The Western Rural Development Center’s Response to Emerging

Issues in the West

Presented by

John C. Allen, Director and Professor

Western Rural Development Center

Utah State University

Logan, UT

2006 ESS/AES/ARD Workshop

Sept. 24-27, 2006

Lake Tahoe, NV

The Western Region

Operating Philosophy

Catalyst by bringing resources and people together to jump-

start innovative concepts. Convener by bringing eclectic groups of people together to learn

about issues, learn about one another’s values and goals, and think creatively about how to shape the kind of West that we can all call home.

Conduit by enhancing the capacity of rural communities to

improve quality of life, sustain local cultures, develop desirable assets, seize emerging opportunities, and solve problems.

WRDC Responding to Changes in the Food System

1)Entrepreneurial Sustainable Agriculture: Alternatives for Processing, Packaging, Labeling, and Marketing in Retail/Internet markets

2)Entrepreneurship Listening Sessions

3)E-Commerce training

4)eXtension: Entrepreneurship

5)Southwest Marketing Network

6)Multi-State Coordinating Committee WERA 1005, Western Rural Development

Entrepreneurial Sustainable Agriculture: Alternatives for Processing, Labeling, and

Marketing in Retail/Internet Markets

Partners: Southwest Marketing Network Food Innovation Center, Oregon State Univ. Morgan Valley Lamb, farmers Center for Rural Affairs Barbara Rasco, Washington State Univ. Western Rural Development Center

Listening Sessions:The National Coalition for Rural Entrepreneurship

The WRDC coordinated ten one-day Entrepreneurial Listening Sessions throughout the West.~Billings, Montana~Coachella, California~Fresno, California~Price, Utah~Winslow, Arizona

~Bismarck, North Dakota~Espanola, New Mexico~Hilo, Hawaii~Twin Falls, Idaho

****What we heard from the listening session participants:

~Develop educational programs for K-12 ~Promote business mentoring and financial literacy.

~Provide long term, consistent funding that has flexibility to meet local needs.

~Elect political leaders who support rural entrepreneurism.

~Promote business mentoring and financial literacy.

~ High speed Internet communication must be brought to rural areas, even if subsidized.

~Access to a diversity of capital for new entrepreneurs and expanding businesses.

E-Commerce Training

eXtension

Regional teams of experts were formed These teams will work to develop educational

products to assist with the increase in and success rates of rural entrepreneurs

Focus Areas: Individual Entrepreneurship Community Role in Entrepreneurship

Southwest Marketing Network

1) Grassroots organizations linking education to tribal, Latino, and family farms

2) Focus on marketing

Multi-State Coordinating Committee, WERA 1005

Participants:~Oregon ~Nevada

~Utah ~Iowa

~Pennsylvania ~Missouri

~Washington State ~Colorado

~First year focus: Enterprise Development~

Summary

1)Developing a collective research base across the region

2)Partnering with farmers, ranchers, NGOs, educators, and researchers

3)Providing education—using technology and mentoring structures

Contact Information

John C. Allen, Ph.D.Director, Western Rural Development CenterProfessor, Dept. of Sociology, Social Work

and Anthropology

Utah State University8335 Old Main Hill

Logan, UT 84322-8335(435) 797-9732

(435) 797-9733 (fax)johna@ext.usu.edu

http://extension.usu.edu/wrdc