Progress 08/15/09 to 08/14/10
Outputs OUTPUTS: RUPRI worked with USDA Rural Development on rural eligibility criteria for the implementation of 2008 Farm Bill. In a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development RUPRI provided technical assistance to map USDA investments against economic, social and demographic indicators. RUPRI collaborated on responses to the FCC on the National Broadband Plan with Benton Foundation, Center for Rural Strategies, University of Texas-Austin's Telecommunications and Information Policy Institute. Deborah Markley, RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship testified before the House Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Rural Development, March 2009; Mark Drabenstott, RUPRI Center for Regional Competitiveness testified before the House Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research in June 2009. Charles Fluharty participated in the White House Office of Health Reform Stakeholder Discussion in May 2009. RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis developed analyses and published briefs on trends in Medicare enrollment, rural community pharmacies, and the impact of the recession on rates of uninsured in rural areas. RUPRI Rural Health Panel developed a brief on impacts of the proposed health care reform legislation on coverage rates, and gave briefings to Senate Rural Health Care Caucus and House Rural Health Care Coalition. It provided rural perspectives on Senate Finance Committee's policy options and House Tri-Committee Health Reform Discussion Draft. RUPRI was awarded a grant from the Ford Foundation's Wealth Creation in Rural Communities Initiative in which RUPRI and regional researchers from University of Missouri and Oregon State University examined rural-urban interdependence in Central Appalachia and the Pacific Northwest. RUPRI partnered with Aspen Institute on convenings around food systems, ecosystem services, and alternative energy. RUPRI is an active member of the National Rural Assembly's Steering Committee, and staff helped organize the Coalition of State Rural Policy Centers' annual session in Springdale, Utah and the State Agricultural and Rural Leaders (SARL) conference in San Diego. RUPRI continued to assist the Alliance of Rural Colleges (ARC), a cross-border partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges. Brian Dabson gave the keynote address at the annual North Carolina Rural Partners Forum in Raleigh NC, November 2009 and participated in workshops organized by RMIT University in Victoria, Australia, migration, entrepreneurship, and regionalism. Charles Fluharty gave keynote address to OECD Territorial Development Committee on regional governance, and also gave keynote addresses to the OECD's 7th Annual Rural Development Conference, Quebec, Canada in October 2009, and the OECD Symposium on Regional Policy: Innovation and Green Growth, The Regional Dimension, in Paris, France in December 2009. RUPRI National Advisory Board, comprising 29 national rural leaders was officially convened in April of 2009, in Washington, DC. PARTICIPANTS: The following were supported in part from the grant: Brian Dabson, Project PI, President & CEO; Charles W. Fluharty, Vice President; Deborah Markley, Ph.D., Managing Director, RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship; Jocelyn Richgels, Associate Director, RUPRI National Policy Programs, and staff director, Rural Health and Human Services panels; Bobby Gierisch, Director, State Policy Programs, coordinator of the Coalition for State Rural Policy Centers; Kathleen Miller, RUPRI Program Director; Christopher Fulcher, Director, and Erin Barbaro, Assistant Director, Center for Applied Research & Environmental Systems, University of Missouri; Jennifer Jensen, Research Analyst, RUPRI Rural Futures Lab, Cornell University, NY; and Sally Coats, RUPRI Fiscal Officer and Office Manager. Other people critical to RUPRI's activities but not supported by the grant were: Thomas G. Johnson, Ph.D., Director of RUPRI Academic and Analytical Programs, Frank Miller Professor of Agricultural Economics, University of Missouri; Keith J. Mueller, Ph.D., Gerhard Hartman Professor, Head of the Department of Health Management & Policy, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Chair of RUPRI Rural Health Panel; and Mario Gutierrez, Interim Chief Executive, Center for Connected Health Policy, Sacramento, CA, Chair, RUPRI Rural Human Services Panel. Collaborations included University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources and the Harry S. Truman School of Public Affairs; USDA Rural Development; Federal Office of Rural Health Policy; National Rural Assembly; National Association of Development Organizations; National Association of Counties; and National Rural Health Association. Important contributions were also made by members of the Rural Health and Human Services Panels: Andrew F. Coburn, Ph.D., Chair of Health Policy & Management Graduate Program, Director of Population Health and Health Policy, University of Southern Maine; Jennifer P. Lundblad, Ph.D., President and CEO, Stratus Health; A. Clinton MacKinney, M.D., M.S., Assistant Professor, Department of Health Policy & Management, University of Iowa; Timothy D. McBride, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Dean for Public Health, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Institute for Public Health, Washington University, St. Louis, MO; Sidney Watson, Ph.D., Professor of Law, St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO; Kathleen Belanger, Associate Professor of Social Work, Stephen F. Austin State University; Vaughn Clark, Director of Community Development, Oklahoma Department of Commerce; Larry Goolsby, Director Legislative Affairs and Policy, American Public Human Services Association; Colleen Heflin, Associate Professor, Truman School of Public Affairs, University of Missouri; Jane Forrest Redfern, Rural Human Services Consultant, OH; Bruce Weber, Professor of Agriculture, Resource Economics, Oregon State University. TARGET AUDIENCES: RUPRI's mission is to provide unbiased analysis and information on the challenges, needs, and opportunities facing rural people and places, and to spur public dialogue and help policymakers understand the impacts of public policies and programs on rural people and places. The primary target audiences are therefore legislators and their staffs in the US Senate, the US House of Representatives, state capitols, and county seats, together with the relevant administrators and officials. Secondary target audiences are key influencers such as trade, professional, and public interest organizations, other policy institutions within and outside higher education, land grant institutions and extension services, community colleges, national and regional philanthropies, and the broad range of nonprofit organizations that serve rural America. RUPRI also reaches a variety of national, regional, and local rural interests through conferences, publications, and its websites, and through direct community strategic planning, facilitation, and training particularly in the area of rural entrepreneurship. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts RUPRI continued its policy analysis and development work with the Administration, Congress, and state governments, both responding to requests for assistance and helping to frame discussions on policy proposals that impact rural America. RUPRI provided support for key Federal programs and initiatives with a focus on the impact of USDA Rural Development programs, the promotion of regional approaches to the long-term viability and vitality of rural America, the implications of different rural targeting definitions, and the facilitation of inter-departmental collaborations for rural regional innovation, nutrition and wellness, and food systems. RUPRI's policy analyses focused on rural broadband deployment and adoption, rural implications of climate change, and the exploration of urban-rural interdependence. RUPRI's analytical capacity was enhanced by collaborating with the Center for Applied Research & Environmental Systems (CARES) on geographic information systems and community issues management, Community Policy Analysis Center (CPAC) on econometric and systems modeling and social/economic impacts of rural investments, Center for Regional Competitiveness on regional economic analysis, Center for Rural Entrepreneurship on program evaluation, and Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis on spatial health analysis. RUPRI strengthened its ties with key international organizations with interests in rural and regional development, particularly the German Marshall Fund of the United States, the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the European Union, and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA). Deborah Markley, Managing Director, RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship was awarded the Ted K. Bradshaw Outstanding Research Award by the Community Development Society International; and Keith Mueller, Director of the RUPRI Center and Chair of the Rural Health Panel was appointed by the Secretary for Health & Human Services to the National Advisory Council for the Agency for Health Care Research & Quality. At an OECD workshop on rural development policies, RUPRI's SEBAS system was recognized as a preeminent rural development assessment tool. RUPRI reinforced its network with rural leaders by establishing the National Advisory Board with senior representatives from Center for Rural Strategies, Colorado State University, Economic Research Service, German Marshall Fund of the US, Growth Energy, Iowa State University, Jobs for the Future, Llano Grande Center, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, Missouri Farm Bureau, Mountain Association of Community Economic Development, National Association of Development Organizations, National Congress of American Indians, National Farmers Union, National Rural Health Association, Nebraska Community Foundation, North Carolina Rural Center, Northeast Iowa Community College, Purdue University, Roadside Theater/Appalshop, Rural Action, Rural School and Community Trust, Stennis Institute of Government, Sustainable Northwest, University of Wisconsin Law School, University of Nebraska, University of Missouri, Virginia Community Capital, and Washington State University.
Publications
- Dabson, B. (2009) A Snapshot of the Presidents Budget FY 2010: Whats In It For Rural America. RUPRI Briefing Paper.
- Dabson, B. (2009) Regionalism, Assets, and Entrepreneurship: The Future of Rural Economies. In Looking Forward. Funders Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities.
- Dabson, B. (2009) Rural-Urban Interdependence in Central Appalachia. Discussion paper for Ford Foundation.
- Drabenstott, M. (2009) Testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research. Written Record, June 11.
- Drabenstott, M. and Moore, S.(2009). Rural America in Deep Downturn. RUPRI Rural Economic Update from the RUPRI Center for Regional Competitiveness.
- Drabenstott, M (2009). Southern Minnesotas Economic future: Findings, Strategic Framework, and Game Plan. Southern Minnesota Competitiveness Project.
- Jensen, J.J (2009). Climate Change and Rural Communities in the U.S. RUPRI Briefing Paper
- Markley, D.M (2009) Testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Biotechnology, Specialty Crops, and Foreign Agriculture. Written Record, March 31.
- McBride, T. (2009). Rural Coverage Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act As Amended. RUPRI Rural Health Panel.
- McBride, T. (2009). Impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on Covered Persons. RUPRI Rural Health Panel.
- McLaughlin, M (2009). Rural Philanthropy, Partners, and Policy in the Northwest. Briefing Paper for the Northwest Area Foundation.
- Miller, K.K. (2009). Overview of rural definitions and their implications. RRUPRI Policy Brief
- Miller, K.K. (2009). The Importance of a Healthy Rural Economy. RUPRI Briefing Paper
- RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship (2009). Maine Comprehensive Economic Development Evaluation 2008: A Report to the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.
- RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship (2009). Entrepreneurship Development in Rural America: Insights into Triple Bottom Line and Wealth Creation Impacts of Entrepreneurship Strategies.
- RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis (2009) Rural Enrollment in Medicare Part D is Growing Slowly.
- RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis (2009) Loss of Community Pharmacies since 2006: State Experiences.
- RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis (2009) A Rural-Urban Comparison of a Building Blocks Approach to Covering the Uninsured.
- RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis (2009) Impact of the Recession on Rural America: Rising Unemployment Leading to More Uninsured in 2009.
- RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis (2009) Profile of Sole Community Pharmacists Prescription Sales and Overall Financial Position.
- RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis (2009) Rural Enrollment in Medicare Advantage: Growth Slows in 2008.
- RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis (2009) Workforce Issues among Sole Community Pharmacies.
- RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis (2009) The Cost of Inaction to Rural Communities: The Urgent Need for Health Care Reform. Profiles of Three Rural Counties.
- RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis (2009) Profile of Sole Community Pharmacists Prescription Sales and Overall Financial Position.
- RUPRI Rural Health Panel (2009). Assuring Health Coverage for Rural People Through Health Reform.
- RUPRI Rural Health Panel (2009) Commentary on Financing Comprehensive Health Care Reform: Proposed Health System Savings and Revenue Options from the Senate Finance Committee
- RUPRI Rural Health Panel (2009) Commentary on Expanding Health Care Coverage: Proposals to Provide Affordable Coverage to All Americans from the Senate Finance Committee
- RUPRI Rural Health Panel (2009) Commentary on Transforming the Health Care Delivery System: Proposals to Improve Patient Care and Reduce Health Care Costs from the Senate Finance Committee
- RUPRI Rural Health Panel (2009) CMS Value Based Purchasing Program and Critical Access Hospitals.
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