Promotional banner for Western Rural Development Center showing colorful hot air balloons floating over a river with boats and rural landscape on the left side, and the WRDC logo with text 'WESTERN RURAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER' and 'ELEVATING RURAL ECONOMIES SINCE 1972' on a black background on the right side.

At the Western Rural Development Center, we believe in the limitless potential of rural communities to lead and thrive. We’re here for you and your community. We know the unique challenges rural areas face and believe in your ability to overcome them and thrive. Whether you’re a farmer, entrepreneur, or community leader, we partner to turn challenges into opportunities. With Western land grant universities and local organizations, we’re creating real, lasting change to help your community grow stronger, more resilient, and ready for the future. Your success is our mission, and we’re with you every step of the way. Together, we’re cultivating a stronger, more vibrant rural America.

OUR PRIORITIES

little village near a lake. Green moutains stretch far in the background

Advancing the Social and Economic Impact of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing Systems

Snowy mountains from the background are reflected in a very clear lake in the forefront of the image. It is sunny.

Improving the Social and Economic Impact of Natural Resource Sustainability

overhanging view of a fair and tents in the street of a little town. The street is surrounded by trees.

Promoting Community and Family Development and Health

RECENT NEWS & EVENTS

  • Food Recovery for Rhode Island — Cultivating Community-Led Solutions to Food Access and Food Waste
    The second webinar in NERCRD’s 2025 series will be presented by Dr. Amanda Missimer and Vanessa Venturini (University of Rhode Island), who will share about the Food Recovery for Rhode Island program, a Cooperative Extension community development train-the-trainer program that simultaneously addresses food waste, food insecurity, and climate change.
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  • The Climate Adaptation Intern Program: Bolstering Adaptive Capacity in Utah and Training a Climate-Ready Workforce Through Undergraduate Engagement
    Join the National Extension Climate Initiative (NECI) for a Professional Development meeting featuring Scott Hotaling, Assistant Professor in the Department of Watershed Sciences at Utah State University, who will be presenting on the Climate Adaption Intern Program (CAIP). The CAIP is a semester-long, cohort-style Extension program at Utah State University where undergraduates are work with experts to develop resources (e.g., fact sheets) that correspond to climate needs in Utah and the surrounding region. In this talk, Scott will describe CAIP, the outcomes and impacts thus far, and why the team thinks the program is well-poised to be replicated in other universities/states.
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  • Rural Community Action Assembly: Childcare Demands and Workforce Needs
    Join the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia for this online event to hear from experts and practitioners about strategies and best practices for supporting the local workforce through sustainable childcare services. Investing in childcare services creates jobs, allows caregivers to participate in the labor market, and provides opportunities for young families to remain in their rural communities — all of which contribute to a thriving regional economy.
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