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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
