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RURAL DEVELOPMENT RECONSIDERED: A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE SOUTH 



o The rural development process can and must be environmentally sustainable and 

 help to renew rather than deplete the natural resources of rural communities to be 

 effective in improving the quality of life for rural families. 



o The federal government cannot do this alone. Within rural America, partnerships 

 must be created with religious, philanthropic and corporate interests to support 

 rural development. Private nonprofit rural community development, education, 

 environmental, finance, housing and other organizations will need to be activated 

 and involved to accomplish the task. This Third Sector" must be included as 

 partners with government and business to rebuild and revitalize rural communities. 

 In the past, the resources and capacity of this sector to deliver programs to rural 

 communities have been seriously underutilized. 



o Ultimately, it is rural people committed to improving the jobs and quality of life in 

 their communities who will make the difference for rural America. Strategies for 

 rebuilding rural America must be built with citizens' involvement at every level and 

 driven by rural community leaders with the skills and resources to create jobs and 

 develop their communities. 



o Rural America has vast regional differences in geography, resources and culture. 

 A national rural development program must be sensitive to and allow for regional 

 differences in its implementation and impact. 



o A National Policy Agenda for Rebuilding Rural America must involve major public 

 and private investment. In distressed rural areas, investment in capacity building, 

 economic development and private industry job creation strategies must provide 

 the stimulus necessary for recovery and revitalization. 



This public investment is needed to "level the playing field" in ways that will give 

 rural citizens the skills, funds, and security to participate in long-term rural 

 revitalization. This also means that farm policies and programs must encourage, 

 and not discourage, the profitability of medium and small family-owned farms. 



o Major public investment in distressed rural areas should be incorporated into the 

 Admini st ratio ns's short-term economic stimulus program. Federal deficit reduction, 

 while critical to the nation as a whole, should not be done at the expense of the 

 poorest of the poor in rural or urban areas. Only by providing a national plan for 

 rural America, and the floor of support to allow rural communities to help 

 themselves, can rural America be rebuilt and revitalized effectively for tomorrow 

 and for the next generation. 



Among the practices we feel the federal government should employ in implementing the 

 National Rural Policy Agenda are: 



Build from the bottom up. In general, solutions must be devised and tailored 



