Journal of Rural and Community Development
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From Classroom to Community: A Rural Studies Class Project of Community Redevelopment
Get PDFAs part of a new Rural Studies bachelor's degree program, students in an Introduction to Rural Studies course engages in a service learning project as part of the curriculum. Students work with leaders in a struggling rural Georgia community on redevelopment projects. The outcome from the reinvestment is both inspiring and encouraging to community leaders
Rural Restructuring Under Globalization in Eastern Coastal China: What Can be Learned From Wales?
Get PDFThe differentiation of rural development in eastern coastal China has been exaggerated by the rapid rural restructuring under globalization, since economic reforms and an open-door policy were initiated in 1978. The problems associated with rural restructuring in China may in part be addressed by drawing on experiences and achievements from other countries, including Britain, which may have experienced similar developmental stages as part of their trajectory of rural progression. This paper examines the different trajectories of rural development and different policies and strategies for rural development in eastern coastal China and Wales, identifying points of convergence and divergence, and considering the possible lessons that China might take from the experience of rural development in Wales.
Keywords: Rural restructuring, globalization, comparative study, Wales, eastern coastal Chin
Communication Mechanisms for Delivering Information to Seniors in a Changing Small Town Context
Get PDFThe settlement landscape of northern British Columbia is comprised of many small and dispersed resource towns that were designed through the 1960s and 1970s to attract young labour and their families. Over the past three decades, industrial restructuring and labour shedding technologies has prompted an out-migration of young families and an ageing-in-place of the existing workforce. The retirement experiences of older residents who remain in these places, however, have been challenged by neoliberal-inspired „structural? changes in services and supports. The constant change in services, and limited flow of information about such changes, can result in frustration amongst older residents attempting to access services and supports. Drawing upon 74 key informant interviews with seniors and service providers in Terrace, BC, we explore problems associated with communication strategies that limit seniors? access to needed supports. Our findings provide a foundation to develop responsive institutional capacities and strengthen new multi-faceted communication approaches to address seniors? needs in rapidly changing places. As there is great diversity amongst seniors in small towns, it will be important for service providers to use multiple communication tools, engage in two-way dialogue activities, and work collectively to collate information about local and regional service supports as part of an efficient and effective communications strategy.
Keywords: resource towns, seniors, services, restructuring, communication, Canad
Regional Cooperative and Competitive Forces Driving Industry Cluster Development and Renewal in the Swedish Periphery
Get PDFThis research paper assembles regional industry clusters cooperative and competitive relations into a conceptual framework and reports upon an empirical study that captured initial developments of a regional biorefinery industry cluster in a peripheral region of Sweden. Key findings from the research illustrate how forces of intra-regional cooperation and inter-regional competition drove the new biorefinery industry clusters development, which in turn aided the peripheral region?s renewal. For the development and renewal of regional industry, the role of not-for-profit collaborative organisations is evident. As a result, this single case-study provides new implications for research and practice in specific relation to regional renewal and industry cluster development within peripheral regions
Mexican Migrant Entrepreneurial Readiness in Rural Areas of the United States
Get PDFA significant literature on minority entrepreneurship exists, but comparable literature on Latin American migrants and their role in local community enterprise development is very sparse. This paper is an extension of earlier work focusing on characteristics of recent Mexican migrants to rural and urban areas. Measures of entrepreneurial readiness are examined along with measures of human, social and migration capital. Migrants with previous experience in owning a business provide rural communities with an unrealized pool of talent and experience. This research demonstrates that business owners who migrate are likely to be married, have non-agricultural work experience and other household assets in the form of land and/or properties, and are more likely to be legally documented arrivals. Additionally, these migrants express additional risk-taking behavior, because they are more likely—along with their siblings—to be family "pioneers" in migrating, but still attached to migration networks through their community or other close, non-parental relatives. These characteristics illustrate entrepreneurial capacity within these migrant communities in rural areas.
Keywords: Entrepreneurship, rural communities, migration, general estimating equation
The Effects of Occupational Aspirations and Other Factors on the Out-Migration of Rural Youth
Get PDFOut-migration of youth from rural areas persists as one of the most serious threats to the sustainability of rural communities. This study provides a more rigorous examination than has been previously possible of whether occupational aspirations held by youth affect their long-term out-migration. The analysis is accomplished by examining the effects of occupational aspirations and known predictors of migration with five logistic regression models. We utilize data on rural youth in the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79) which include a measure of occupational aspirations at a youthful age and allow for a long-term measure of subsequent migration. Results show that rural youth aspiring to professional and managerial occupations are more likely to be rural out-migrants at age 35 than are youth aspiring to blue collar occupations. This greater likelihood is true even with other recognized influences on migration being controlled. Other variables introduced in our logistic models are gender, race/ethnicity, mother's education, length of residence, change in educational status, change in marital status, and actual occupation at age 35. We find that the effects of these variables on migration out of rural places largely persist when occupational aspirations are controlled. Our findings further substantiate the need for rural communities to increase career opportunities in professional and managerial occupations in order to reduce the out-migration of a large and vital segment of rural youth. Better knowledge about the odds of out-migration for other important determinants of migration should also be helpful in efforts to lessen the loss of rural youth.
Keywords: rural out-migration, NLSY79, occupational aspirations, Blue collar, managerial, professiona
Drought Preparedness and Response as if Development Matters: Case Studies from Kenya
Get PDFFew now question the link between disasters and development. The notion that vulnerability is the root cause of disasters and that it accrues from social processes and human decisions, is no longer contentious. However this convergence has not translated into mainstream practice of either development planning or emergency response communities. Vulnerability analysis and disaster risk reduction remain at the margins. Projects that bridge relief and development do not readily attract donor funding. Some exceptions have been documented. There are development NGOs involved in disaster response, and humanitarian assistance NGOs that have integrated vulnerability reduction in their disaster relief work. This paper adds to this body of literature. Based on field research in two drought prone communities in Kenya it assesses the effectiveness of the efforts of government and NGOs in integrating drought management and long-term development in their community interventions and their impacts on community vulnerability. Key informant interviews complemented review of documents and site visits. The paper concludes that while most initiatives, such as water conservation, livestock rearing, income diversification are successful in reducing short term vulnerability and have the potential for contributing to long-term community resilience, others appear to be creating dependency. They warrant careful study and systematic community involvement in order to develop appropriate and sustainable strategies.
Keywords: vulnerability reduction, disaster risk reduction, food relief, disaster preparedness and respons
Racinos in Rural Canada: Economic Impacts of the Grand River Raceway on Elora, Ontario, Canada
Get PDFFacilities that combine electronic slot machines and pari-mutuel racetracks (i.e. racinos) have been introduced to rural North America to stimulate local economies and/or racetrack patronage. This study examines the economic impacts of one racino on the community of Elora, Ontario, Canada. Renowned as a heritage tourist destination, Elora experienced economic decline during the 1990s. A racino was constructed by the Grand River Agricultural Society in 2003 to offset this downturn and to promote increased visitation to the village. Using a variety of data published by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and the Grand River Agricultural Society, we first estimate the impact of the facility on employment and revenue generation (primary impacts). Survey data, collected from local business owners, and visitors to the historic downtown, are then used to describe and explain the perceived impacts of racino patrons on the economic well-being of local firms (secondary impacts). Recommendations to increase the facility's impacts are then drawn from comments provided by key informants. Our analysis finds that the facility has generated not only employment and revenue, but also sponsorships and in-kind financial benefits. We find, however, that secondary impacts are minimal, with few businesses perceived to benefit from patron expenditures. We attribute this to visitors' motivations and origins, and spatial placement of the facility. Four recommendations are provided to attract gamers and their partners to the shopping district. It is advised, however, that these actions be undertaken with caution to ensure retention of the historic ambiance that draws the heritage-seeking consumer.
Keywords: racino, pari-mutuel racetrack, heritage tourist destination, historic ambiance, rural regeneration, visitatio
Identifying Communities at Risk for Sudden and Unexpected Infant Deaths Using ArcGIS®
Get PDFIn 2004, approximately 4,500 cases of sudden, unexpected infant death occurred in the United States and between 1994 and 2004 there were 1,007 SUID deaths in Kentucky. Linking morbidity and mortality rates to geographic areas is a fundamental epidemiological tool, which can be applied to preventing infant death. In 2006 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded seven states to record and collect statewide data to clarify certification practices, and identify if state performances fall short of national expectations. Statewide SUID data were retrospectively collected in Kentucky for the years 1999-2005. There were 575 evaluable SUID cases during the study period. For visual analysis of the data, cases were geocoded then spatially joined to the county GIS data layer in a combined data set in order to create maps. Standardized mortality ratio and probability maps were generated and areas with unexpectedly high or low SUIDs were identified. Of Kentucky's 120 counties, 42 were found to have SUIDs higher than expected (including 20 counties, 48% considered Appalachian and 86% non-metropolitan). The remaining 78 counties were considered average with an expected number of SUID cases or a lower number of SUIDs than would be expected. Identifying regions with higher than expected SUID rates allows specific communities and regions to be targeted. Understanding geographically based risk factors allows for more effective and focused prevention strategies. Similar analyses in other states could target needy areas with limited resources to optimize risk reduction and promote more effective pregnancy planning.
Keywords: Sudden infant death syndrome, sudden unexplained infant death, mapping analysis, Appalachian, rura