The first step in advancing an effective rural development program is to carefully assess baseline conditions. In response, the Western Rural Development Center (WRDC) is providing a set of population briefs that provide some of this baseline information.

Each population brief will assess one of the components of rural development that include:

1. Good jobs that provide individuals and families the opportunity to earn and maintain a livable income;

2. A chance to complete an education and have lifelong opportunities to learn and improve one’s circumstances;

3. And the opportunity to live a reasonably long and healthy life.

Communities that effectively meet these conditions are likely to retain existing residents and attract new residents and thus experience population growth. 

To read one of the brief's simply click on 'PDF' next to the brief's title.

For faster download click on the 'Low Res' PDF. For better quality click on 'High Res' PDF.