Programs

market gathering with a grandstand and a band playing

WRDC is looking at community development through a livability lens by: 

Identifying challenges encountered by rural communities
Engaging with community development specialists to create and test a livability framework
Identifying best practices frameworks for enhancing rural community livability status
Conferring with individuals and officials to inventory resources supporting local community planning efforts
Producing a delivery system for use in educating and training Extension specialists engaged in community development work

Womans hands touching computer mouse and keys of black opened laptop

The internet has become a fundamental utility, essential for daily life and work. Ensuring digital access, adoption and use is vital to rural residents and communities for:

Economic Growth
Education and Learning
Healthcare Improvement
Social Inclusion
Government Services

WRDC plays a unique and significant role through research and Extension activities to bridge the digital divide, allowing the benefits of digitalization to extend to all communities, so no one is left behind, nor left offline, in the growing digital economy.

More Information on Digital Access

Many rural communities suffer from a lack of affordable housing. At WRDC, we understand the unique housing challenges facing rural communities and work with partners to:

Identify the impact of housing on health, productivity, and economic resilience
Explore western housing needs, assets, models, and challenges
Adapt residential design and construction, financing, housing policies, and land-use strategies to local realities

Housing that meets the needs of the people who live and work in our communities is essential to social stability, economic opportunity, and independence.

More Information on Housing

people in wheelchairs going down a path in the park.

While disability can affect anyone, environmental barriers often limit opportunities for individuals and families. Addressing Community Access reflects three western realities:

higher disability rates coupled with limited access to healthcare and services
access and accommodation support productivity and self-reliance for all residents
civic engagement and aging-in-place among supportive friends and family

In addition, communities benefit from the Curb Cut Effect—disability-friendly features or policies that improve safety, convenience, and savings for everyone.

More Information on Community Access

A mountain lake, with mountains in the background and a person hiking along the shore on a path.

State-by-state impacts of outdoor recreation on the communities and economies within the Region
How Extension could benefit each state’s outdoor recreation infrastructure and programs
How Extension’s leaders view Extension’s current role, challenges, and future opportunities in outdoor recreation.

More Information on Outdoor Recreation

Join the Movement: Advancing Efforts together

The WRDC supports research and extension initiatives through knowledge sharing, cooperation, and funding opportunities. 

If you are a researcher or extension specialist in the WEST and would like to join or support our expert pool, please enter your details in this survey to subscribe to our specific listservs. We will help you connect with other specialists in your field! 
At the end of the survey, you will also be able to subscribe to our newsletter.  

If you would like to distribute information related to our specific programs (event, call for proposal, working group…), please reach out to us. You can contact us and we will distribute your email to the adequate listserv(s).  

Please send an email with a clear subject: program topic, title, date and place if related to an event. Please, avoid attached documents. Instead, prefer short texts and refer to a website link for more information. 

If you are interested in applying for our grants, please see the following link: Funding Opportunities – Western Rural Development Center. 