Regional Rural Development Centers

Regional Rural Development Centers

Circles with images of people of different  ethnicities Advancing the Economic Health of Rural America

The Regional Rural Development Centers are a trusted source of economic and community development data, decision tools, education, and guidance for our nation's rural communities.

Collectively, the Centers form a one-stop-shop connection to the nationwide network of Land-Grant Universities and the Cooperative Extension Service. Each Center serves a U.S. region and taps its Land-Grant University network to form innovative research and Extension partnerships in the area of rural development. 

Together, the Regional Rural Development Centers help rural communities make science-based decisions about their community and economic development investments.

US map highlighting the northeast region

Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development
  • Hosted by Pennsylvania State University
  • Director: Stephan Goetz
  • Serving Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia

US map highlighting north center region

North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
  • Hosted by Purdue University
  • Director: Maria Marshall
  • Serving Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin

US map highlighting southern rural region

Southern Rural Development Center
  • Hosted by Mississippi State University
  • Director: John J. Green
  • Serving Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands

US map highlighting western rural region

Western Rural Development Center
  • Hosted by Utah State University
  • Interim Director: Betsy Newman
  • Serving Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Micronesia, and Northern Marianas