Western Rural Development Center

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Boise, ID
Western Rural Development Center

Supporting the West through funding opportunities for Land Grant Institutions, research, and sustainable development.

At the Western Rural Development Center, we believe in the limitless potential of rural communities to lead and thrive. Our mission is to partner with farmers, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and local organizations to turn challenges into opportunities and create lasting change. By collaborating with Western land-grant universities, we address the unique challenges rural areas face—supporting initiatives that strengthen economies, improve access to essential services, and foster resilience for the future. Whether you’re working to grow your local business, advance agricultural practices, or build stronger community connections, we’re here to help your community succeed. Together, we’re cultivating a stronger, more vibrant rural America—one partnership at a time.

10/16/2026

The WRDC continues to travel the West to meet and connect in person with our Land Grant Institution partners. ✈️

It was a privilege to spend some time in Utqiagvik, Palmer, Kodiak and Fairbanks in September. Alaska's rural communities face unique circumstances shaped by geographic isolation, dependence on imports, extreme climates, and vast distances between population centers. By spending time in communities, listening to local leaders, and learning directly from land-grant partners, WRDC gains a deeper understanding of these realities.

Many thanks to our hosts at:
🎓 Iḷisaġvik College
🎓 University of Alaska Fairbanks’s Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center
🎓 University of Alaska Fairbanks Sea Grant program
🎓 University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service

Want to learn more about our experiences in Alaska? Read here: https://wrdc.uidaho.edu/understanding-place-building-stronger-connections-wrdcs-alaska-visit/

If you are faculty or staff at a Western Land Grant Institution and would like to connect, we'd love to hear from you!

10/14/2026

Extension professionals, farmers, agricultural professionals, producers, and others who wish to know more about cybersecurity best practices: on Thursday 10/15 our partners at the Southern Rural Development Center have a learning opportunity for you.

At 11:00 CT they will be hosting a Lunch and Learn Zoom Call Webinar focused on practical tools and tips to help farmers recognize digital threats and better protect their operations.

Please register in advance to join in!

Register here: Webinar Registration - https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://msstateextension.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_H-mqy_F0RIO_Ceb4tOwOfg__;!!JYXjzlvb!hE1ASh6JpBuJxD9PZynfC6FfX-yXqos7lCDhx9kZVdJPfROWGIpWKNmMVyHhEdhnPiZXQXnM5-g8Uc236Q$

For additional information about the CyberPest Management initiative, visit: CyberPest Management - https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://farmcybersecurity.ces.ncsu.edu/cyberpest-management/__;!!JYXjzlvb!hE1ASh6JpBuJxD9PZynfC6FfX-yXqos7lCDhx9kZVdJPfROWGIpWKNmMVyHhEdhnPiZXQXnM5-hQhcWwmw$

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10/07/2026

Shaping the future of community engagement across the West 🤝

In mid August, WRDC and Western Community Assessment Network (WeCAN) Director Dr. Lorie Higgins brought together Extension professionals, economic development organizations, and community leaders in Boise for a strategic planning retreat focused on the future of WeCAN programming.

As WeCAN programming transitions under WRDC, participants explored how Community Review initiatives can be strengthened and expanded across the West and Pacific Basin. Through ripple effects mapping, participants reflected on the impact of past Community Reviews and identified opportunities to strengthen the process.

A smaller design team continued the work the following day, helping shape recommendations for a systems level approach to Community Reviews centered on long term learning and stewardship.

Thank you to everyone who contributed their vision to this important effort. We look forward to sharing more about the future of Community Reviews and WeCAN programming in the months ahead.

10/02/2026

In late August, the Western Rural Development Center traveled across the International Date Line to connect with our land grant partner, Unibetsedåt Guåhan | University of Guam.

The visit was an opportunity to learn more about UOG’s work across Guam and the Pacific islands, connect with College of Natural & Applied Science faculty and staff, tour research and Extension facilities, and connect with local community development organizations.

Building strong partnerships starts with listening, learning, and understanding the work already happening in communities. We’re grateful for the opportunity to connect with partners in Guam and look forward to continued collaboration with UOG and organizations advancing rural and community development throughout Guam and the Pacific Basin.

We're planning more travel to get to know our Western Region partners in person, stay tuned for updates. If you're faculty or staff at a Western land-grant institution working with rural communities, and would like to connect, please let us know!

09/29/2026

Meet Dr. Tatiane Almeida de Menezes, WRDC’s new Visiting Scholar!

We’re excited to welcome Tatiane to the Western Rural Development Center. She is a Full Professor in the Department of Economics at Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), where she teaches Regional and Urban Economics, Econometrics, and Health Economics.

At WRDC, Tatiane is applying her expertise to research welfare disparities across rural and urban areas in the United States. Her project examines how differences in the cost of living across states, metropolitan areas, and non metropolitan areas can affect how poverty and inequality are measured.

She is especially excited to work with U.S. microdata and expand her research on poverty and inequality across rural and urban areas.

Outside of her research, Tatiane enjoys riding her bike.

Welcome to the WRDC, Tatiane!

09/28/2026

Meet Dr. Federico Ninivaggi, one of WRDC’s new postdoctoral researchers!

We’re excited to welcome Federico to the Western Rural Development Center, where he brings expertise in regional economics, policy evaluation, and data science.

Federico earned his Ph.D. in Quantitative Methods for Policy Evaluation from the University of Macerata after earning a master’s degree in Economics from Bologna and studying in France and Spain.

At WRDC, Federico’s work focuses on rural livability and measurement, including how communities are represented through data and how those measures can inform decision making. His research also explores rural poverty, local economies, and whether the metrics used to understand communities truly reflect the places and people they represent.

Outside of his research, Federico is a FIGC certified match analyst, playing a variety of sports, and is on a mission to discover the West one road trip at a time.

Welcome to the WRDC, Federico!

09/25/2026

Meet Dr. Richard Acquah-Sarpong, one of WRDC’s new postdoctoral researchers!

We’re excited to welcome Richard to the Western Rural Development Center. Richard is an applied economist whose research sits at the intersection of regional, public, and environmental economics.

Richard earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, followed by master’s degrees in Economics and Data Science from South Dakota State University. He completed his Ph.D. training in Applied Economics at Oregon State University.

At WRDC, Richard will lead and support research examining the economic resilience of rural communities across the Western United States. A major focus of his work is understanding how wildfires and other environmental risks affect businesses and local economies, including business survival, financial distress, relocation, entry, and exit.

Richard is especially excited to collaborate with researchers, Extension professionals, and communities throughout the West and connect his research with the people working directly on challenges facing Western communities.

Outside of research, Richard enjoys photography.

Welcome to the WRDC, Richard!

09/24/2026

What does a healthy civic life look like in a rural community?

Join the WeCAN Peer Learning Network on October 14 for a conversation about Community Civic Health and new ways to think about civic engagement.

Adrian Molina, co-director of Denver-based Warm Cookies of the Revolution, will kick off the conversation.

Bring your curiosity, ideas, questions, and stories to share. You’ll leave with new ideas and a fresh lens for thinking about civic engagement in your community.

October 14
10–11 a.m. PT | 11 a.m.–12 p.m. MT
Access the Zoom link: https://www.westerncan.org/peerlearningnetwork

09/23/2026

The latest edition of the Western Wire, our WRDC newsletter, is now available. Read about the latest developments happening with our research, programs and events!

Some of the topics we cover include:
- the release of the Western Region Household Survey Report
- our October WRDC TAC planning meeting
- a recent article developed from WRDC research data
- our new Postdoctoral Researchers and Visiting Scholar

Haven't subscribed yet? You can get on our mailing list here: https://mailchi.mp/ext-dep.uidaho.edu/wrdc-e-newsletter-sign-up

You can read the newsletter on our website here: https://us11.campaign-archive.com/?u=ac01f99d70dd887a8b00760bb&id=9ce137c377

09/22/2026

Announcing a new WRDC resource: the Western Region Household Survey Report is now available!

How are rural and urban communities across the West rating their quality of life and community well being?

The new Western Region Household Survey Report uses data from the WR Stat: Baseline Survey 2024 to develop indicators of household and community well being across the Western United States.

The report brings together information on economic, social, health, and environmental conditions to help provide a broader picture of livability.

Access the full report here:https://wrdc.uidaho.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Household-Data-Survey-Report_final.pdf

The dataset can be reviewed here: https://wrdc.uidaho.edu/data/

This report and the supporting data are available as a planning and decision-making resource to communities across the West.

Address

322 E Front Street Suite 222
Boise, ID
83702

Website

https://wrdc.uidaho.edu/

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