Article on New Hampshire’s “quiet” innovation highlights NERCRD research

In this opinion piece written for the New Hampshire Business Review, Dr. Charlie French (University of New Hampshire Extension) cites NERCRD research on “latent” or hidden innovation, and provides several examples of “quiet innovation” from rural New Hampshire communities that are leading to gains in employment, income, and quality of life. Dr. French leads UNH Extension’s Community and Economic Development team.

Welcoming Dr. Daniel Centuriao to NERCRD!

June 3, 2026

The NERCRD team is pleased to welcome Dr. Daniel Centuriao, who joined the Center as a postdoctoral scholar after receiving his doctoral degree in economics from West Virginia University in May. Daniel Daniel will contribute his expertise to several NERCRD research efforts, including agricultural policy, local conditions and farm survival, determinants of local development, innovation and resilience, and the connections among agricultural production, nutrition, and population health.

Northeast Housing Summit Call for Presentation Proposals

June 2, 2026

The NERCRD and Land-Grant partners are pleased to announce a call for proposals for presentations on the topic of housing for inclusion in the upcoming Northeast Region Housing Summit, which will take place virtually on September 15 or 22, 2026, from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM ET. Proposals are due July 6th.

Upcoming Event

June 23rd summit to focus on data center development and digital infrastructure

June 1, 2026

NERCRD’s Stephen Alessi collaborated with colleagues at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and the Center for Rural Pennsylvania on an upcoming Rural Economic Development Summit focused on data center development and digital infrastructure. The June 23rd event will take place in Harrisburg, PA, but a remote option will be available.

Finding new ways to measure the local sustainability of rural tourism

May 27, 2026

Tourism affects local populations differently in counties across the U.S., but measuring these effects may now be easier thanks to a new tool developed as part of a study by researchers at Penn State/NERCRD and West Virginia University Extension. For the study, published in the journal Tourism Economics, the researchers developed a sustainability index to assess how tourism affects counties according to a number of factors that measure the areas’ economic, social and environmental well-being. They found that counties relying heavily on tourism varied widely in their ability to keep it from overwhelming local resources, with no destination performing well on every dimension.

Yuan (Timothy) Zhuang awarded NARSC Graduate Fellowship in Regional Science

May 11, 2026

Congratulations to Yuan (Timothy) Zhuang, Ph.D. student in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education at Penn State and NERCRD graduate researcher, who has been selected as the winner of the North American Regional Science Council (NARSC) 26th Annual Benjamin H. Stevens Graduate Fellowship in Regional Science!

Hunger affected mental health more than income, job loss amid COVID-19 pandemic

April 14, 2026

Not having enough food may have had a greater negative effect on mental health in the United States than unemployment or loss of income during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published in Plos ONE. The study was led by Linlin Fan, associate professor of agricultural economics at Penn State, and NERCRD Director Stephan Goetz. Yuxuan Pan, a former NERCRD postdoctoral scholar and now at the University of Kentucky, also contributed to the study.

Planning for Community Food Access

March 30, 2026

In this Penn State Extension article, authors Claudia Schmidt, Harry Crissy, and John Turack explore food deserts, food swamps, data gaps, and innovative mapping solutions to strengthen food access across Pennsylvania’s urban and rural communities.

NERCRD 2025 Annual Report

February 24, 2026

We invite you to explore our recent work, which leverages and transforms our federal investment into impactful research, synergistic partnerships, and greater capacity in the region and beyond.

Webinar Recording: Data Centers — Assisting Communities in Understanding the Challenges and Opportunities

February 24, 2026

This webinar recording is geared toward Extension professionals in the region who are interested in assisting their communities in understanding the challenges and opportunities that data centers present.

Northeast Region Kinship Care Extension Meeting

February 5, 2026

NERCRD is convening Extension educators, specialists, and professionals for a regional online meeting focused on grandparents raising grandchildren. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET.