Rural Connections is published twice a year by the WRDC.
Submit information for inclusion in a future issue. We welcome contributions from our stakeholders.
Read the current issue (Nov. 2009).
April 2009 (8MB)
Creating Sustainable Communities in a Changing America
A National Collection of Extension Programs Presented at NACDEP 2009
In this issue of Rural Connections we are honored to share with you articles
written by 17 of the more than 90 presenters at the 2009 San Diego NACDEP
Conference. The articles showcase the innovative programs being researched
and implemented throughout the U.S. to benefit our nation's communities.
Read more...
November 2008
Western Researchers Explore Possibilities for Renewable Energy
Could the West lead the nation?
In this issue of Rural Connections we highlight efforts by researchers
in the West who are working to develop and improve the efficiency of
a variety of renewable energy sources.
Read more...
Interested in learning more about global activity in green energy?
Check out EcoSeed - The Green Portal
April 2008
Feature Topic: Wildfires
"In the last few years, wildfires in the western U.S. have caused hundreds
of millions of dollars in damage to homes, private property, and a loss of
habitat as well as grazing land for ranchers living adjacent to public lands
caused by wildfires."
Read more...
November 2007
Feature Topic: Rural Entrepreneurship
"The future of the rural West and its quality of life may well depend on how
communities and entrepreneurs go about building community and economy for the future."
Read more...
April 2007
Feature Topic: Arts-Based Community Development and Sustainable Community Development
"Researchers on Western communities are finding that amenities, natural resources,
vistas, and cultural uniqueness are attracting new residents and visitors to these often
remote rural places."
Read more...
September 2006
Feature Topic: High-Amenity Public Lands
"As the 21st Century unfolds before us we are faced with the issue of
what the economic structure of rural places in the West will be and
what role public lands may hold in that new economy."
Read more...
May 2006
Feature Topic: Poverty in the Western U.S.
"The changing rural environment is impacting not only who lives
in rural areas but how well they are able to live in these communities."
Read more...
January 2006
Introductory Issue!
"Rural Development in the West has a long and varied history.
Natural resource extraction, industrial recruitment, and at times business
retention and expansion have been the key tactics used by communities
and states to enhance rural economies. Recently momentum has been
growing in the area of entrepreneurism as a core economic strategy."
Read more...