public appeal, researchers have formed partnerships with organizations such as The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and Greater Ohio. In Oregon,researchers attempted to find a link between a major change in federal forest policy and the prosperity of rural communities whose economic base has historically been tied to the wood products industry. They sought to distinguish the potentially positive effect on nearby community population and wealth as forestland was reserved under the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) from the potentially negative economic effect as reduced federal timber harvests increased pressures on mill closures in rural communities. They found that communities close to the reserved land under the NWFP experienced higher growth in population. They also found that while negatively affecting wealth creation in rural Oregon communities during the 1990s, mill closures did not lead to population declines directly. Indeed, during the early 2000s mill closures may have been associated with population increases, other things being equal. They hypothesized a link between the NWFP and mill closures as a possible causal path through which these negative effects would be transmitted. Although it is plausible that the NWFP accelerated mill closures, they are not able to conclude that the NWFP was responsible for reduced growth in wealth during the late 20th century. A firm conclusion about the impact of the NWFP on rural community population and wealth in Oregon awaits future research that can establish this link. At the same time, they do find in their results support for the conclusion that proximity to protected forestland may induce amenity migration, that mill closures may no longer significantly reduce rural community populations, and that some federal investments in rural areas can spur population growth. The economic interdependence of Portland and its rural hinterlands were also studied. Project investigators found that critical interdependencies are realized through exchange of goods and services (both material and environmental), people, and taxes and public expenditures. Urban areas, with their higher incomes, are able to provide a more-than-proportional share of Oregons specialized services such as health care and financial and business services, as well as public funding for schools, infrastructure, and other programs. Rural areas, with more natural resources, provide a more-than-proportional share of energy and environmental goods and services. There is a great deal of trade in goods and services between the rural and urban areas, both within industry clusters and between industries and consumers of goods and services. The interdependence between core and periphery is not as strong as one might think; a global economy and lower transportation costs have made distance less important to trade than it once was. However, for some critical goods and services, interdependence is very real. In addition to the media impacts, hundreds of civically engaged citizens and policymakers learned about rural and urban linkages and their importance directly from the investigators at Oregon conferences at the Oregon Civic Engagement Conference (November 2011, Salem); the University of Oregon PPPM Spring Symposium (April 2011, Portland); the SEDCOR Economic Business Forum (December 2011, Salem); and the TOCOWA/ ODCCWD New Oregon Trails Forum (November 2011, Roseburg) and the Regards to Rural 2011 Conference (June, Corvallis). Hundreds more citizens and policymakers learned about the impact of the Northwest Forest Plan of Oregons rural communities at the national Wealth Creation in Rural America conference in October in Washington DC. A study by Pennsylvania State and Cornell researchers on the socioeconomic impacts of Marcellus Shale natural gas development in Pennsylvania and New York uncovered mixed reactions of local residents to the profound changes that are occurring. Early results of on-going studies indicated that the growth in jobs and economic opportunities is viewed positively, while impacts on daily life (e.g., heavy traffic, longer commutes, housing shortages and increased costs, displacement of families from rental properties) increase stress and lower quality of life for some families. Concerns about contamination of drinking water and methane gas migration in water are common. Impacts are not experienced equally by all families. A study of variation in mortality across US counties confirmed the lower mortality rates in more rural counties, and explained some of this advantage through higher levels of social capital in rural areas, other things equal. This e research was featured in the New York Times and other newspapers. The studies in this subject area that are supported under this project show a critical need for local leaders to think 30-40 years ahead and to make necessary investments today if their local communities are to avoid suffering through boom-and-bust cycles. In Tennessee regression and spatial clustering techniques were used to isolate which location determinants were important with respect to attracting ethanol plant investments in the lower 48 United States, 2000-2007. This period marked an era of rapid industry expansion and competition for prime sites that provided access advantage to feedstock and co-product markets. The importance of ethanol plant location determinants varied, depending on how remote a location was, and whether an ethanol plant was established, or announced. While some rural counties exhibited comparative advantage with respect to attracting ethanol plants, it appears that many rural communities were less likely to attract ethanol plant investments. During this period, the primary drivers behind the decision to locate an ethanol plant in a given county were access to feedstock and the absence of operating ethanol plants. Access to co-product markets and transport infrastructure was also important. These findings are a first-step towards understanding the interaction between ethanol plant location and the local factors providing comparative advantage to counties considering ethanol plant recruitment as a development strategy. While the results appear encouraging for some rural areas, a rural countys access to or availability of important location determinants should be put in perspective before limited funds are invested to attract ethanol plant investment. Objective 2: Investigate the potential for rural development policies based on entrepreneurship, industrial clustering, value-added and nontraditional agricultural businesses and analyze the spatial implications of industrial restructuring on employment and earnings. Researchers in Maine examined the economic impact of Maines food industry. An article published in 2011 documented the economic activity associated with Maines food producers and processors, and the food retail/restaurant sector. Research conducted at the University of Maine has also examined issues related to human capital and workforce skills, with an analysis of the differences in skills and earnings across the U.S. rural-urban hierarchy. Results from this study were shared with colleagues at an international professional conference, and they have been cited in the media. The study on the economic impact of Maines food industry has informed policymakers, food industry officials and other stakeholders about the importance of food growers, processors and retailers to the Maine economy. Research on workforce skills and earnings provided the foundation for a Bangor Daily News editorial in April of 2012, and a blog entry at www.theatlanticcities.com. Missouri researchers have been exploring various industry strategies, such as renewable energy, as means of supporting rural economic development. They have compared strategies in the US with those of various European countries. Ohio researchers have discovered more practical policy solutions to problems facing Ohio and American communities. Their work is assessing how state and local government development economic development policy and whether these policies are effective in creating jobs, reducing poverty, and in increasing incomes for middle class families. Likewise, their activities are assessing how the Great Recession and associated housing bust altered migration behavior and land use activities in a sustained era of high fuel costs. On-line economic endeavors have been the focus of some of Oklahoma States research. Several activities and events were held this year that directly related to the research. First, over 220 participants received hands-on training on various e-commerce topics during 20 different workshops that were held across the state. These workshops focused on how various Internet tools can improve small businesses and promote entrepreneurial activities (thus focusing on disseminating knowledge related to industry and quality of life). Second, a micro business conference was held in Payne County, Oklahoma to attract small and home-based businesses and provide them with information regarding available resources and current hot topics. Pennsylvania research on the impacts of small, locally-owned firms as well as entrepreneurs and self-employed workers revealed statistically and economically significant effects on local economic growth, poverty reduction and growth in wage-and-salary employment. Findings also indicate that investments in broadband and technology education in schools have tangible pay-offs in terms of subsequent employment growth. Results of this study were widely reported in newspapers and on influential blogs (Daily Yonder, Center for Rural Affairs, Home Town Advantage), and copies of the study were requested from representatives of rural and urban communities, including the Office of the Manhattan Borough President in New York City.A study of employment circumstances of rural men found significant erosion in terms of underemployment and other dimensions, reducing historical advantages vis-à-vis rural women. Other published research documented the greater risks of underemployment among immigrants and racial and ethnic minorities in the US. Objective 3: Investigate the changing organizational structure, tax policy and fiscal standing of local governments and the impact of tax and/or expenditure limitations on local government fiscal stress and economic growth in rural areas. In Michigan, researchers focused on public finance policy and economic development. The research examined the political economy of state subsidies in the emerging ethanol industry, the use of the tax increment finance development tool, the impacts of property taxation on property value growth, the role of governance in limiting natural disaster impacts, among other research projects. The procedures used to evaluate specific research questions depend on the nature of the question at hand. They rely on local/regional, state, and international economic and government data or survey data to examine specific issues. Variation over time and across units of observation can provide an excellent evaluative environment. Generally, the goal of the program is to generate quality analyses that will help government decision makers better understand how to respond in the midst of evolving conditions. This past year they enhanced the Michigan local government database management system so that local authorities could pulled data from the database into Excel file, which generated a series of fiscal measures (Citizens Guide) in accordance with Governor Snyders requirement for greater transparency in government finance (a new requirement to receive revenue sharing). The portal and the Citizens Guide can be accessed at http://f65.mitreasury.msu.edu/. The research in the policy arena appears to be making its way into decision processes in Michigan. Missouri researchers explored local government strategies to increase economic growth and to optimize their tax structures. A brief synthesized research on the effectiveness of economic development incentives included research by Maine and provided some best practices recommendations. The brief was published just as national attention was focused on the failure of a solar firm that received a federal subsidy and a firm in Missouri that received a subsidy and failed. The brief was the subject of six media interviews, two of which were picked up by over 150 media outlets each. A second brief synthesized research on tax policy. Wisconsin and Missouri collaborated on a project investigating tax and expenditure limitations at the state and local levels and their impacts on economic growth, credit ratings and state debt. One argument for imposing limitations is that lack of fiscal constraint on the part of elected officials and results in bloated government which hampers economic growth. This argument is testable. The results to date suggest that state limits have little impact on economic growth. This research was cited in a report by the Turkish Ministry of Finance, A New Tendency in Management of Fiscal Policies: Rules and Limitations on Taxes, Expenditures, Debt, etc. (translation). One difficulty for doing the research is that no two limits are alike and they change overtime. An index of these limitations was developed for each state from 1969 to 1990. Current research uses this index to investigate both growth and credit ratings. A past collaboration of Missouri and Wisconsin provided a set of papers on the impact of retirees on rural areas, which continues to generate interest. The Daily Yonder interviewed Missouri and the article they published was picked up by over 300 media outlets, many of them small rural newspapers. Missouri researchers provided fiscal information about and to local governments. Using data on Missouris third class counties (88 of 114 counties) from 1996 to 2009, they developed an interactive spreadsheet and manual. The spreadsheet and manual are on the University of Missouri Extension website and two presentations were made based on the data. Research in Ohio has developed new theoretical and empirical methodologies for evaluating how local government policies affect economic outcomes. One novel approach used has been the application of survey data of county officials in understanding the effects of county policies on poverty and growth. Another novel approach is the incorporation of fine migration data in understanding growth in Appalachia. This research illustrates that tax incentives and other traditional economic development efforts are typically ineffective and describes more effective place-based strategies. Other research focused on estimating models of residential land use change using micro-level data on residential subdivision development. Findings from econometric models of the quantity and intensity of development reveal the unintended consequences of land development policies that delay larger development projects closer to urban areas and hasten lower density development in more rural areas. Other methodological advances have focused on developing spatial simulation models of urbanization that incorporate microeconomic behavior into spatial modeling and using this model to generate predictions of how land use policy changes influence patterns of land use change. The associated OSU policy briefs have facilitated the non-technical dissemination of the knowledge creation for policymakers and decision makers. From these efforts, there are emerging signs of changes in actions that would help represent transformative change. The knowledge creation has been used to support policy changes that would support efforts to promote rural/urban regionalization including better land use planning, linking rural and urban economies for their mutual benefit, and findings ways to generate efficiencies for local government service provision. Likewise, policy briefs on shale energy raises the specter that communities have to engage in long-term planning. Past policy briefs allowed researchers to work with the State of Ohios commission on Reforming Local Government and Improving Local Government Collaboration. The knowledge creation continues to support the growing realization that Ohios manufacturing economy of the middle 20th Century will not return and the state needs to seek new opportunities for the 21st Century. Oklahoma researchers examined the relationship between broadband and tax collections. Their research makes the case that increases in broadband adoption rates are not resulting in lower local tax collections from retail sales. As many states across the country struggle with how to handle sales to online retailers like Amazon, this study demonstrates that simple increases in broadband adoption are not to blame for revenue loss. Oregon researchers examined the termination of County Forest Payments and Oregon County Services. Because of the decline in federal timber harvests under the Northwest Forest Plan, the forest related revenues that historically were shared with county governments declined dramatically. This put these governments at risk and led to a series of federal laws that provided federal payments to these counties, culminating in the Secure Rural Schools Act in 2000. The SRS payments are ending this year. In its 2009 report on the implications of scheduled termination of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, the Governors Task Force on Federal Forest Payments and County Services estimated that, without the SRS payments, one quarter of Oregons counties (9 counties) would face losses of more than 25% of discretionary General Fund revenues, and almost one-third of counties (11 counties) would lose more than half of their Road Fund revenues. In 2011, 11 Oregon reporters for both print media (including Oregonian, Eugene Register Guard, Oregon Business magazine) and radio (including Jefferson Public Radio and KSJJ) interviewed project investigators for stories on the termination of the SRS funding and the future of rural communities. Objective 4: Develop a better understanding of the role of amenities in rural development and the impact of economic and social changes on the quality of life in rural communities. Supporting entrepreneurs and revitalizing amenities are two strategies that some rural communities in Arkansas are using to try to rebuild their economies and reverse the population out-migration. Arkansas researchers supported these strategies by identifying constraints and developing resource materials and training programs targeted to Latino entrepreneurs and Agritourism providers. Alleviating these barriers will help communities more fully capitalize on the human capital that exists in these migrant groups. The research also elucidated the importance of rural medical centers as an important amenity for economic development and its contribution to local economies. Arkansas research conducted during the year also portrayed the importance of agriculture and a recreation/retirement community for maintaining the viability of rural communities. The past several years have seen a marked increase in the importance of farmers markets as places for consumers to purchase locally-grown food products and as a venue for farmers to sell fruits, vegetables, meat, and poultry. This growth in the number of farmers markets no doubt reflects increased attentiveness by consumers to the various environmental, economic and food quality issues. To gain insight into what are the more important drivers of consumer and producer participation in these markets, North Carolina State researchers conducted surveys at eight farmers markets in central North Carolina. Their survey of vendors indicated that the farmers who sell their fruits and vegetables at farmers markets are mainly small-scale producers farming less than five acres; that they employ few workers in the sales portion of their operations; and that for the most part they appear to specialize in supplying local customers  in particular, customers at local farmers markets. The consumer survey revealed that shoppers at farmers markets have a strong commitment to eating local foods. Shoppers indicated that food attributes that they value most highly in making their purchasing decisions include food quality (freshness, nutrition level and flavor) and also an explicit desire to support local farmers and to consume locally produced foods. They shop at farmers markets despite the fact that, for the most part, they perceive farmers market prices to be higher generally than at retail food stores. They interpret this to mean that consumers at farmers markets are willing to pay a premium for the foods that they acquire at those venues in exchange for what they perceive to be higher quality of locally grown food products. Finally, a survey of fruit and vegetable prices at farmers markets and nearby supermarkets supported consumers impression that farmers market prices are generally above those at retail food stores, but that counter-examples exist as well due, at least in part, to seasonal supply considerations. These findings imply that in populous areas like the Research Triangle, the growing importance of farmers markets is a demand-led phenomenon, one that is in many respects reminiscent of trends in food demand underpinning the dramatic increase in popularity of high-end food retailers like WholeFoods. However, the dominant role of specialized, small producers in meeting consumer demands for local foods appears to represent a significant factor limiting future increases in the share of total food consumption met by local production  and, by extension, the ultimate economic impact on the local economy. They have begun to share these findings with extension audiences around the state. Research by Oklahoma researchers examined telemedicine and rural communities. Their research helps individuals involved in rural health aware of the potential monetary benefits of investing in telemedicine, which may lead to a change in action among rural hospitals in the future. Other research tested whether or not several programs put in place at an osteopathic school to encourage rural practice by graduates were effective. The findings suggest that at least two specific programs (one occurring in year 1 and one in year 4 of study) were influential in promoting a rural practice by graduating doctors. These findings will likely result in a change in action since osteopathic schools across the country now have empirical evidence of what programs work for this purpose. Other research products included two fact sheets on Electronic Health Records (EHRs), which will quickly become mandatory for many rural hospitals and other health care providers. These fact sheets provided an opportunity for collaboration between the entity authorized to help with adoption of EHRs (Oklahomas Regional Extension Center) and researchers from Oklahoma State interested in the technology adoption and rural health. Adoption of EHRs across Oklahoma has been impressive, demonstrating a change in action from this dissemination. Additional research by Oklahoma researchers has led to number of extension activities. Over 220 participants received hands-on training on various e-commerce topics during 20 different workshops that were held across Oklahoma. These workshops focused on how various Internet tools can improve small businesses and promote entrepreneurial activities (thus focusing on disseminating knowledge related to industry and quality of life). A micro business conference was held in Payne County, Oklahoma to attract small and home-based businesses and provide them with information regarding available resources and current hot topics. Ohio researchers worked with the Ohio Environmental Council to estimate Ohioans willingness-to-pay for an improvement in the water quality of Ohios lakes and reservoirs. The findings will be used by the Ohio Environmental Council to promote funding of infrastructure investments needed to achieve these water quality improvements. Ohio research also has shown practical ways to generate long-term economic growth at the local and regional scale through improved land use planning and long term government policymaking that focuses on building a sustained future of efficient government, building high human capital, enhancing the local network of entrepreneurship, and providing a high quality of life, that among other things, protect the environment and natural resources. Pennsylvania researchers have been studying rural youth and minority issues. Preliminary research from the Rural Youth Education Project funded by USDA-NRI and the Center for Rural Pennsylvania was presented at the 2011 PA Downtown Center annual conference. The results reveal that 9th grade rural PA students' satisfaction with their home community, and characteristics important to them in their "ideal" community at age thirty, influence where they want to live as an adult: in the current community, elsewhere or don't know. Youth who placed greater importance on good opportunities, services and interaction and creative class attributes in their "ideal age thirty community" were less likely to want to stay in rural PA. Those placing high importance on a clean and accessible natural environment were more likely to want to live in rural PA as adults. These effects are statistically significant after controlling for basic demographic characteristics and whether the youth agree they will need to move away to get the job or education that they want. The research on rural minorities is important given the shifts underway within the farm labor force, as well as changes in federal immigration policy, and the growing reliance on immigrant workers. The youth surveys of future residential preferences provide important insights into continued rural population loss and what, if anything, state and federal policy can do about these losses. Creative regions have been the subject of study by Tennessee and ERS researchers. Rural counties with both higher proportions of creative capital and richer entrepreneurial contexts (as measured by either the rate of self-employment or the number establishments per job) typically enjoy faster business establishment and job growth, and the beneficial effects of this synergy tends to increase with the prevalence of local outdoor amenities. While limited in scope in terms of the time period analyzed, the secondary data analysis of industry clustering shows some potential for certain economic sectors of the region. The growth potential stemming from the clusters appear to be associated with high-tech sectors or they are involved in the production of intermediate goods. Though this may be encouraging for counties with established economic bases suitable for attracting and retaining businesses which make up these sectors, caution should be used by local leaders in terms of picking winner industries in the hopes of becoming competitive with neighboring counties who have been successful in attracting businesses. As with any clustered developed strategy, careful measurement of the local assets communities have in place must be put in perspective in terms of social and human capital, geography, and even local history. Without precedence for attracting certain industries, the odds of doing so in the future may be lower without the necessary infrastructure, talent, or connections to other economic centers of influence. The Tennessee and ERS findings also suggest that growth in total county income in the United States was lower in counties that had the following: larger per capita income in 1990, a higher population density in 1990, a higher proportion of older individuals, and a higher proportion of population under 20 years of age. Counties with a heavy dependence on agriculture grew more slowly in general. Counties that grew at a faster rate had a high proportion with a college degree, close to a metropolitan area, a high proportion of commuters, and relatively more sunshine in January. It might be reasonable to expect that adding, expanding, and improving existing recreational amenities in rural counties can generate increases in aggregate income through a combination of attracting employment or population. In rural areas, there is a negative relationship between property taxes and aggregate income growth. To reduce the negative effect of high local property taxes, county government officials might explore alternative revenue sources (e.g., shifting property tax base, using other taxes, cost-sharing arrangement with state and federal governments) that do not deter in-migration or outside investment.

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Abel, Jaison R. and Todd M. Gabe. 2011. Human Capital and Economic Activity in Urban America. Regional Studies, Vol. 45, No. 8. Ali, Kamar, M. Rose Olfert, and Mark D. Partridge. (2011) Urban Footprints in Rural Canada: Employment Spillovers by City Size. Regional Studies. 45: 239-260. DOI: 10.1080/00343400903241477). Brady, Michael and Elena G. Irwin (2011). Accounting for spatial effects in economic models of land use: Recent developments and challenges ahead. Environmental and Resource Economics. 48(3): 487-509. Brasier, K. J., M. R. Filteau, D. K. McLaughlin, J. Jacquet, R. C. Stedman, T. W. Kelsey, and S. J. Goetz. 2011. Residents' Perceptions of Community and Environmental Impacts from Development of Natural Gas in the Marcellus Shale: A Comparison of Pennsylvania and New York Case Studies. Journal of Rural Social Sciences 26(1):32-61. Brooks, Lara, and Brian Whitacre (senior authorship shared). 2011. Critical Access Hospitals and Retail Activity: An Empirical Analysis in Oklahoma. The Journal of Rural Health 27(1): 29-38. Castle, Emery N., JunJie Wu and Bruce A. Weber. 2011. Place Orientation and Rural-urban Interdependence, Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 33(2): 179-204 doi:10.1093/aepp/ppr009 Chen, Y, E Irwin, C Jayaprakash (2011). "Incorporating spatial complexity into economic models of land markets and land use change." Agricultural and Resource Economics Review 40(3). Chen, Yong and Bruce Weber. 2011. Federal Policy, Rural Community Growth, and Wealth Creation: The Impact of the Federal Forest Policy and Rural Development Spending in the Pacific Northwest American Journal of Agricultural Economics. 94(2):542-548. First published online November 15, doi:10.1093/ajae/aar065. Dorfman, Jeffrey, Mark D. Partridge, and Hamilton Galloway. (2011) Are High-tech Employment and Natural Amenities Linked: Answers from a Smoothed Bayesian Spatial Model. Spatial Economic Analysis. (6): 397-422. Fallah, Belal, Mark D. Partridge, and M. Rose. Olfert. (2011) New Economic Geography and the Wage Distribution of U.S. Metropolitan Wage Inequality. Journal of Economic Geography. (11): 865-895. doi:10.1093/jeg/lbq016. Fleming, D. and S. J. Goetz. 2011. Does Local Firm Ownership Matter? Economic Development Quarterly 25(3)August:277-81. Gabe, Todd, James McConnon and Richard Kersbergen. 2011. Economic Contribution of Maines Food Industry, Maine Policy Review, Vol. 20, No. 1. Gabe, Todd M. and Jaison R. Abel. 2011. Agglomeration of Knowledge. Urban Studies, Vol. 48, No. 7. Goetz, Stephan, Mark D. Partridge, Dan S. Rickman, and Shibalee Mujumdar. 2011. Sharing the Gains of Local Economic Growth: Race to the Top vs. Race to the Bottom Economic Development. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy 29(3):428-456. McGranahan D.A., T.R. Wojan, and D.M. Lambert. 2011. The Rural Growth Trifecta: Outdoor Amenities, Creative Class and Entrepreneurial Context. Journal of Economic Geography, 11(3): 529 - 557. Merriman, David, Skidmore, Mark, and Kashian, Russ. 2010. Do Wisconsin Tax Increment Finance Districts Stimulate Growth in Real Estate Values? Real Estate Economics, Vol. 39, No. 2. Monchuk, D., D. Hayes, J. Miranowski, and D.M. Lambert. 2011. Inference Based on Alternative Bootstrapping Methods in Spatial Models with an Application to County Income Growth in the United States. Journal of Regional Science, 51(5): 880 - 896. Olfert, M. Rose and Mark D. Partridge. (2011) Creating the Cultural Community: Ethnic Diversity vs. Agglomeration. Spatial Economic Analysis. 6: 25-55. DOI: 10.1080/17421772.2010.540032. Partridge, Mark D. and M. Rose Olfert. (2011) The Winners' Choice: Sustainable Economic Strategies for Successful 21st Century Regions. Applied Economic Policy Perspectives. (33): 143-178. doi:10.1093/aepp/ppr006. [Featured Article that Issue]. Pickett STA, Cadenasso ML, Grove JM, Boone CG, Irwin EG, Kaushal SS, Marshall V, McGrath BP, Nilon CH, Pouyat RV, Szlavecz K, Troy A, Warren P (2011). Urban ecological systems: Scientific foundations and a decade of progress. Journal of Environmental Management 92: 331-362. Reed, Robert, Rogers, Cynthia, and Skidmore, Mark. 2011. On Estimating Marginal Tax Rates and Tax Progressivities for the U.S. States. National Tax Journal, Vol. 64, No. 1. Skidmore, Mark, and Scorsone, Eric. 2011. Causes and Consequences of Fiscal Stress in Michigan Municipalities, request of revision, Regional Science and Urban Economics, Vol. 41 No. 4. Skidmore, Mark, and Tosun, Mehmet. 2011. Property Value Assessment Growth Limits, Differential Tax Base Erosion and In-migration. Public Finance Review, Vol. 39, No. 2 2011. Stallmann, Judith I. and Steven Deller. 2011. State Tax and Expenditure Limitations and Economic Performance. Public Budgeting and Finance. 31(4):109-135. Stenberg, Peter, and Robert Dinterman. 2011. "The Digital Economy in the Western United States", Rural Connections, Vol.6, Issue 1, pp. 43-48. Stenberg, Peter. 2011. "American Policy and the Evolving Broadband Internet Network", Choices, Vol.25, No.4. Stephens, Heather and Mark D. Partridge. (2011) Do small businesses matter for economic growth in Appalachia? Growth and Change. (42): 431-465. Stewart, L., and D.M. Lambert. 2011. Spatial Heterogeneity of Factors Determining Ethanol Production Site Selection in the U.S., 2000-2007. Biomass and Bioenergy, 35(3): 1273  1285. Whitacre, Brian. 2011. Estimating the Economic Impact of Telemedicine in a Rural Community. Agricultural and Resource Economics Review 40(2): 172-183. Whitacre, Brian. 2011. Do Higher Broadband Adoption Rates Mean Lower Tax Collections from Local Retail Sales? Implications of E-commerce in Rural Areas of the U.S. Regional Science Policy and Practice 3(2):71-85. Whitacre, Brian, Jeff Hackler, Vicky Pace, Matt Janey, Chad Landgraf, and William Pettit. 2011. An Evaluation of Osteopathic School Programs Designed to Promote Rural Location by Graduates. International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine 14: 17-23. Xu, W., and D.M. Lambert. 2011. Business Establishment Growth in the Appalachian Region, 2000-2007: An Application of Smooth Transition Spatial Process Models. Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 43(3): 309 - 324. Book Chapters Gabe, Todd M. 2011. The Value of Creativity, in a David Andersson, Ake Andersson and Charlotta Mellander (eds), Handbook of Creative Cities. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar. Hibbard, Michael, Ethan Seltzer and Bruce Weber, editors. 2011. Toward One Oregon: Rural-Urban Interdependence. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press. Hibbard, Michael, Ethan Seltzer and Bruce Weber. 2011. Toward One Oregon: A Declaration of Interdependence Chapter 1 in Hibbard, Michael, Ethan Seltzer and Bruce Weber, editors. Toward One Oregon: Rural-Urban Interdependence. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press. Holland, David, Paul Lewin, Bruce Sorte, and Bruce Weber. 2011. How Economically Interdependent is the Portland Metro Core with its Rural Periphery? A Comparison across Two Decades. Chapter 5 in in Hibbard, Michael, Ethan Seltzer and Bruce Weber, editors. Toward One Oregon: Rural-Urban Interdependence. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press. Martin, Sheila, and Bruce Weber. 2011. A Tale of Two Oregons: Common Aspirations, Different Contexts and Critical Interdependencies in Urban and Rural Oregon, Chapter 2 in Hibbard, Michael, Ethan Seltzer and Bruce Weber, editors. Toward One Oregon: Rural-Urban Interdependence. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press. Nabhan, G., L. Lopez-Hoffman, C. Presnall, R. Knight, J. Goldstein, H. Gosnell, L. Gwen, D. Thilmany and S. Charnley 2011. Payments for Ecosystem Services: Keeping Working Landscapes Productive and Functioning. Chapter in Saving the Wide Open Spaces. Seltzer, Ethan, Michael Hibbard and Bruce Weber. 2011.Reframing our Common Cause in an Interdependent World. Chapter 9 in Hibbard, Michael, Ethan Seltzer and Bruce Weber, editors. Toward One Oregon: Rural-Urban Interdependence. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press. Stenberg, Peter, Morehart, M., "Toward Understanding U.S. Rural-Urban Differences in Broadband Internet Adoption and Use", in Yogesh K. Dwivedi (Eds.), Adoption, Usage, and Global Impact of Broadband Technologies: Diffusion, Practice and Policy, IGI Global, 2011. Stenberg, Peter, Morehart, M. "Exploration in the Existence of Pent-up Demand for Rural Broadband Services", in Irene Bernhard (Eds.), Innovation and Multidimensional Entrepreneurship - Economic, Social and Academic Aspects, University West, 2011. Selected Conference Presentations and Proceedings Abreo, Christina, W. P. Miller, S. McCullough, F. L Farmer, and Z. K. Moon. 2011. If I Just Had a Piece of Paper: One Land Grant Universitys Response to Latino Immigrant Entrepreneurs Presented at the Arkansas Galaxy Conference, March 16-18, 2011, UA Winrock Institute, Petit Jean Mountain, Arkansas. Altman, Ira J., Jason S. Bergtold, Dwight R. Sanders, Thomas G. Johnson. 2011. "Producer Willingness to Supply Biomass: the Effects of Price and Producer Characteristics," Paper presented at the Southern Agricultural Economics Association, February. Amiel, Lindsay, Steven Deller, Judith Stallmann and Craig Maher. 2011. Does the Restrictiveness of State Tax and Expenditure Limitations Affect State Revenues and Expenditures? Miami, Florida: North American Regional Science and Regional Science Association of the Americas, Nov 10-12. Presented by Amiel. Chen, Yong and Bruce Weber. 2011. What affects rural wealth creation? An empirical analysis of changes in population and wealth in Oregons timber-dependent communities. Southern Regional Science Association annual meeting, New Orleans LA, March. C hen, Yong and Bruce Weber. 2011. Federal Policy, Rural Community Growth, and Wealth Creation: The Impact of the Federal Forest Policy and Rural Development Spending in the Pacific Northwest Agricultural and Applied Economics Association annual meeting, Pittsburgh PA, July. Deller, Steven, and Judith Stallmann, Craig Maher and Lindsay Amiel. 2011. Tax and Expenditure Limitations and Local Government Structure.´ Miami, Florida: North American Regional Science and Regional Science Association of the Americas, Nov 10-12. Figueroa, Maria A. and Thomas G. Johnson. 2011. "Women Entrepreneurship in Rural America: Necessity and Opportunity from a USDA ERS-Isserman Rural Typology Comparison," Paper presented at the Social Entrepreneurship and Commercialization of Innovative Ideas Conference, Fairfax, Virginia, May 6. Johnson, Thomas G. 2011. "Comprehensive Wealth Accounting: Bridging Place-Based and People-Based Measures of Wealth," North American meetings of the Regional Science Association International, Miami, FL. November 11. Johnson, Thomas G. 2011. "Rural Regional Innovation and Place-Based Policy," National Academy of Sciences, Geographical Science Committee Annual meeting, Washington, DC, February 10. Moon, Z. K., F. L. Farmer, C. Abreo, W. P. Miller, S. McCullough. 2011. Community Involvement of Urban and Rural Latin American Migrant Entrepreneurs. Presented at 74th Annual Meeting of the Rural Sociological Society, July 2831, Boise, Idaho. Moon, Z. K., C. Abreo, F. L. Farmer, W. P. Miller, S. McCullough. 2011. Barriers to Migrant Latino Entrepreneurship. Presented at Cambio de Colores 10th Annual Conference, June 810, Kansas City, Missouri. Rainey, Daniel, Stacey McCullough, Jefferson Miller, and Biswa Das. "Agritourism Development in Arkansas: Economics & Associated Constraints" 2011 Arkansas Agritourism Symposium. August 18-19. Little Rock AR. Smith, Jessica E., Georgeanne M. Artz and Judith I. Stallmann. 2011. Impact of Wal-Mart on Rural Retail Wages. Revisions of the paper presented at: Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Missouri, February 11. Truman School of Public Affairs, University of Missouri, March 9. Smith, Matthew M., Morris, Douglas E., Halstead, John H., Smith, Sarah S. 2011. The Feasibility of Celluloseto-Ethanol Production in New Hampshire Using Forest and Agricultural Biomass,Agricultural andApplied Economics Association, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July. Stallmann, Judith I and James Rossi. 2011. Trends in Missouri 3rd Class County Budgets: Implications for Rural Residents. Invited. Breimyer Seminar, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Missouri-Columbia. May 16. Stallmann, Judith I. 2011. Third Class County Budget Trends: 1996-2009. Missouri Extension Councils, University of Missouri Extension. June 24. Stenberg, Peter. 2011. "Spatial Diffusion of Broadband Technologies", Presented at the 58th Annual North American Meetings of the RSAI, November 9-12, Miami, FL. Stenberg, Peter. 2011. "Investment in Rural Broadband Technologies", paper presented at the 51st European Regional Science Assoc. meetings, Aug. Stenberg, Peter, Beckman, J., Borchers, A. 2011. "Spatially Dispersed Entrepreneurs in Renewable Energy Generation", Uddevalla Symposium, June. Stenberg, Peter. 2011. "The Bio-energy Activities of Spatially Dispersed Economic Actors", presentation at NE-1029 Sessions during SRSA meetings, New Orleans, LA, April. Technical Reports and Staff Papers Abreo, C., W. P. Miller, S. McCullough, F. L Farmer, and Z. K. Moon. 2011. Latino Immigrants Guide to Starting a Business in Arkansas: A Handbook for Entrepreneurs. Cooperative Extension Service. University of Arkansas---Division of Agriculture, MP497. Abreo, C., W. P. Miller, S. McCullough, F. L Farmer, and Z. K. Moon. 2011. Guía para inmigrantes Latinoamericanos para empezar un negocio en Arkansas: Un manualpara los empresarios. Cooperative Extension Service. University of Arkansas---Division of Agriculture, MP497SP. Abreo, C., W. P. Miller, S. McCullough, F. L Farmer, and Z. K. Moon. 2011. Business Owners Records Portfolio . Cooperative Extension Service. University of Arkansas---Division of Agriculture, MP498. Abreo, C. A., Z. K. Moon, F. L Farmer, W. P. Miller, S. McCullough. 2011. Survey Overview: Entrepreneurial Development Targeting Rural Hispanic Immigrants. Edited by Judith Killen. Cooperative Extension Service. University of Arkansas---Division of Agriculture, MP495. Colton, Ben, Tom Harris, and Brian Whitacre. 2011. High-speed Telecommunications: Infrastructure Growth and Market Penetration throughout Nevada and the Nation. University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet 10-08, February. Dabson, Brian, Thomas G. Johnson and Chuck Fluharty. 2011. Rethinking Federal Investments in Rural Transportation: Rural Considerations Regarding Reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Act. Rural Policy Research Institute, University of Missouri. http://ruralfutureslab.org/docs/RUPRI_Transportation_Policy_Brief_072911.pdf Davis, Donna S., Frank L Farmer, Wayne P. Miller, Zola K. Moon (Team). 2011. Rural Profile of Arkansas 2011. Social and Economic Trends Affecting Rural Arkansas. (Laura Goforth editor). University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, MP474. Deng, J., J. Anderson, A. Collins, T. Harris, R. Jackson, F. LaFone, S. Lamont, J. Strager, M. Strager, W. Veselka, N. Zegre, F. Boettner, E. Hansen, A. Hereford, S. Zegre, R. Martin, N. Askins, C. Abdalla, and S. J. Goetz, et al. 2011. An Assessment of Natural Assets in the Appalachian Region: Water. Appalachian Regional Commission. Washington, DC. Gabe, Todd. 2011. Regional Economic Contribution of the New England Electric Railway Historical Society and Seashore Trolley Museum, Report prepared through the University of Maine, Knowledge Transfer Alliance (KTA) for the New England Electric Railway Historical Society and Seashore Trolley Museum, July. Gabe, Todd. 2011. Statewide Economic Contribution of the University of Maine, School of Economics, University of Maine, Staff Paper 593, June. Gabe, Todd and Bernardita Silva. 2011. Retail and Service Sector Analysis of Orono, Maine, Report prepared through the University of Maine, Knowledge Transfer Alliance (KTA) for the Town of Orono. April. Gabe, Todd and Greg White. 2011. Economic Contribution of Maine Stores Supported by Associated Grocers of Maine, report prepared for Associated Grocers of Maine, March. Gabe, Todd. 2011. Regional Economic Impact of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Report prepared through the University of Maine, Knowledge Transfer Alliance (KTA) for Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. March. Johnson, Thomas G., Shriniwas Gautam, Bhawani Mishra and Timothy L. Haithcoat. 2011. The Benefits of Expanded broadband for Missouri Farms and Agribusinesses. Community Policy Analysis Center, University of Missouri. http://cpac.missouri.edu/library/publications/broadband%20white%20paper.pdf. Kashian, Russ, and Skidmore, Mark, 2011. A Hazard Analysis of Tax Increment Finance District Lifespans. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Report. McConnon, James C., Thomas G. Allen, and Todd Gabe. 2011. Trade Area Analysis of Retail Sales for Howland, Maine. School of Economics Staff Paper 592, University of Maine. McConnon, James C., Thomas G. Allen, and Todd Gabe. Trade Area Analysis of Retail Sales for Milo, Maine. School of Economics Staff Paper 591, University of Maine. McGraw, K., J. Popp, and W. Miller. 2011. Economic Contribution of Arkansas Agriculture Pocket Guide. UA Division of Agriculture, Little Rock. McGraw, K., J. Popp, and W. Miller. 2011. Economic Contribution of Agriculture to the Arkansas Economy in 2009 Cooperative Extension Service - UA Division of Agriculture, Little Rock. Fact Sheet FSA44-PD-9-11N. Miller, Wayne P. 2011. Economic Contribution of Baptist Medical Center  Arkadelphia 2011. Cooperative Extension Service. University of ArkansasDivision of Agriculture, Little Rock. Miller, Wayne P. 2011. Economic Contribution of Baptist Medical Center  Heber Springs 2011. Cooperative Extension Service. University of ArkansasDivision of Agriculture, Little Rock. Miller, Wayne P. 2011. Economic Contribution of Baptist Medical Center  Stuttgart 2011. Cooperative Extension Service. University of ArkansasDivision of Agriculture, Little Rock. Miller, Wayne P. 2011. Economic & Fiscal Contribution of Hot Springs Village Arkansas 2010. Cooperative Extension Service. University of ArkansasDivision of Agriculture, Little Rock. Skidmore, Mark, and Sands, Gary. 2011. Analysis of Detroit Revenue Options. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Report (completed for the Detroit City Council). Stallmann, Judith and Thomas G. Johnson. 2011. Thinking of Taxes as a Portfolio. Report 14-2011. Institute of Public Policy, Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs, University of Missouri. http://ipp.missouri.edu/files/ipp/attachments/14-2011_tax_policy_stallmann_johnson.pdf Stallmann, Judith and Thomas G. Johnson. 2011. Economic Development Incentive Programs: Some Best Practices. Report 13-2011. Institute of Public Policy, Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs, University of Missouri. http://ipp.missouri.edu/files/ipp/attachments/13-2011_economic_development_incentive_programs_0.pdf Stallmann, Judith I. 2011. James Rossi, Matthew Pezold and Eunice Patron. Missouri's Third Class County Budget Trend Analysis. (Spreadsheet). University of Missouri Extension. DM4011, new June. http://extension.missouri.edu/p/DM4011 Stallmann, Judith I. and James Rossi. 2011. Missouri's Third Class County Budget Trend Analysis:Workbook Users Manual. University of Missouri Extension. DM4010, June. http://extension.missouri.edu/p/DM4010. Stallmann, Judith I. 2001. Ballard Local Government Series Editor. Cronan, Patrick. Rules for Missouri Fire Protection Districts (2nd ed.). Ballard Local Government Series # 2. University of Missouri Extension # DM4003. June. http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=dm4000. Thilmany, D. and L. Hoffman. 2011. Northern Colorado Food Assessment: Final Report. March. Available online at: http://www.larimer.org/foodassessment/report.cfm Watson, P., and D. Thilmany. 2011. Water Use Efficiency in Golf: An Economic Analysis of Colorado Golf Courses. Golf Course Management. June. 88-98 Weber, Bruce, Paul Lewin and Bruce Sorte. 2011. Economic Impacts on Oregon of the Termination of Secure Rural Schools Payments to Counties: 2011 Update. Rural Studies Program Working Paper RSP #11-01. November. Weinstein, Amanda and Mark D. Partridge. 2011. The Economic Value of Shale Natural Gas in Ohio. Swank Program in Rural-Urban Policy Summary Report, December. Available at: www.aede.osu.edu/programs/Swank. Weinstein, Amanda and Mark D. Partridge. 2011. How Can Struggling Communities Make a Comeback? Swank Program in Rural-Urban Policy Summary Report, June. Available at: www.aede.osu.edu/programs/Swank. Whitacre, Brian, and Lara Brooks. 2011. Does More Broadband Mean Less Local Sales Tax Collections? Oklahoma State University Extension Fact Sheet AGEC-1028. September. Whitacre, Brian, Lara Brooks, Jonathan Kolarik, and Corie Kaiser. 2011. Electronic Health Records Incentive Program: The Payment Clock is Ticking! For Eligible Professionals. Oklahoma State University Extension Current Report CR-1023. January. Whitacre, Brian, Lara Brooks, Jonathan Kolarik, and Corie Kaiser. 2011. Electronic Health Records Incentive Program: The Payment Clock is Ticking! For Hospitals. Oklahoma State University Extension Current Report CR-1024. January.