Rural Development Initiatives Inc

RDI DEVELOPS NETWORKS OF RURAL LEADERS, REVITALIZES RURAL ECONOMIES, AND ELEVATES RURAL PRIORITIES.

REVITALIZE RURAL ECONOMIES - MODELED AFTER SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS IN THE EASTERN U.S., RDI'S WEALTHWORKS NORTHWEST PROGRAM PROVIDES COACHING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO RURAL REGIONS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TO HELP STRENGTHEN RURAL ECONOMIES. IN 2021, RDI CONTINUED TO SUPPORT VALUE CHAIN INITIATIVES IN EXISTING REGIONS INCLUDING OREGON'S NORTH COAST; CONTINUED CAPACITY-BUILDING EFFORTS IN THE JOHN DAY RIVER TERRITORY, COTTAGE GROVE, AND HARNEY COUNTY; EXPLORED POSSIBILITIES THROUGH PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GROUP FOR A ROLE IN SUPPORTING THE EXISTING RURAL CONSTRUCTION TRADE CONTRACTORS AND STRENGTHENING THE PIPELINE FOR NEW ENTRANTS INTO THE FIELD; AND SUPPORTED THE OLYMPIC SEAFOOD SECTOR ALLIANCE, A REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM PARTNERSHIP TO INCREASE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING ENTREPRENEURS, OWNER-ON-BOARD FISH HARVESTERS, AND OTHER SMALL SEAFOOD BUSINESSES IN WESTPORT, LA PUSH, AND TAHOLAH, WASHINGTON. RDI PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANNING THROUGH RURAL DEVELOPMENT INNOVATION CENTER'S RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INNOVATION (REDI) INITIATIVE. THE INITIATIVE IS LED BY RURAL COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PARTNERSHIP (RCAP) UNDER A USDA COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT, AND RDI SUPPORTED TEAMS IN REGIONAL PLANNING IN WESTERN IDAHO, LED BY WESTERN ALLIANCE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; A TEAM FOCUSED ON THE FOOD SECTOR IN COTTAGE GROVE, OREGON, LED BY THE BOHEMIA FOOD HUB; A TEAM FOCUSED ON BIOMASS AND FOOD SYSTEMS IN HARNEY COUNTY, OREGON, LED BY THE HIGH DESERT BIOMASS COOPERATIVE; A NONPROFIT IN EASTERN OREGON FOCUSED ON NATIVE SEED AND RESTORATION; AND A REGIONAL PLANNING TEAM IN THE NORTH OLYMPIC PENINSULA OF WASHINGTON, LED BY THE NORTH OLYMPIC PENINSULA RESOURCE CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.IN 2021, RDI DEVELOPED AN INCLUSIVE, CONSENSUS-BUILDING PLANNING PROCESS ALONG WITH THE NORTH OLYMPIC PENINSULA RESOURCE CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (NODC) AND PARTNERS TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR JEFFERSON AND CLALLAM COUNTIES ON THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA OF WASHINGTON. RDI CONVENED AND FACILITATED VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT ENGAGED 41 LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NONPROFIT, INDUSTRY, TRIBAL, AND COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES. INPUT FROM WORKSHOPS WAS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS OF 11 ADDITIONAL STAKEHOLDERS AND 57 SURVEY RESPONDENTS. THIS CONTENT CONTRIBUTED TO THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION TO DEVELOP THE FIVE-YEAR ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE PLAN.RDI CONTINUED TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR A REGIONAL PLANNING PROCESS IN SOUTHWESTERN IDAHO TO SUPPORT THE CREATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (CEDS) FOR A TEN-COUNTY REGION. WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM USDA, RDI WORKED WITH WESTERN ALLIANCE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO CONVENE STAKEHOLDERS TO INFORM THE REGIONAL CEDS STRATEGY, INCLUDING GATHERING 57 SURVEY RESPONSES FROM REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS IN ALL TEN COUNTIES, AND DELIVERING SIX VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS WITH 18 PARTICIPANTS TO IDENTIFY PRIORITY OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES.IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PANHANDLE AREA COUNCIL, RDI DELIVERED A TWO-DAY WEALTHWORKS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP FOR FIVE NORTHERN IDAHO COUNTIES. THE VIRTUAL TRAINING DREW 25 PARTICIPANTS INTERESTED IN RURAL ECONOMIC VITALITY AND LEARNING NEW APPROACHES TO IMPLEMENT IN COMMUNITY. THE WORKSHOP FRAMED CRITICAL COMPONENTS FOR APPLYING THE WEALTHWORKS APPROACH TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND PROVIDED INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES AND TECHNIQUES AND EXAMPLES TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION.WITH SUPPORT FROM BUSINESS OREGON AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FOUNDRY COLLECTIVE AND WARM SPRINGS COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM, RDI DELIVERED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 39 RURAL OREGON ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN AN EFFORT TO HELP THEM ADAPT TO EVOLVING ECONOMIC CONDITIONS DURING THE PANDEMIC. A GOAL OF THE PROJECT WAS TO ADDRESS MARKET, TECHNOLOGY, FINANCIAL SERVICE, LANGUAGE, AND TRUST BARRIERS WITHIN RURAL AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. RDI PROVIDED MORE THAN 650 INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS TO PARTICIPANTS, THROUGH CONDUCTING FINANCIAL LITERACY AND BUSINESS ADAPTATION TRAINING IN SPANISH; TECHNOLOGY TRAINING TO INCREASE CAPACITY TO ENGAGE IN ONLINE TRAININGS AND CONDUCT BUSINESS FUNCTIONS ONLINE; AND OUTREACH AND MENTORING.RDI'S PASOS AL EXITO (STEPS TO SUCCESS) TRAININGS TEACH FINANCIAL LITERACY AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TO RURAL LATINOS. IN 2021, 100 LATINO COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM COTTAGE GROVE, UMATILLA, AND COMMUNITIES IN OREGON'S COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE AREA ATTENDED PASOS AL EXITO TRAININGS. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED FACILITATED CURRICULUM AS WELL AS ACCESS TO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FOLLOW-UP COACHING, ALONG WITH FOLLOW-UP WORKSHOPS FEATURING LOCAL EXPERTS AND RESOURCES AND A DEEPER DIVE INTO BUSINESS TOPICS. THE PROGRAM INCREASES KNOWLEDGE, CONFIDENCE, AND SKILLS IN THE FINANCIAL ARENA AND IN STARTING AND MANAGING SMALL BUSINESSES.RDI DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED A FOOD BUSINESS TRAINING SPECIFICALLY FOR THE LATINX IMMIGRANT POPULATION, LAUNCHING THE PROGRAM IN COTTAGE GROVE, OREGON, IN 2021. RDI PARTNERED WITH BOHEMIA FOOD HUB, WHICH IS COMPRISED OF A SHARED COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, MULTIPLE FOOD TRUCKS, AND A FOOD MARKET, TO CREATE THE PILOT TRAINING. TRAINING SESSIONS COVERED FOOD SAFETY AND LEGAL REGULATIONS, BUSINESS REGISTRATION, COSTING AND PRICING, MARKETING AND SALES, AND COMMERCIAL KITCHENS. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TOURED A LOCAL COMMERCIAL KITCHEN AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE MARKETING OPTIONS THROUGH POP-UP RESTAURANT EVENTS, FOOD CARTS, AND THE LOCAL FOOD MARKET. THIS PROGRAM WILL EXPAND INTO 2022 IN OTHER REGIONS IN OREGON. RDI ORGANIZED RURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH BUSINESS OREGON'S RURAL OPPORTUNITY INITIATIVE, A STRATEGY TO UNIFY AND STRENGTHEN EXISTING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES TO BUILD RURAL PROSPERITY THROUGH CAPACITY-BUILDING GRANTS. RURAL OPPORTUNITY INITIATIVE IS FUNDED IN THE STATE BUDGET AND ADDITIONAL FUNDS WERE LEVERAGED FOR SIX COMMUNITIES: WARM SPRINGS, BURNS, ONTARIO, LA GRANDE, VENETA, AND BAKER CITY, THROUGH THE KAUFFMAN INCLUSION OPEN AND THE RESER FAMILY FOUNDATION. THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THE INITIATIVE IS TO POSITION RURAL COMMUNITIES FOR SUCCESS AS THEY STRENGTHEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THESE EFFORTS ENGAGED 730 RURAL BUSINESSES, AND IN 2021, RDI SHARED LESSONS LEARNED THROUGH THE INITIATIVE INCLUDING BIG PICTURE PERSPECTIVES, NEEDS OF ENTREPRENEURS, AND SYSTEMS BUILDING. SMALL BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE VITALITY OF RURAL COMMUNITIES, AND A GOAL IS FOR THE LESSONS TO CONTRIBUTE TO MORE ROBUST AND VIBRANT RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND ULTIMATELY CONTRIBUTE TO GREATER RURAL VITALITY. RDI HOSTED A REGIONAL VIRTUAL SESSION THAT FOCUSED ON COLLECTIVELY BUILDING ON THESE LESSONS AS A CALL TO ACTION TO MOVE FORWARD TO SUPPORT THE ENTREPRENEURS AT THE HEART OF RURAL COMMUNITIES.RDI'S BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION (BR&E) PROGRAM HELPS EXISTING, LOCAL BUSINESSES SUCCEED. RDI'S CERTIFIED AND TRAINED PROFESSIONALS WORK HAND-IN-HAND WITH LOCAL LEADERS TO HELP EXISTING BUSINESSES GROW AND CREATE NEW JOBS. IN 2021, RDI CONTINUED BR&E EFFORTS IN FLORENCE, OREGON, AS THE COMMUNITY BEGAN IMPLEMENTING AN ACTION PLAN. BR&E EFFORTS WERE LAUNCHED IN LA GRANDE AND VENETA, OREGON, IN 2021. RDI FACILITATED A PROCESS WITH A CORE TEAM LED BY THE CITY OF LA GRANDE, AND GATHERED INPUT FROM 128 BUSINESSES THROUGH INTERVIEWS AND SURVEYS WHICH RESULTED IN PRIORITY AREAS BEING IDENTIFIED FOR ADDRESSING CHALLENGES. RDI IS CONTINUING TO WORK IN LA GRANDE VIA FOCUS GROUPS IN 2022 TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AS THEY IMPLEMENT ACTION. RDI IS CONTINUING TO WORK WITH CITY OF VENETA STAFF TO CHART NEXT STEPS WITH ONGOING BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION ACTIVITIES AND SUPPORTING FOOD ENTREPRENEURS.AS A DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT SERVICE, RDI PARTNERED WITH OREGON, WASHINGTON, AND IDAHO MAIN STREET COORDINATING PROGRAMS TO COORDINATE, FACILITATE, AND DELIVER MAIN STREET ECONOMIC VITALITY HUB WORKSHOPS, TAILORED TO HELPING COMMUNITY MAIN STREET ECONOMIC VITALITY COMMITTEES ENHANCE THEIR CAPACITY TO UNDERTAKE COLLABORATIVE, IMPACTFUL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES. A REGIONAL APPROACH SERVED THREE MAIN STREET HUBS IN 2021. COMMUNITIES INCLUDED THOSE IN OREGON'S ONTARIO, LA GRANDE, AND MILTON-FREEWATER REGIONS. THE APPROACH IS AIMED AT ENHANCING DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION EFFORTS IN EACH OF THE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES AND STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIPS THROUGHOUT THE REGION THROUGH A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS, TRAININGS, ONGOING COACHING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; ADDITIONAL HUBS WILL BE SERVED IN 2022.

DEVELOP NETWORKS OF RURAL LEADERS - RDI CONTINUED TO DELIVER OUR RURAL COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, A SKILL-BASED TRAINING FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING THE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP CAPACITY OF INDIVIDUALS, AND SERVED FOUR RURAL REGIONS OF WASHINGTON STATE AND SWEET HOME, OREGON. FOLLOW UP SUPPORT TO 2021 COHORTS INCLUDED WORKING WITH MORE THAN 160 INDIVIDUALS FROM MASON COUNTY, GREATER PALOUSE, PIERCE COUNTY/WHITE RIVER PLATEAU, AND WALLA WALLA COUNTY. RDI HOSTED THE FIRST GREAT IDEAS DINNER IN PALOUSE, WASHINGTON, WITH 15 ENGAGED COMMUNITY-CENTERED LEADERS COMING TOGETHER TO DISCUSS THEIR COMMUNITY NEEDS; THREE GRANTS WERE AWARDED TO IDEAS THAT WILL MAKE CHANGE IN THE COMMUNITY. RDI DELIVERED THE INAUGURAL RURAL YOUTH LEADERS PROGRAM IN SWEET HOME, OREGON, ALONG WITH THE LOCAL BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. A DOZEN YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM, CULMINATING WITH A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT WITH THE CITY TO IMPROVE A LOCAL PARK. A SECOND YOUTH LEADERSHIP CLASS IS PLANNED FOR SWEET HOME IN 2022. AS PART OF THE LATINX ENGAGEMENT PROJECT, RDI CONDUCTED DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH ABOUT THE LATINX POPULATIONS IN OREGON'S POLK COUNTY, HELD INTERVIEWS WITH STAKEHOLDERS OF THE LATINX POPULATIONS IN THE COUNTY TO EVALUATE THE EXTENT OF LATINX ENGAGEMENT, AND CREATED A REPORT RELATED TO LATINX OPPORTUNITIES AND ENGAGEMENT. RDI IS WORKING TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE SMALL BUT GROWING LATINX POPULATIONS IN POLK COUNTY TO PROMOTE INCLUSION AND CONSIDERATION IN COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION EFFORTS THAT MOVE FORWARD IN 2022.RDI DELIVERED THE ORGANIZATIONAL READINESS AND PROPOSAL WRITING CURRICULUM, READY, SET, GRANT IN 2021 IN PERSON IN LAKEVIEW, OREGON, AND VIRTUALLY. THIS GRANT-WRITING TRAINING PROVIDES A ROADMAP TO FUNDING SUCCESS AND IS TARGETED TO SMALL, RURAL NONPROFITS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND INCLUDES ACCESS TO ONE-ON-ONE COACHING FROM KELLEY NONPROFIT CONSULTING. DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, A SHIFT WAS MADE TO VIRTUAL DELIVERY WHICH RESULTED IN 42 REGISTRANTS FROM 28 COMMUNITIES, 22 COUNTIES, TWO STATES, AND THE BURNS PAIUTE TRIBE. RDI SAW A BENEFIT TO CONNECTING NONPROFIT DIRECTORS AND OTHER RURAL LEADERS FROM DIFFERENT PLACES; THEY FEEL LESS ISOLATED AND APPRECIATE HEARING FROM OTHERS WORKING THROUGH THE SAME CHALLENGES AND ISSUES AS THEY WORK TO BUILD COMMUNITY. FOR THE LAKEVIEW TRAINING, RDI WORKED WITH A LOCAL TEAM TO BRING THE PROGRAM TO THE COMMUNITY; HOWEVER, WILDFIRE AND PANDEMIC RESURGENCE RESULTED IN HYBRID IN-PERSON/VIRTUAL DELIVERY. TEN PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED IN PERSON, AND 107 PARTICIPATED IN THE VIRTUAL DELIVERY. THROUGHOUT 2021, RDI CONTINUED TO SERVE AS LEAD PARTNER FOR RURALEAD. FUNDED BY THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION, RURALEAD IS A LEARNING INITIATIVE AND NATIONAL NETWORK OF RURAL AND INDIGENOUS SERVING ORGANIZATIONS. TOGETHER, WE EXPLORED THE BROAD FIELD OF RURAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND HOW WE CAN ELEVATE LEADERS IN ALL THEIR FORMS. WE INVENTORIED NEARLY 400 RURAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS; HELD FOUR REGIONAL LEARNING JOURNEYS WITH DOZENS OF RURAL LEADERS; INTERVIEWED MORE THAN 100 LEADERS, PRACTITIONERS, AND FUNDERS; AND CONVENED THE WIDE AND VARIED FIELD TO MAKE MEANING OF INITIATIVE LEARNINGS. RURALEAD RESULTED IN IMMEDIATE CHANGE IN RDI'S WORK AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PEER SUPPORT NETWORK.

ELEVATE RURAL VOICES AND PRIORITIES - RDI ENGAGED STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS IN HERMISTON, OREGON, TO IMPLEMENT A VIRTUAL VERSION OF THE RURAL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECT: MAKING LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORK FOR YOU PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM BROUGHT TOGETHER NEARLY 20 PARTICIPANTS FROM HERMISTON, OREGON, TO WALLA WALLA, WASHINGTON. THREE EXPERT PANELS INCLUDED A FOCUS ON ELECTED OFFICIALS, SUCCESSFUL COALITIONS, AND MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS. RDI ORGANIZED A SERIES OF COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS WEBINARS IN 2021 WITH FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS RELATED TO IMPACTS ON RURAL COMMUNITIES OF RECENT EVENTS AND SPUR ACTION TOWARD SYSTEMS CHANGE. TOPICS INCLUDED REMOTE WORK, HOW OREGON POLICYMAKERS ARE ADDRESSING RURAL NEEDS, SEEKING COMMON GROUND IN THE RURAL-URBAN DIVIDE, DIVERSITY IN RURAL, AND STRATEGIES FOR FUNDING RURAL PRIORITIES. THESE FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS FEATURED EXPERT PANELISTS FROM THROUGHOUT THE U.S. AND DREW NEARLY 700 ATTENDEES.DURING OREGON'S 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, RDI TRACKED AND DISSEMINATED INFORMATION RELATED TO PENDING FEDERAL BILLS AND STATE LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES WITH RURAL IMPACT. IN ADDITION TO ASSEMBLING A TRACKING REPORT FOR RURAL CONSUMPTION AND PROVIDING TIMELY UPDATES, RDI FOCUSED ON BILLS THAT IMPACTED RURAL RESOURCES, ASSISTED WITH WILDFIRE RECOVERY, OR SUPPORTED ECONOMY BUILDING. IN ADDITION, RDI WROTE AND COORDINATED A SIGN-ON LETTER WITH RURAL DEVELOPMENT HUB PARTNERS ACROSS THE NATION TO EXPLAIN THE UNIQUE RURAL BARRIERS TO ACCESSING FEDERAL RESOURCES, AND TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO FEDERAL AGENCIES WORKING TO STAND UP RECOVERY PROGRAMS. THE LETTER WAS SIGNED BY 70 ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.RDI CONTINUES TO MANAGE A FACEBOOK GROUP FOR THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST RURAL ACTION NETWORK AS A PLACE TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION TO RURAL COMMUNITIES ABOUT RECOVERY FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND PENDING FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATION WITH RURAL IMPACT. THIS NETWORK IS ALSO A SPACE FOR RDI PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, PARTNERS, FRIENDS, SUPPORTERS, AND OTHERS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES TO CONNECT.IN 2021, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF ST. LOUIS AND THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD OF GOVERNORS PUBLISHED A RURAL DEVELOPMENT-CENTERED PUBLICATION WHICH FEATURED A CHAPTER WRITTEN BY RDI'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HEIDI KHOKHAR. THE CHAPTER "MEETING LEADERS WHERE THEY ARE: LESSONS FROM THE RURAL COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PROGRAM" HIGHLIGHTS LEARNINGS FROM RDI'S DECADES OF WORKING HAND-IN-HAND WITH RURAL LEADERS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND MAKES THE CASE THAT DEVELOPING RURAL LEADERS PROVIDES THE FOUNDATION TO CREATING RURAL COMMUNITY VITALITY.

NETWORKING AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT - IN 2021, RDI CONVENED RURAL FORWARD, A ONE-DAY VIRTUAL EVENT WHICH DREW NEARLY 140 ENGAGED AND ENERGETIC ATTENDEES WHO PARTICIPATED IN DISCUSSIONS FOCUSED ON RURAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND PUBLIC POLICY. THE CONVENING INCLUDED A PRESENTATION ON THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE COMPLEX TOPIC OF THE RURAL-URBAN DIVIDE; A SESSION FEATURING THE RURALEAD LEARNING INITIATIVE; AND A SESSION FOCUSED ON LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE RURAL OPPORTUNITY INITIATIVE (ROI) PROGRAM. A GOAL OF THE EVENT WAS TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES AND ACTIONS TO MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER TOWARD STRONGER, MORE EQUITABLE RURAL COMMUNITIES. RDI BEGAN THE PLANNING PROCESS IN 2021 FOR OUR 12TH REGARDS TO RURAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR 2022 IN PENDLETON, OREGON. A GOAL OF THE CONFERENCE IS TO STRENGTHEN AND CELEBRATE RURAL PEOPLE, PLACES, AND ECONOMIES, AND PROVIDE A PLACE FOR PARTICIPANTS TO CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER, LEARN FROM LEADERS IN THE FIELDS OF LEADERSHIP, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND PUBLIC POLICY, AND GAIN TOOLS TO TAKE ACTION AND MAKE CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.IN 2021, RDI EXPERIENCED INCREASED INTEREST IN RURAL EQUITY CENTERED AND LATINX SERVING WORK. AS A RESULT, WE FOCUSED ON SEVERAL UNIQUE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI) EFFORTS INCLUDING A STATEWIDE WEBINAR ABOUT SEEING DIVERSITY IN RURAL, A TRAINING TO BUILD RDI STAFF'S EQUITY FACILITATION SKILLS, AN ASSESSMENT OF POLK COUNTY LATINX POPULATION AND THEIR NEEDS, A TRAINING FOR EASTERN OREGON ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPROVE OUTREACH AND SERVICES FOR LATINX PEOPLE, AND CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT WITH A NATIONAL INITIATIVE, RURALEAD, THAT EXPLORED CENTERING EQUITY IN RURAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. IN ADDITION TO THIS NEW DEI SPECIFIC WORK, WE CONTINUED TO DELIVER OUR LONG-STANDING PASOS AL EXITO ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM, INCORPORATED A DEI SPECIFIC MODULE AND CRITERIA INTO OUR FLAGSHIP RURAL COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, AND FOCUSED MUCH OF OUR 2021 ECONOMIC VITALITY WORK ON SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY FOR MINORITY-OWNED RURAL BUSINESSES AND THE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT THEM.THE RDI BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOCUSED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A 2022-2024 STRATEGIC PLAN WITH SUPPORT FROM STAFF, PARTNERS, AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS. THE PROCESS AIMS TO MERGE RDI'S DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION PLAN WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. PLANNING ACTIVITIES INCLUDED A REGION-WIDE SURVEY, THE HIRING OF A PROFESSIONAL FACILITATOR AND COMMUNITY RECOVERY ADVISOR, AND EXTENSIVE MEETINGS WITH PARTNERS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT HUB PEERS NATIONWIDE. BOARD AND STAFF WORK GROUPS RESEARCHED EMERGING TOPICS, DRAFTED STRATEGY, AND IDENTIFIED GUIDING PRINCIPLES. RDI'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL APPROVE THE NEW EQUITY AND COMMUNITY-CENTERED STRATEGIC PLAN DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2022.