NERCRD research featured in The Conversation article on US trade deficit

In this piece written for The Conversation, Rochester Institute of Technology’s Amitrajeet A. Batabyal draws on a recent paper led by NERCRD’s Luyi Han to make the case for boosting innovation in rural manufacturing to help address the U.S. trade deficit.

Registration now open for 2019 Sustainable Tourism & Outdoor Recreation Conference

March 1, 2019

The National Extension Tourism Design Team is hosting its biennial conference in Astoria, OR, October 8-11 and registration is now open. The team is working out its final agenda details and will be updating the conference website regularly.

2018 Annual Report now available

February 8, 2019

In 2018, the Northeast Center continued its work of growing strong, collaborative networks across the land-grant system, across federal agencies, and across the nation. Together with our collaborators, we worked on a number of research and outreach projects that reached thousands of people. Read all about it in our 2018 Annual Report!

University of New Hampshire’s La Valley and Donovan join Northeast Center advisory groups

February 7, 2019

The Northeast Center’s Board of Directors and Technical Advisory Committee recently filled their remaining vacancies with the addition of two new members from the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension: Ken La Valley and Molly Donovan.

Reaching new audiences: Northeast Center research featured at National Governors’ Association meeting

February 6, 2019

Under the 2018-2019 National Governors’ Association (NGA) Chair’s Initiative, “Good Jobs for All Americans,” the NGA is sponsoring three regional workshops in different locations across the U.S., with a culminating conference in Montana at the 2019 NGA Summer Meeting. The first regional event was held in Pittsburgh, where NERCRD Director Stephan Goetz provided context for a discussion around empowering the rural workforce.

New research documents economic resilience across Appalachia

February 6, 2019

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) recently released “Strengthening Economic Resilience in Appalachia,” a new study identifying factors common across communities experiencing persistent economic growth in the aftermath of the 2008 Recession and other economic disruptions. Together with West Virginia University, the NERCRD played an instrumental role in developing this report. The research includes a statistical analysis of key factors common to economic resilience. A companion Guidebook for Practitioners offers additional insight that can inform economic development strategies across Appalachia.

Extension Opioid Crisis Response Workgroup releases report

February 6, 2019

In many states, universities within the land-grant system are responding to the opioid crisis. However, the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) felt that a coordinated land-grant effort could provide a more comprehensive and effective strategy for addressing the ongoing crisis, and created the Extension Opioid Crisis Response Workgroup (EOCRW) to develop a strategic framework to guide Extension activities related to addressing the crisis nationwide. The EOCRW has issued a final report that summarizes their process and activities, findings, and recommendations.

USDA launches high-speed broadband e-connectivity resource guide

February 6, 2019

Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett recently announced the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched a new toolkit to help support the deployment of high-speed broadband e-Connectivity in rural communities. The e-Connectivity Toolkit features 27 USDA programs that support broadband deployment. The guide allows customers to identify their type of e-Connectivity project and locate resources that the federal government offers for planning, equipment, construction, research, and other e-Connectivity projects.

Report: Pennsylvania population trends mirror employment changes since 2000

February 5, 2019

Changes in the distribution of Pennsylvania’s population — largely toward the state’s southeastern quadrant — reflect challenges that policymakers need to address to promote and maintain statewide prosperity, suggests a new report compiled by economists in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

New webinar series explores community-based stakeholder engagement in natural resources

February 4, 2019

The multi-disciplinary Water for Agriculture project is hosting a webinar on February 19 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time on the Voluntary Stewardship Program. The webinar will offer an on-the-ground example of diverse interests engaging in a collaborative process to address issues around preserving agriculture while protecting natural resources like water and fish. It is the first in a series intended to encourage sharing of scholarship and practitioners’ experience with community-based stakeholder engagement in natural resources.

APLU launches “Rural Engagement for Resilient Communities” learning exchange forum

February 2, 2019

The APLU invites you to join a group of university leaders making a difference in rural communities. This Learning Exchange Forum will be a series of monthly phone calls for members to exchange best practices, engage philanthropic, private sector, and government funders, and more. Co-chaired by Sheila Martin, APLU, and Michael Gaffney, Washington State University, the group will hold a monthly discussion every third Tuesday at 12:00 noon Eastern time, beginning February 19, 2019.