WRDC Extension Program Manager, Amber Smyer, participated in the Growing East Helena: Your Thoughts, Your Community event, a community review process conducted March 9-11, 2026, in partnership with the Western Community Assessment Network (WeCAN), the Montana Economic Developers Association, and the Montana Business Assistance Connection.
Since relocating to the University of Idaho Water Center, the Western Rural Development Center (WRDC) has expanded its work across the region through presentations, partnerships, and community-based initiatives.
With data-driven insights, innovative programs, and real-world impact stories, the Western Rural Development Center’s 2025 Annual Report offers a comprehensive look at how WRDC leverages partnerships, research, and Extension to support resilient and thriving rural communities across the western United States.
Join us to talk about how we understand and demonstrate the impact of investing in outdoor recreation.
Join us to unpack what’s changing and what it could mean for rural people and places. This panel will be held as part of the Annual Meeting of the Interdisciplinary Network on Rural Population Health and Aging (INRPHA)
Join us for the next monthly Peer Learning Network meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, at 11 am Mountain/10 am Pacific to talk about how rural communities can use outdoor recreation to boost tourism.
The Interdisciplinary Network on Rural Population Health and Aging (INRPHA), with support from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), is seeking pilot research proposals that advance understanding of rural health and aging trends and disparities.
Deadline: April 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM CT
Start Date: As early as July 1, 2026
WRDC is excited to announce that the Western Region Household Baseline Survey 2024 dataset is now available for public use!
WRDC Graduate Assistance Grantee Richard Acquah-Sarpong presented new research at the 72nd NARSC Annual Meeting that takes a deeper look at how wildfire exposure influences firm migration across the Western United States. By combining business-level data with a wildfire exposure index that captures smoke exposure and population-weighted burned area, the study offers an early view into how environmental hazards can reshape local economic landscapes. This work is positioned to inform future planning efforts and support stronger economic resilience in rural communities.
WRDC researchers Nastasya Winckel and Paul Lewin analyzed nearly two decades of national data to understand better whether self-employment offers a meaningful pathway out of poverty for low-income workers. Their findings show that financial outcomes vary widely and often depend on economic conditions, duration in self-employment, and prior income levels. The study provides a nuanced look at the trade-offs involved and raises important questions for researchers and practitioners focused on poverty alleviation and labor market dynamics.