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Report focuses on State government economic development efforts to rural communities, examining six states’ policies and subsequent impact on small agricultural communities.
Studies focus on six ‘middle border states’ . Findings point to a lack of effective policy framework at the federal and state level toward small agricultural communities. Policy recommendations include incentive programs for self-employment sectors , expansion of small business development centers, shift in development paradigm from “competitiveness” to “cooperation”, consolidation of assistance documents, establish/strength programs to aid beginning farmers, support efforts to develop non-farm businesses and secondary farm enterprises.
