Research & Innovation
Past Initiatives
Many of the Rural Center’s research initiatives lead to significant public policy measures. Twice, for example, Rural Center studies of water and sewer infrastructure resulted new funding programs – Clean Water Bonds Act of 1998 and the Clean Water Partners Infrastructure Program in 2007. The Small Towns Initiative resulted in a 17-point policy agenda. Other large-scale initiatives have focused on workforce preparation and entrepreneurship.
Permanent programs also grow out of these initiatives. Our own Rural Economic Development Institute, for example, began as a demonstration program, and our Communities of Faith Initiative led to creation of the independent nonprofit, Faith Partnership Inc.
Among other past initiatives:
Community Education for Enterprise Development (CEED)