must serve on zoning commissions, town boards and boards of supervisors if their place in this society is to be sturdy and profitable. Managed wisely and developed systematically, natural resources can mean the difference between a community's smooth, profitable transition out of commercial farming and a tragic transition in which both land and human values suffer. Open spaces, clean water, unspoiled forests and unpolluted air to breathe become more powerful lures to the urban resident every year-good schools, adequate health facilities, job opportunities, are still too often a dream rather than a reality. Outdoor recreation has grown so rapidly that predictions of expansion continue to fall short of the fact. Rural people can profit by attracting urban people to the countryside. A combination of imagination, training and leadership with information supplied by educational programs can present an almost endless variety of profitable activities. In the people themselves, responding to leadership, will the answers to the problems of heedless urban sprawl, pollution, water and forest conservation and misuse of land be found. We recognize the benefit, not challenge, of the urban oriented use of farmland. But, wise progress must be progress with restraint. Wayward development and indiscriminate use of land will not bring maximum benefit to rural and urban people. Land best suited for agriculture and not needed for urban use should remain in production, not fall victim to premature exploitive development. The community that allows undisciplined suburban growth may forfeit for all time agriculturally related job opportunities, parks, open space, and public recreation land. Summary Four kinds of "rural development" efforts in New York State are illustrative of Cooperative Extension's active involvement. 1. The Community and Resources Development project of the 5-country area surrounding Syracuse, New York-this special project funded by FES-USDA is aimed at solution of both the public and private problems of a rich urbanizing area where there is also evidence of "rural lag." Here Extension provides leadership working with other Federal and State agencies to help this community in a planned orderly development of benefit to rural and urban people. Note attachment #1-Quarterly Report, MIDNY PROJECT, January 1-March 31, 1967. 2. The Mid-Hudson Program (Southeastern New York) under the leadership of FHA. Here Extension is a participant in assisting with programs dealing with the development of the rural sector of this region. 3. The Seven County Resource Conservation and Development Project-in this rural area of South Central New York, SCS has primary leadership responsibility in the development of the natural resources of land, water, and forests of the region. It is expected this will provide alternate job opportunities in recreation and other rural based activities. Cooperative Extension is providing educational leadership in this pilot project. 4. Individual county Resource Development Committees involved in study and recommendations-these are Cooperative Extension sponsored and guided. Note example attachment II for Genesee County, New York. 5. Attachment III-Statement of C. R. Harrington-Cooperative Extension and Community Resource Development. LOGAN-UNION-CHAMPAIGN TRI-COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR The Ohio Cooperative Extension Service, The Ohio State University in Cooperation with Local Leaders ntroduction TRI-COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR MARCH 30, 1967-8:00 P.M. n Outsider's View of the Tri-County Area Mr. James Jennings, Jennings Associates Area Economics Consultants, Columbus, Ohio Exploring Community Goals Dr. John S. Bottum, Cooperative Extension Service Transportation Research Center Plans and Developments Adjourn-10:10 P.M. Leadership Development for Meeting Community Needs Dr. Robert McCormick, Assistant to the Vice President for Educational The Ohio State University Getting the Most Out of Regional Planning Mr. William M. Shaw, Extension Specialist Adjourn-10:10 P.M. Implementing the Regional Plan Mr. Donald L. Crawford, Dayton City Planning Commission The Economics of Community Development Dr. Wallace Barr, Extension Economist The Ohio State University Road Blocks to Community Development Dr. John S. Bottum, Cooperative Extension Service Alternative Opportunities for Meeting Community Needs Where We Go From Here-Follow-Up-Summary FORT SMITH, ARK., Director, Division of Community Resource Development, Federal Ertension Sertice, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. PETTYJOHN: The following comments are to provide you with certain information which Kenneth S. Bates, Assistant Director, requested that I make available to you. The Western Arkansas Economic Development was designated in February 6, 1967 and funded in March of 1967. The counties involved were Crawford. Sebastian, Franklin, Logan, Scott, and Polk. It was necessary that each county update its Overall Economic Development Plan and submit an annual progress report so that an Area OEDP could be developed for counties that were in compliance with EDA. County Agents in the six county area were requested by the State EDA Field Coordinator to assume the leadership in organizing county leadership to meet with the county requirements prior to development of an Area OEDP. County Development Councils previously organized for Overall Economic Development were mutually agreed upon as the organized group to update the OEDP's. Once this was com pleted, public hearings in each county were held by the Director of the Economic Development District, to provide further evidence of immediate and long range needs for economic development. Again the county agents working in connection with the Resource Development Agent assumed the responsibilities of selecting county-wide leadership for the public meetings and to provide current data on agriculture development. When this phase was completed work was begun on a preliminary Area OEDP. A request was again made from the director of the district to the Area Resource Development Agent for an identification of specific problems and opportunities for agriculture business oriented industries. Each county through the County Agent presented economic data to support leadership thinking that there were further opportunities in certain areas for further agriculture business development. The Resource Development Agent then prepared this on an area basis and submitted this to the director for use in developing an area OEDP. Four specialists on a state basis, The Extension Poultryman, Extension Vegetable Marketing Specialist, Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist and Extension Forest Products Marketing Specialist, also contributed to the area OEDP by making available to the Area Resource Development Agent, economic data on the six county area to use in projections for the OEDP. Cooperation with the Director of the Western Arkansas Development District has been excellent in every way. Office conferences are set up periodically to discuss activities where there is mutual concern. Some examples are working with county and city leadership on industrial development, commercial recreation, educational facilities, OEO and municipal water systems for industrial development. Our (Extension's chief contribution is in working with local leadership to the point where they can use specialized services in planning, financing, and action. I do not visualize any duplication of services to this point since our role has been to work with leadership to the point where they recognize opportunities to accomplish economic goals. Normally at this point the are in need of specialized help to accomplish specific phases of their economic goals. I think our experiences with the Economic Development District to date have been one in which we both recognize that much can be accomplished by presenting to leadership a cooperative effort toward total economic development. I think we have demonstrated that we can motivate leadership to the point where there is a proper attitude toward economic growth and can organize leadership into effective groups for the action phase. I think that this is the point where EDA can use such leadership for specific action in any phase of economic development. Again let me emphasize that our relationship has been excellent and no major problems have been encountered. I would like to relate one experience as evidence of the above statements although there are many similar experiences in each of the six counties involved. With the enactment of the Economic Development Act of 1965, Franklin County was designated as a re-development area eligible for 80% grants with EDA for assistance in Economic Development. As soon as interpretations of the act were printed the Franklin County Extension Agent met with the Ozark Chamber of Commerce Industrial Committee and explained the features of the act and gave examples of how the area could make use of these funds in economic development. Shortly thereafter a large industry wanted to locate in the area but could locate only if certain facilities were provided including additional industrial water, an additional sewer, an industrial street, an airport, rail barge facilities across the Arkansas River, an industrial site and evidence of an adequate labor supply. From the previous discussion of the Economic Development Act of 1965, leadership recognized that it was possible to enter negotiations with the industry to try to workout plans for locating in the area. The County Development Council, the County Extension Agent, Job Develonment Coordinator with the community action program, Chamber of Commerce. and State Employment Security Division of the Department of Labor, coordinated efforts to conduct a detailed labor survey through the smaller communities pro gram. This was used to prove to the industry that an adequate supply of labor existed. The Chamber of Commerce Industry Committee (of which the County Agent is a member) established contact with the State Field Coordinator for EDA to plan the facilities needed and start an application for EDA grants. In the meantime the Western Arkansas Economic Development District was funded and the Director assumed the application work and coordination with the EDA. The application has been presented to EDA. A plan for county financing has been developed. An option has been executed for the purchase of industrial land. The project is awaiting approval by EDA. The County Agent, and the Area Resource Development agent has assumed important roles in bringing this about. In addition to securing resource people at critical times they have gathered economic data necessary for applications, met with industry representatives, with leaders have attended discussion meetings with financing organizations and have explained the industrial program to county wide groups and organizations. In the formation of the Economic Development District the Resource Development 9gent met with County Councils, City Government, and Civic groups to explain the objectives of the Development District, and the use that re-development areas could make of it. Very truly yours, DELTON E. PRICE, Area Resource Development Agent. QUARTERLY REPORT, JANUARY 1-MARCH 31, 1967, COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE MIDNY PROJECT (Cayuga, Cortland, Onondaga, Oswego, and Madison Counties-New York State) The Plan of Work for January-June 1967 identifies two sub-objectives restated below accompanied by summaries of progress to date. OF I. "DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ΤΟ MEET THE CONTINUING NEEDS PERSONS OFFICIALLY INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING PROCESS" HAS BEEN PURSUED THROUGH THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: Attendance by the extension associates at the series of seminars conducted primarily for planning board members in seven counties throughout the state by the Office of Planning Coordination. Reports have been prepared on each session. Special attention has been paid to the probable usefulness of the information presented, attention and reactions of the audiences, the relevance of the presentations to the apparent needs of the audiences, and the possibility of improving future presentations. Initial contacts have been made by MIDNY/Syracuse with the Office of Planning Coordination regarding the possibility of cooperation in the production of a series of films that would substitute for the seminars. Advantages would include saving Office of Planning Coordination manpower, expense, and time; flexibility in timing and location of the presentations; opportunities for TV use and increased use of graphics. MIDNY/Syracuse has also explored plans by the State University of New York-especially at ATI-Delhi-to establish a two-year program in planning as a means of increasing the number and quality of sub-professional planning technicians. Contacts have been made by MIDNY/Syracuse with professional planners throughout the region to solicit their ideas and opinions on various techniques for training planning board members and planning office personnel. Several other possibilities have been explored briefly: in-service training for untrained planning office personnel; use of the Community Land Use Game (developed by Professor Allan Feldt. City and Regional Planning); various community self-analysis techniques; and approaches used in other states. All of this work is still underway, and a final report on all aspects will be prepared by the extension associates upon completion of the Office of Planning Coordination seminars in June. At the present time, greatest attention is being paid to the film idea. Considerable interest in it has been expressed by the Office of Planning Coordination, professional planners in the MIDNY region, communications experts at Cornell, and others. PROGRAMS ON II. DESIGN AND CARRY OUT REGION-WIDE EDUCATIONAL-RESPONSE MIDNY/Syracuse backstopped by Extension Associates/Cornell have undertaken a series of preliminary steps in planning for major one-day leadership conferences—one in May on "Land Use" and the other in June on "Transportation." The first subject complements the establishment of a land-use committee by the Central New York-Finger Lakes Regional Planning Board, and the interim report of the New York State Commission on the Preservation of Agricultural Lands. In addition to keeping in close contact with these developments through meetings and attendance at public hearings, conferences have been held with professional persons in outdoor recreation, forestry, conservation, agriculture, housing, and planning to review current studies, strengthen interaction between specialists and in other ways involve a range of knowledgeable persons in planning the forthcoming major conference set for May 17. The "Transportation" conference originally tentatively scheduled for April has been postponed until June. While it is a most timely topic for eduactional treatment, difficulties have been encountered in identifying a theme having a regionwide leadership appeal supported by an adequate research-experience base that will assure balanced, objective treatment of an important topic. Particular attention is being given to the importance of re-emphasis on nonauto transportation in light of the inarticulateness of the poor and others who may be in special need of public transit. Several other region-wide events of relevance to the MIDNY region have been identified and are in early stages of design. All such events are viewed by the MIDNY staff as a first step in building a continuing and integrated educational effort around regional issue areas, to sharpen up and bring out various perspectives, and particularly to involve citizens of MIDNY communities in appraising and responding to proposals set forth by experts and leaders, and to provide leaders with an information base from which to make the decisions relative to planning and development activities that they are and will be called upon to make. Among these are seminars based on two current research projects expected to be completed soon-Professor B. Jones' "Opportunity Loss" study and Professor H. Capener's "Leadership Attitudes" study. III. COUNTY SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES Follow-up work has been carried out in Madison County resulting from a guided bus tour with the Resource Development Advisory Committee. A citizen's volunteer has been enlisted by Madison County Extension to work with local government officials in support of comprehensive planning. Through information and assistance provided by the MIDNY staff and the Central New York Regional Planning Board this individual, working in close contact with the County Agricultural Division is making contacts with a number of town boards, and arranging for informational meetings between town leaders, professional planners, and Extension Agents. In Cayuga County backstopping support has been given to the County Extension Service and the County Planning Staff in their current efforts to develop four or five major informational meetings with town and village officials, planning board members, and other local leaders and citizens who can be interested in resource use and development problems and opportunities of the County, the region of which it is a part, and the planning process. Assistance has been given to a Cayuga County Migrant Committee in undertaking an evaluation of the seasonal farm labor situation in this County. The results are now under study by the Committee and Cayuga County Action Program (O.E.O.) as the 1967 program is being formulated. In Onondaga County MIDNY has been invited by the Metropolitan Development Association to take leadership in following up last years Visual Environment Conference held in Syracuse. Contact has been established with four of the sponsoring organizations and a coordinating committee formed. Several meetings have been held to sharpen the focus on suggestions made at the Visual Environment Conference leading to a course of action for implementing and coordinating conference recommendations. It is expected that the Onondaga County Extension Service will play an active role in following through on this particular activity. |
