The National Rural Development Partnership a quick look

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The National Rural Development Partnership -- a
quick look

• Presentation to OCD conference
• June 7, 2001
• Presentation by Dave Sears, Director, National
  Partnership Office

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NRDP -- purpose

• NRDP enables rural institutions to work together
  more productively -- through communication,
  cooperation, collaboration
• Ultimate aim of NRDP is to improve the quality of
  life in rural America
• Mechanism is State Rural Development Councils
  (SRDCs)

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NRDP -- a brief history

• 1990-91 8 pilot Councils established
• 1992-95 Councils established in 28 additional
  states
• 2000 4 more Councils join
• Total now is 40 Councils
• Plan is to add 10 more Councils

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(No Transcript)
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NRDP -- budget situation

• Federal funds come from USDA/Rural Development
  and HHS, VA, DoL, DoT
• Most federal funds go directly to the 40 State
  Councils
• Some federal funds support a national
  infrastructure

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NRDP -- budget situation -- contd

• State Council budget support also comes from
  non-federal sources -- state government and
  private sector

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National Rural Development Partnership
Executive Board
Federal Political Leadership
National Rural Development Council (NRDC)
State Rural Development Councils (SRDCs)
National Partnership Office (NPO)
Partners for Rural America (PRA)
Key communication links
Policy advice
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SRDC guidelines -- key partner groups

• Federal government
• State government
• Local governments
• Tribal governments
• Private for-profit organizations
• Private non-profit organizations

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SRDC guidelines-- open doors open forum

• Participation by any institution with interest in
  or some responsibility for the states rural
  areas
• Open neutral environment
• Most decisions reached through consensus
• Many partners can be heard

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SRDC guidelines-- control diversity

• No single individual, organization, agency,
  sector, political party, nor interest group has
  control
• Participation by a broad set of persons,
  institutions
• Diversity of the states population and geography
  is represented

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National level support for Councils

• Two major conferences a year
• NRDP listserv
• Collection and dissemination of success stories
  see Updates and new website
• Task forces on health care, livable rural
  communities, others
• Direct communication link to many federal agency
  Washington offices

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NRDP -- for more information

• Website http//www.rurdev.usda.gov/nrdp
• NPO phone [phone]
• email david.sears_at_usda.gov