The structure of nonmetro employment has become increasingly diverse and decreasingly agricultural. The precise policy implications of these shifts are not self-evident, but the increasingly nonagricultural character of the rural economy is at the heart of the population turnaround. (Author/KR)

A paper from an International Labour Office seminar states that the economic and social development of rural workers must be through their labor organizations. In principle, such organizations for rural workers are the same as those for urban industrial workers. Services provided by unions are discussed. (MF)

Some 280 industry, education, labor, and state and local government leaders exchanged information about how Appalachian programs can harness technology to make traditional industries more competitive, package capital for job-creating industries and business, launch service industries, match education with jobs, and fit displaced workers into the…

This report identifies local factors that foster rural economic growth. A review of the literature revealed potential indicators of county economic growth, and those indicators were then tested against data for nonmetro counties during the 1980s using multiple regression analysis. The principal variables examined included demographic and labor…

Indicates how events in the areas of economic development, agricultural change, politics and education have contributed to crucial breakdown in communications. Political organization must be rebuilt to increase communication between leaders and masses. (Author/DB)

The author cites the importance of agricultural production and suggests a corps of rural youth trained as Ag technicians. (Editor)

A college instructor discusses his experiences in leading a student field study and planning project centered on the traditional rural African Market. Students benefitted from their work, but the instructor was unable to convince his colleagues about the project's validity. (Author/WB)

The consistent economic growth of the Georgia community is the result of careful planning over a long period. Successful community development efforts have resulted in a new regional library, an airport, a vocational technical school, an industrial park, and increased industrialization. (SB)

Problems of rural development in less developed countries and ways of organizing a foreign aid program are examined. (MF)

Each year thousands of people travel to Penland School of Crafts in rural Mitchell County, North Carolina, to receive instruction in pottery, sculpture, drawing, glassblowing, metalworking, photography, printmaking, weaving, and woodworking. Established in 1929, the school has become a catalyst for economic growth by pumping millions of dollars…

The Lower Mississippi Delta region, especially the rural Delta, faces many economic challenges. The rural Delta has received much federal aid in basic income support and funding for human resource development, but less for community resource programs, which are important for economic development. Federal aid to the Delta is analyzed in terms of…

Describes funding of rural economic development by the Urban Development Action Grants program, 1978-88. Examines program operation, distribution of funds by region and industry, and costs per job created. Suggests that capital subsidy programs that require substantial investment by recipient firms can effectively stimulate rural growth. (SV)

From its inception, the University of Limerick has cultivated a relationship with the local environment and worked for regional development. Its example shows how a university ethos geared to economic development issues can benefit the region in which it is located. (SK)

Summarizes a study based on an examination of 30 highly rated nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in a dozen Latin American and Caribbean countries. Explains the terms "grassroots support organizations" (GSOs) and "membership support organizations" (MSOs). Suggests operation strategies for these organizations, particularly…

Describes 1999 federal funding to large general-assistance programs affecting small towns and rural areas (including Housing and Urban Development, federal disaster relief, rural extension activities, and Bureau of Indian Affairs assistance programs); increased funding for Empowerment Zones/Enterprise Communities; reauthorization of the Economic…