By Rod Howe
Cornell Cooperative Extension / CaRDI
Rural New York has been transformed by far-reaching national and global economic forces; the understandings and policies of the past no longer provide ready solutions for a world defined by change. Crafting a new, clear, and bold vision for rural New York State is vital for the success and well-being of its citizens, communities, and regions. To help clarify and articulate that vision, the Department of Development Sociology’s Rural New York Initiative, Community and Rural Development Institute, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the NYS Legislative Commission on Rural Resources (LCRR) launched the NYS Rural Vision Project in December 2005.
The Rural Vision Project was selected as the recipient of the 2006 Senator Patricia M. McGee Award by the New York State Association for Rural Health. The award, which was presented in September at the Chautauqua Institution, recognizes an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to the rural healthcare field.
The first six months of the project focused on 11 regional “listening sessions” at which several broad policy and/or thematic areas were discussed: agriculture and food systems; community capacity and social networks; energy; environment, land use and natural resources; housing and transportation; local and regional governance; poverty; rural economic development; rural health care; rural schools and youth; and workforce development.
The Rural Vision Project Phase I report contains comprehensive documentation of not only the listening sessions but also other information-gathering methods, including surveys and focus groups. The report also includes faculty responses to the theme synopses. The emerging rural vision represents the diverse opportunities and challenges to our state's unique regions. Rural development in New York suggests strong networks and partnerships, pride of place, solid citizen support, engaged local governments, and enhanced regional coordination.
There is an interesting tension in ideas that are complementary and contrasting relating to both decentralization and regionalism. There is general understanding that "rural" issues are interrelated and that comprehensive approaches are in the best interests of our communities. There is also great concern for all citizens living in rural communities; participants in the listening sessions identified the need for increased opportunities for youth, senior citizens, small businesses and farms as particularly important.
Ron Branch/LCRR
Max Pfeffer, chair of Development Sociology (left) introduces the NYS Legislative Commission on Rural Resources panel during July’s Future of Rural New York Symposium in Syracuse. The panelists are (left to right) NYS Senator George H. Winner, Jr.; NYS Senator William T. Stachowski; Assemblyman David Koon; and Assemblyman James Bacalles.
The Rural Vision Project Phase II report centers on the Future of Rural New York symposium held in Syracuse July 19–21, 2006. The event attracted over 190 state legislators, state agency representatives, local leaders, Cornell Cooperative Extension educators, Cornell faculty, non-profit organization leaders, and other concerned citizens, to discuss specific program and policy recommendations for the state’s rural issues and opportunities. The symposium included remarks by Senator George Winner, Jr.; Assemblyman David Koon, chair and vice chair of the NYS Legislative Commission on Rural Resources; Ron Seeber, Cornell’s vice provost for land-grant affairs; and David Thornburgh, president and CEO of the Alliance for Regional Stewardship.
You can track the progress of the Rural Vision Project, find supporting documentation, view the Phase I report as well as the July symposium proceedings by going to the Rural New York Initiative’s website at http://rnyi.cornell.edu and by following the links to the Rural Vision Project.