Initiative for the Future of Rural Oklahoma

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Initiative for the FutureofRural Oklahoma
Southern Community Development Educators May 20,
2004
Joe Williams Joyce Martin James Barnes Mike
Woods Gerald Doeksen
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• The Initiative for the Future of Rural Oklahoma
  is a three-year pilot program that is designed to
  demonstrate Oklahoma Cooperative Extension
  Service capabilities in helping communities to
  address issues, and to develop and empower local
  leaders so that communities can move forward.

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OCES is partnering with communities to address
community concerns

• Leadership/economic development
• Changing demographics
• Advances in technology
• Globalization
• Rapid consolidation in the agricultural sector

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Program History
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Grants

• Leadership Grants
• Initial Leadership Development Grants

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Grants

• Leadership GrantsBenefit leadership programs
  already in place or enhance leadership
  capabilities for specific projects.Range up to
  100,000 for 3 years.

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Grants

• Leadership Grants

• Initial Leadership Development Grants
• Fund communities where little or no opportunity
  for leadership training exists, or where few
  trained community leaders are active.
• Range up to 10,000 for 1 year.

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Project Dynamics

• Initial retreat (November 02)
• Servicing Projects
• Final Retreat (October 03)
• Project Reports
• http//ifro.okstate.edu

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Project Success Stories
Making a difference!
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Gary Strickland Gene Davis Dianna Thompson
Jackson County
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Kent Orrell
Kiowa County
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Three-Year Projects
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One-Year Projects
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Quotable Quotes

• This project is a definite economic boost for
  the county and the timing couldnt be
  better. Steve Booher, Editor, Cherokee Messenger
• We have received more good from the Oklahoma
  Cooperative Extension Service and the Greer
  County Office in the past year than I can ever
  remember before.
• T.A. Allen, President/Greer County Extension
  Leadership Committee

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Quotable Quotes(continued)

• This type of training is ultimately beneficial
  to our county community. Rural areas need this
  to be able to survive in the future. This is a
  great effort. Altus Community Leader
• This has been an excellent project. We are
  really getting where we need to be. This grant
  has brought together the entire county and I hope
  we can continue the same progress for several
  years. Dub Moore, President First National Bank
  of Davis

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Where to next?