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| NCRCRD Quarterly | Q3-2021 |
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The NCRCRD’s mission is to build rural communities through cutting-edge research and Extension programs and innovative partnerships. To achieve this mission, we know we need to foster and facilitate collaboration by engaging research and Extension at all the Land Grant Institutions across the North Central Region (NCR). And, we need to recognize the unique characteristics of each institution and the diverse communities that they serve.
I was reminded about the richness of the rural development work being done in the NCR during our NCRCRD site visit to The Ohio State University and when I joined my colleagues for a NC Multistate Research Project meeting. While virtual collaboration has been wonderful (I’ve gotten to meet so many more people across the region these last 18 months), I realized that getting to meet and see colleagues in person is like icing on the cake. Although we have found ways to successfully work in a virtual environment, physically being together seems to really get the innovation juices flowing! However, whether we are meeting virtually or in person, the excitement of exchanging ideas needs to be transformed into action through collaboration.
We are trying to solve wicked problems and doing so alone is just not possible. We need everyone to bring their expertise, their experiences, and their can-do attitude to make the NCR a better place for everyone. As I’ve joined Extension Program Leader meetings for Family and Consumer Sciences, Community Development, 4-H, and Agricultural and Natural Resources, I’ve heard firsthand about the impactful collaboration going on across the region. Now, more than ever, we need resources to strengthen these efforts and to catalyze new impactful collaborations.
As Director of the NCRCRD, my goal is for the Center to play a key role in fostering and maintaining these collaborations across program areas and across the region. Our newsletter and webinars are one way that we hope to that, but we know that funding great project across the region also helps. So, what is the Center doing? In this newsletter you’ll find the links to the requests for proposals (RFP) for our Small Grants program and our inaugural Faculty Fellows program. I will also remind you that the RFP for the Working Groups is available, and proposals are being considered on a rolling basis. These funding programs are designed to foster collaboration while funding impactful rural development work across the region. You can find the RFPs here. As always, please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or want to explore innovative ideas.
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EXTENSION -
2020 IMPACT REPORTS
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| University Extension leaders from the twelve North Central 1862 Land-Grant universities developed common indicators for reporting the impacts of community and economic development educational programs. The states collectively developed this report based on in-state action. | | |
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Rural and metropolitan counties differ in the size of the workforce response to the pandemic
Rural counties added 1.3 million jobs between May 2020 and May 2021. However, in May 2021, rural employment was 2.2% lower than in May 2019. A similar situation occurs in metropolitan counties. From May 2020 to May 2021, metropolitan counties added around 13 million jobs. However, employment fell by 2.2% compared to May 2019, long before the Covid-19 pandemic began.
There was a major difference in how much the workforce responded to the pandemic. Between May 2019 and May 2020, the metropolitan labor market dropped by 2.8%, which is more than the rural labor market (2.3%). But the metropolitan labor force bounced back by 1.9% and reached the value of only 0.9% lower than in May 2019. On the contrary, the labor market in rural counties has recovered just by 0.2% in May 2021 and was 2.1% lower than in 2019.
Read more >>
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Earnings of Working Women
In 2019, women who were full-time workers (35 hours or more per week) had median weekly earnings on the level of 81.5 percent ($821) of male full-time workers ($1,007). It represented significant progress compared to 1979 when women's earnings were 62 percent of men's.
Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, among the 50 states, women's median weekly earnings in full-time positions ranged from $669 in Mississippi to $1,017 in Maryland in 2019. Maryland had the highest women's earnings as a percentage of men's that reached 89.1 percent ($1,017 for women and $1,142 for men), and Wyoming had the lowest, 72.5 percent ($762 for women and $1,051 for men).
Read more >>
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Hispanic population in the North Central Region
September 15 to October 15 is national Hispanic American Heritage Month. During this Month, Americans pay tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched the U.S. nation and society. People celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Based on the U.S. Census Bureau, Hispanic or Latino refers to a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race. Moreover, the Hispanic origin can be seen as the nationality, lineage, heritage, or country of birth of the person or the person’s parents or ancestors before arriving in the U.S.
Read more >>
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Title:
Webinar: Using Q Methodology to Measure Rural Entrepreneurial Perceptions & An Overview of Homegrown: Entrepreneurship in Your Community
Presenters:- Dr. Jennifer Johnson Jorgensen, Assistant Professor, Department of Textiles, Merchandising & Fashion Design, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Dr. Tessa Conroy, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Date:
September 16, 2021, 2-3pm ET
Description:Entrepreneurship is necessary for the economic growth of rural communities, but entrepreneurial activities can be shaped by the different perceptions that community stakeholders hold. To explore such diverse perceptions, Q methodology allows for the emergence of various patterns through participants’ use of a topic-based tool and a sorting process. Three studies using this method will be highlighted during the webinar. Homegrown is a program focused on building and strengthening your local entrepreneurial network. Homegrown can be tailored to community members or professionals with a shared interest in learning about entrepreneurship. We’ll review program content which include the basics of why entrepreneurship is a good economic development strategy, a description of the local business community, identifying the local entrepreneurial network, and sharing from guest entrepreneurs. We’ll discuss the experience and outcomes from pilots of this new program as well as future directions with youth audiences.
Watch the video >> |
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Title:
Webinar: Insights for Rural Healthcare Resilience: A Quantitative Survey Analysis
Presenter:- Dr. Sarah A. Low, Associate Professor of Regional Economics and Heinkel Chair in Agriculture, University of Missouri
Date:
October 28, 2021, 3-4pm ET
Description:Retaining the existing rural health care provider workforce may be an important strategy for maintaining rural health care provision. This webinar will overview research being conducted at University of Missouri and USDA ERS that examines the role of provider, workplace and community characteristics as they impact a provider’s likelihood to consider leaving a rural community. Preliminary results suggest social ties and engaging in entrepreneurship help. Results offer insights to communities and decision-makers seeking to identify ways to maintain their existing rural health care workforce.
Register for the event >> |
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Title:Webinar: Latino Farmers in the Midwest: Practices and ChallengesPresenters:- Corinne Valdivia, D. Howard Doane Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Division of Applied Social Sciences, College of Agriculture Food and Natural Resources, University of Missouri (MU); Interim Co-Director of Cambio Center at MU
- Stephen Jeanetta, Associate Dean, Center for Community Vitality, University of Minnesota Extension
- Ruben Martinez, Professor and Director of the Julián Samora Research Institute, Michigan State University
Date:November 10, 2021, 3-4pm ET
Description:In this session, we will share research findings from the Latino Agricultural Entrepreneurship Project implemented in the Midwest between 2016 and 2020, which was funded by National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Researchers from Missouri, Michigan and Iowa collaborated to learn about the pathways for integration into farming by Latino/a/x households in the Midwest. The presentations will share findings from surveys and focus groups related to the role of farming in the livelihood strategies, asset accumulation, and the connections with providers (acculturation to the practice of farming).Register for the event >>
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North-Central Region became more racially and ethnically diverse over the last decade
In August 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau released the first results from the 2020 Census on race and ethnicity. These data provide a snapshot of the racial and ethnic composition and diversity on the national, state, and county levels as of April 1, 2020. The 2020 Census results revealed that America became more racially and ethnically diverse with a decline in the White population.
Diversity is becoming more prevalent also in the North-Central Region (NCR). Figure 1 clarifies that the White population decreases in line with a national trend, and Latino or Hispanic and Asian Americans represent the fastest-growing group in the NCR.
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