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2014 Annual Report

RS DCSouthern Rural Development Center

Serving the South for 40 years

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

LETTER FROM THE INTERIM DIRECTOR

40 YEARS OF HISTORY

TURNING THE TIDE ON POVERTY

DISCOVERING IMPACTS FROM TIDE

STRONGER ECONOMIES TOGETHER

NORTHERN NECK, VIRGINIA: EXEMPLIFYING THE BENEFITS OF REGIONAL PLANNING

BAREFIELD HONORED FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

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SOUTHERN RURAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER

STRONGER ECONOMIES TOGETHER

ADDRESSING FOOD CONCERNS ACROSS THE SOUTH

2014 RIDGE COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM

FINANCIAL REPORT SRDC PARTNERS

SRDC MISSION AND PRIORITIES

BOARD OF DIRECTORS TECHNICAL AND OPERATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

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FROM THE

INTERIM DIRECTOR

As the Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC) embarks

on its fortieth year at Mississippi State University, I am

struck by the commitment and thoughtful approach to rural

development that has permeated the Center throughout its

existence. Working with the faculty and staff of land grant

universities, together with other professionals throughout the

region, the SRDC has continued to coordinate research and

Extension initiatives designed to foster civic engagement,

assist rural communities in building strong and sustainable

economies, and enhance distressed communities. The

various programs coordinated by the SRDC have enabled

individuals and communities to develop plans for improvement

and increased economic vitality. During 2014, these programs

include Stronger Economies Together (SET), Turning the Tide

on Poverty, and Ready Community. In addition, this year

the SRDC began collecting data to measure the impacts of

the programs on community development of our partners

throughout the Southern region.

LETTER

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The theme of this year has been “Current Foundations and

New Horizons.” Appropriately, foundations are important

but they serve as a base for something bigger and more

important. Furthermore, without a strong foundation, possible

advances are limited. This last year has seen a renewed

interest in rural development at the federal level and the four

Regional Rural Development Centers are viewed as an efficient

mechanism to reach the national challenge. It is an exciting

time to be involved with rural development and the SRDC is

preparing to be a key player in several initiatives that include

regional and local food systems and building research and

outreach capacity in the South.

The search for a Director continues and this next year will

see the SRDC increase its staff to better serve its partners.

Please review the programs and activities reported here and

contact us with your suggestions. Finally, I would like to

thank all the supporters of the SRDC, the staff, the Board of

Directors and the Technical Oversight Advisory Committee

(TOAC) for their guidance and vision.

Sincerely,

Dr. Steven C. Turner

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1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983

2014

The SRDC officially began operation on February 1, 1974

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Developed the “Rural Development Research & Education” quarterly magazine

Formed a national eExtension Community Leadership Network to help improve Extension programs across the United States

Developed “Computer Selection Use in Local Government” materials for training local officials how to select and use computers in local government

Completed of the centers first comprehensivenational review

Sponsored the “Linking Family andCommunity Strengths” conference fornearly 200 educators

Launched the Food Assistance Research Small Grants Program

Coordinated the Southern States' Strategic Blueprint Roundtables

Established the SERA 37: The New Hispanic South

Initiated the National eCommerce Extension Initiative

40 YEARS OF HISTORY

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1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Formed 11 Rural Development Networks around key USDA priorities

Developed a directory of rural development research and education faculty from across the South

Formed The Southern Region Business Management Network

Established 4 Regional Task Force Initiatives to address critical problem areas affecting development in the South

Developed “The Planning Guide for Infrastructure Development” to help community development practitioners meet challenges of capital improvement planning

Completed the book “Hometown Discovery, A Development Process for Tourism” to help localities pursue tourists

Launched the Food Assistance Research Small Grants Program

Introduced Cashing in on Business Opportunities

Inaugurated the SustainableCommunities InnovationGrants Program

Facilitated the Rural Community College Initiative

Designed Turningthe Tide on Poverty process

Created Stronger Economies Together Process

Pioneered Ready Community Initiative

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TURNING THE TIDE ON POVERTY:EXPLORING NEW WAYS TO MEASURE IMPACTS

Identifying and measuring impacts from civic engagement initiatives can be challenging as the pathways tend to be more organic, grassroots driven with little or no formal administrative structure or oversight. Yet these rich place-

based approaches are taking hold and becoming significant drivers of community change. But how do we gather reliable data and document these stories? Over the past year, the SRDC has worked with a team of talented researchers to test the capabilities of a process known as Ripple Mapping to explore the impacts of Turning the Tide on Poverty, a community circles initiative that has been taking shape across the South for five years. In short, Ripple Mapping calls upon the collective memories of community participants to literally map the steps the community has made through their civic engagement process.

Priority One: Fostering Civic-Minded Communities

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During a two-hour group discussion, participants are asked four main questions in sequential order to guide the mapping process:

• Because of the initiative (in this case, Turning the Tide on Poverty), what steps or actions did the community or individuals undertake?

• Because of these actions, who benefited and how did they benefit?

• Given all of the activity discussed through the first two questions, what big level changes have you seen in the community?

• What items on the map are your community’s biggest successes, things of which you are most proud?

Responses to the first three questions are mapped onto chart paper in concentric circles, or ripples, initiating from the Tide work. Stars mark the answers to the final question.

LEARNING FROM

THE PROCESS:As a tool, the researchers found Ripple Mapping to be an easy process to use even with less formally educated participants. The simple concept of ripples in a pond is a common human experience that people readily understood and could translate to document their impacts. In fact, that may be one of the key values in working with persistent poverty areas which tend to have lower education attainment and thus may find traditional evaluation techniques more intimidating. With the mapping process, though, all participants in each of the six communities mapped contributed in spite of a wide range of academic abilities. Another advantage is the self-regulating nature of the work. Suggestions of what to place on the map were vetted in real time with the whole group. For instance, if someone suggested that a particular action be placed on the map, but others did not see the connection to Tide, the item was either omitted or the initiator had the opportunity to explain the connection. Only items having full consensus of the group were mapped. Finally, an unanticipated benefit was that participants were able to see their own impacts in meaningful ways. Prior to the mapping process, at least one person in every site visited claimed that the community had not done much as a result of Tide. However, after seeing the evidence of their work outlined in front of them, every site expressed amazement at what all had been accomplished.

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DISCOVERING

IMPACTS FROM TIDE:

The mapping process organizes content around the seven community capitals (Flora & Flora, 2008): natural, cultural, human, social, political,

financial, and built. While community work built upon six of the capitals in each of the six communities (natural was built in only three), the majority of activities and impacts supported the development of human, social, or financial capitals. Considerable emphasis was given to building human capital through workforce training, GED programming, formal education partnerships, mentoring, and tutoring across the age span from school age children to adults. Financial capital was built through establishing new market opportunities for farmers and artists, creating scholarship programs for students, and successfully writing grants to fund community projects. In identifying

biggest “wins” in each community, participants consistently noted better connections and collaborations among community members as one of their most significant values attained from Tide. These connections were deemed as keys to both documented accomplishments and future successes.

Flora, Cornelia Butler, and Jan L. Flora. Rural Communities: Legacy and Change. Boulder, CO:

Westview, 2008. Print.

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Patricia DykUniversity of Kentucky

Katrina Easley Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Bobby HallUniversity of Arkansas

Robert HalmanUniversity of Florida Extension Service

The Kettering Foundation

Karen BensonMississippi State University Extension Service

Susan Cosgrove Mississippi State UniversityExtension Service

Laura Downey Mississippi State University

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION TEAM PARTNERS:

Harvin HudsonMississippi State University Extension Service

Juli Hughes Mississippi State UniversityExtension Service

Catherine LoweLouisiana State University

Jan MaplesOklahoma State University

Pamela MonroeLouisiana State University

Callie NelsonAlabama Cooperative Extension System

Natalie PickettLouisiana State University

Ruby RankinMississippi State University Extension Service

Rita TanksleyMississippi State University Extension Service

Vicky TillerLouisiana State University

Crystal Tyler-MackeyVirginia Tech University

Sheri WorthyUniversity of Georgia

“

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“Tide started a transformation. I don’t think it would have been as productive without Tide. Tide gave a different vehicle to connect community and talk things out to come up with a plan.”

- Tide participant

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Launched over four years ago, Stronger Economies Together (SET) has impacted over 50 regions in 28 states with over 2,700 participating voices

contributing to the process. With new opportunities to expand this work appearing on the 2015 horizon, the timing was right to examine past successes and challenges and to use those as building blocks to guide SET’s future. During the summer of 2014, experienced SET coaches visited across state lines with other regions to glean insights into where SET is most successful and how it may be improved to better assist future SET regions and fosterproductive collaborative economic development work. Interviews and focus groups throughout nine regions

STRONGER ECONOMIES TOGETHER:

EVALUATING,

LEARNING, IMPROVING

Priority Two: Building EconomicallyVibrant Communities

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STRONGER ECONOMIES TOGETHER:

EVALUATING,

LEARNING, IMPROVING

resulted in insights from over 100 SET participants that will now guide improvements to the process as we prepare to launch SET Phase V in early 2015. Among these advances are:

•Enhanced data reporting formulated into an easier to digest design

•Consolidated planning process allowing participants to move to implementation more quickly

•Civic engagement tools to help generate both input and buy-in to support regional economic development work

Early benefits: While some of these initiatives have been in place for less than a year, a number of the SET regions

are already beginning to gain traction for their work. At the top of the list of benefits identified through the summer’s evaluation trips is the development of new partnerships crossing county lines that often previously appeared to be insurmountable barriers. As one participant stated, “Regional commonality has been identified that will last for many years.” Another person added, “SET provided the glue for the new region.” Additionally, through the new networks and the regional planning process, SET regions have already garnered almost $7 million in grant funding to support their new efforts.

REGIONAL SET IMPACT INDICATORS

NUMBER OF NEWLY FORMED REGIONAL PLANNING TEAMSNUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGED IN REGIONAL PLANNING TEAMS

DOLLAR VALUE OF GRANTS AND RESOURCES LEVERAGED/GENERATED BY COMMUNITIES

Total States Reporting

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1,543 28

$ 6,914,222.00 16

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The Northern Neck Chesapeake Bay Region Partnership (NNCBRP) launched into the SET process in 2012 realizing that its traditional agricultural, seafood, and

forestry-based economy could no longer support the existing region nor facilitate economic growth. With over 40 local leaders joining hands, the region successfully completed its planning process and launched into implementation. The four-county Northern Neck Chesapeake Bay Region Partnership has been energized by new partners as a result of the SET process. Since the conclusion of SET, the region was awarded a Building Collaborative Communities grant from the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development to assist in creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem and to support regional branding efforts.

NORTHERN NECK, VIRGINIA:EXEMPLIFYING THE BENEFITS

OF REGIONAL PLANNING

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A follow-on grant from the Building Entrepreneurial Economies program of the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development was awarded in March 2014 to plan a nano loan program to provide access to capital for small businesses. This collaborative effort produced the first business incubator in the region, which opened in May 2014.

The Southern Rural Development Center is proud to honor Dr. Alan Barefield as the 2014 recipient of the Bonnie Teater Community Development Educator Lifetime Achievement Award. Barefield, who has 20 years of exemplary rural economic development service, is currently serving as Extension professor at Mississippi State University’s Department of Agricultural Economics.

Dr. Barefield has made significant contributions in the areas of business regional economic analysis, community college development, workforce development, leadership, rural health, and water systems infrastructure, and garnering well over $3 million in support for this work.

For Barefield’s long, distinguished career spent making a difference in the economies of rural communities and in the lives of those he has taught and worked alongside, it is most fitting that he be honored as the 2014 recipient of the SRDC’s Bonnie Teater Community Development Educator Lifetime Achievement Award.

“The SET initiative has been the catalyst for regional thinking and planning. New partnerships are created, plans are in place, strategies are outlined, and people are engaged in implementing the ideas developed during the SET discussions.”

-Northern Neck Regional SET plan participant

BAREFIELD HONORED FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

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Approximately 16 percent of households in the South are food insecure, the highest of all four regions of the United States. A lack of access to

healthy, affordable food particularly affects rural low-income communities for a variety of reasons. Much of what we see in the Southern region is due to low income, no transportation, and an all-around lack of resources to obtain nutritious food. As the map shows, access to supermarkets, where healthy, nutritious foods are often obtained, is limited in the Southern Region. Through both new initiatives and the continuation of past successful work, the SRDC is fully engaged in helping to address these concerns. Continued partnership with the Economic Research Service through the RIDGE Center for Targeted Studies has resulted in four new research efforts and an additional two dissertation studies. This cutting edge research is guiding important work in the South as well as the entire nation. A new partnership with Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS) is designed to build capacity in communities to successfully compete for funding to initiate innovative solutions to local food needs. Led by the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development, the partners designed curriculum to help

Priority Three: Enhancing Distressed Communities

ADDRESSING FOOD

CONCERNS ACROSS THE SOUTH

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train local community level stakeholders on how to write proposals for AMS funding and also how to manage funding if awarded. These important skills have been shown as lacking in many places that most need the assistance. Program delivery is coordinated regionally through each of the Regional Rural Development Centers in partnership with the land-grant institutions in each region. To date trainers have been identified in each of the South’s 13 states with train-the-trainer workshop scheduled for early 2015.

Recognizing that the work surrounding local food concerns is immense and multi-faceted, the SRDC worked with both research and Extension channels to convene a small group of land-grant professionals from across the region as well as cross-disciplines to begin thinking together about appropriate strategies for addressing common issues as a region. This initial meeting, held in December, resulted in plans to engage researchers and Extension professionals from within each of the South’s 29 land grant institutions. Beginning in early 2015, plans are to survey Extension and

Experiment Station Directors and Administrators to identify interested personal from with their respective units. SRDC will then follow up by contacting these individuals to learn more about their work and interests related to foods. Multi-State teams of colleagues will be formed with this guidance to help expand and strengthen capacity in the South.

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2014 RIDGE COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAMThe RIDGE Center for Targeted Studies is pleased to announce that the following four grant proposals were selected by the RIDGE National Research Advisory Committee for funding as part of the Center’s 2014 competitive grants program.

Sarah Shannon, University of Georgia; Jerry Shannon, University of Georgia; Jung Sun Lee, University of Georgia; and Grace Bagwell Adams, University of Georgia The Longitudinal Impact of SNAP Enrollment and Spending on Community Health and Well-being in Rural and Urban Georgia during the Great Recession

Lindsey Turner, Boise State University; Lisa Powell, University of Illinois at Chicago; and Gregory Hancock, University of Maryland Student Participation in the USDA School Meals Program in California: Examination of Rural versus Urban Disparities in Changes over Time

Michele Walsh, University of Arizona; John Daws, University of Arizona; and Kara Haberstock Tanoue, University of Arizona Unpacking “Rurality”: Evaluating the Impact of Rural Community Characteristics and the Built Environment on SNAP Participation

Edward Frongillo, Jr., University of South Carolina; Jennifer Bernal, University of South Carolina; and Elizabeth Adams, Child Development and Rehabilitation Center Public Health and Preventive Medicine Oregon Health & Science University Altered Daily Activities and Shame Resulting from Children Experiencing Food Insecurity in Rural South Carolina and Oregon.

DOCTORAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH GRANTS PROGRAM Two proposals submitted as part of the RIDGE Center for Targeted Studies’ doctoral dissertation research program were recently selected for funding as part of the 2014 competitive grants program:

Chloe N. East, University of California at Davis; Ann Stevens, University of California at DavisThe Effect of SNAP on Children’s Health: Evidence from Immigrants’ Changing Eligibility

Ann Marie Roubal, University of Wisconsin; Ana Martinez-Donate, Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern UniversityThe Food Environment and Health: The Role Fast Food Restaurants Play on Dietary Patterns and a Call for an Improved Food Desert Measure

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EXTRAMURAL FUNDING$357, 612.00

BASE FUNDING$218,995.00

-Curriculum Development & Training

-Networking Meetings

-Funding Support

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5

10

15

20

25

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SET ReadyCommunity RIDGE 2014 Tide/ Horizons Nat' l ProgramLeaders (2014)

Number of States Participating: 2011-2014

South Other

BUILDING CAPACITY IN THE SOUTH

2014FUNDING SOURCES

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SRDC MISSION

SRDC PRIORITIES

The Southern Rural Development Center seeks to strengthen the capacity of the region’s 29 land-grant institutions to address critical contemporary rural development issues impacting the well-being of people and communities in the rural South.

FOSTERING CIVIC-MINDED COMMUNITIES

Southerners want to have a meaningful voice in shaping the direction of their communities, but many have a tough time finding the right avenue for weighing in on important local matters. In response, the SRDC builds a stronger knowledge base and designs innovative programs that seek to strengthen the civic health of communities across the region.

BUILDING ECONOMICALLY VIBRANT COMMUNITIES

Global forces have brought major economic changes to the rural South. As a result, the traditional drivers of many rural economies are in flux. To survive, rural economies must be diversified. The SRDC helps with long term sustainability by finding the right mix of strategies to build on the important strengths and assets of rural communities.

EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISTRESSED AND LOW-WEALTH COMMUNITIES

The rural South faces a variety of economic and social challenges including high poverty rates, obesity, and low educational attainment. Moreover, the South continues to experience a variety of natural disasters. The SRDC works to create a better tomorrow for these vulnerable communities and people.

SRDC STAFF

STEVE TURNERInterim Director

RACHEL WELBORNProgram Manager

CHANCE MCDAVID Senior Extension Associate

MATT CAPELLAContracts & Grants Specialist

JULIE CAPIZZIWebmaster & Graphic Designer

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TECHNICAL & OPERATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS NTAM BAHARANYTuskegee University | 1890 Extension

GARY JACKSONMississippi State University | 1862 Extension

NICK PLACEUniversity of Florida | 1862 Extension

JOE STREET, ALTERNATEMississippi State University | 1862 Extension

JOE ZUBLENANorth Carolina State University | 1862 Extension

ADELL BROWN, JRSouthern University | 1890 Research

MARK COCHRANUniversity of Arkansas | 1862 Research

GEORGE HOPPERMississippi State University | 1862 Research

ROGERS LEONARD Louisiana State University | 1862 Research

REUBEN MOORE, ALTERNATEMississippi State University | 1862 Research

ALICE DIEBEL, CHAIR The Kettering Foundation | Non Land-Grant

SHELDON JONESFarm Foundation, NFP | Non Land-Grant

STUART ROSENFELD Regional Technology Strategies, Inc | Non Land-Grant

BRENT ELRODUSDA-NIFA | Liaison

JOHN PENDER USDA-ERS | Liaison

REBEKKA DUDENSING, CHAIR-ELECTTexas A&M University | 1862 Extension

STACEY MCCULLOUGHUniversity of Arkansas | 1862 Extension

KENYETTA NELSON-SMITHSouthern University | 1890 Extension

ANTHONY REED Alcorn State University | 1890 Extension

MARTHA A. WALKER, CHAIRVirginia Cooperative Extension | 1862 Extension

MICHELLE ELEYNorth Carolina A&T State University | 1890 Research

TASHA HARGROVE Tuskeege University | 1890 Research

GLENN ISRAEL University of Florida | 1862 Research

MICHAEL D. SCHULMANNorth Carolina State University | 1862 Research

FISSEHA TEGEGNE Tennessee State University | 1890 Research MICHELLE R. WOROSZAuburn University | 1862 Research

ANIL RUPASINGHAFederal Reserve Bank | Non Land-Grant

ARTHUR SCOTTNational Association of Counties | Non Land-Grant

GENE THEODORI Sam Houston State University | Non Land-Grant

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SRDC PARTNERSAgricultural Marketing Services

Appalachian Regional Commission

Association of Extension Administrators

Association of Research Directors

Association of Southern Region Extension Directors

Community Development Society

Delta Council

Delta Health Alliance

Delta Regional Authority

Economic Development Administration

Economic Research Service, USDA

Everyday Democracy

Farm Services Agency, USDA

Farm Foundation

Federal Emergency Management Agency/Department of Homeland Security

Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development

New Partners for Smart Growth

Federal Reserve Bank, Atlanta

Purdue Center for Regional Development

Rural Development, USDA

Rural Sociological Society

Southern Association of AgriculturalExperiment Station Directors

Southern Rural Sociological Association

Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services

Agency

Walton Family Foundation

Western Center for Rural Development

Foundation for the Mid-South

Kettering Foundation

MDC, Incorporated

Military Family Research Institute,Purdue University

Mississippi Broadband ConnectCoalition

Mississippi Development Authority

Mississippi Office of the Governor

National Association of CommunityDevelopment Extension Professionals

National eXtension InitiativeLeadership Team

National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA

North Central Regional Center for Rural Development

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Southern Rural Development Center

srdc.msstate.edu/

The Southern Program Leadership Network

srpln.msstate.edu/

RIDGE Center for Targeted Studies @ the SRDC

srdc.msstate.edu/ridge/

Southern Rural Development Center Newsletters

srdc.msstate.edu/newsletters/ats/

Stronger Economies Together (SET)

srdc.msstate.edu/set/

National e-Commerce Extension Initiative

srdc.msstate.edu/ecommerce/

Turning the Tide on Poverty

srdc.msstate.edu/tide/

The Southern Rural Development Center is one of four regional centers coordinating rural development research and Extension education programs cooperatively with land-grant institutions regionally and nationally. The Centers are supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations

expressed in this publication are those of the Center and its authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Southern Rural

Development Center

Box 9755 | Lloyd-Ricks-Watson

Mississippi State, MS 39762

Phone: (662) 325-3207 | Fax: (662) 325-8777

http://srdc.msstate.edu

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