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Grant allows MSU center to support rural progress
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The Southern Rural Development Center recently received a two-year, $430,000 grant to fund a project in support of community and tribal colleges in rural areas.
The grant came from the Ford Foundation in New York City. It is earmarked for "The Rural Community College Initiative: Building New Partnerships in Support of America's Rural Communities," administered by the SRDC.
"The award is designed to position the SRDC to serve as a major catalyst in helping strengthen the community and economic development efforts of rural community and tribal colleges, and expand the delivery of educational resources of these colleges to undeserved rural populations," said Bo Beaulieu, director of the Center, which is housed at Mississippi State University.
The grant is part of the Ford Foundation's continuing commitment to the Rural Community College Initiative.
"An important feature of this new phase of the Rural Community College Initiative is that the Extension Service educators housed in various state land-grant universities will work to broaden the activities of the rural community and tribal colleges in distressed rural communities," Beaulieu said.
"In many rural areas, community and tribal colleges represent key resources that local leaders, citizens and organizations turn to when seeking help on social, educational and economic challenges in their communities," he said.
The Rural Community College Initiative will accelerate the ability of rural community and tribal colleges to meet the ever-expanding needs of communities in the areas they serve. The SRDC will administer this program with the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, located at Iowa State University.
About 10 rural community and tribal colleges nationwide will be recruited to participate in this two-year program with the 24 community and tribal college already taking part.
The SRDC is one of four regional rural development centers established across the country by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It works with the South's 29 land-grant universities to spearhead research and outreach education activities designed to address current and emerging rural development issues in the South.
Contact: Bonnie Teater, (662) 325-3207
