Description :  The goal of the Louisiana Tech Center for Rural Development is the improvement of the economic viability and quality of life in Louisiana’s rural communities. The Center identifies barriers to rural development in communities and works with community leaders, other organizations, and faculty, staff, and students at the University to remove those barriers. Projects include developing and/or providing support for after school and summer youth enrichment programs, particularly those targeting at-risk and low-income children; assisting small communities and small businesses in fostering the development of local entrepreneurs; forming a regional working group to further develop sustainable tourism as a regional economic development strategy for North Central Louisiana; and continuing to provide information, technical assistance, and assistance with identifying and securing funding to Louisiana’s rural communities and community organizations. The Center also issues a newsletter, holds an annual conference on a topic of interest to Louisiana’s rural community leaders, continuously improves and develops its website as a source of information, and holds training in topics such as grant writing in local communities.

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Principal Investigator:  Rea, Kenneth  --  Academic Affairs

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Collaborators:  Elizabeth Higgins

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Funding Agencies:  USDA

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Amount Awarded:  $155,554

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Start Period:  07/01/2003

End Period:  06/30/2005