1. Initiative for the Future of Rural Oklahoma Southern Community Development Educators May 20, 2004 Joe Williams Joyce Martin James Barnes Mike Woods Gerald Doeksen

2. “The Initiative for the Future of Rural Oklahoma is a three-year pilot program that is designed to demonstrate Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service capabilities in helping communities to address issues, and to develop and empower local leaders so that communities can move forward.”

3. OCES is partnering with communities to address community concerns: 1.Leadership/economic development 2.Changing demographics 3.Advances in technology 4.Globalization 5.Rapid consolidation in the agricultural sector

4. Program History

5. Grants 1. Leadership Grants 2. Initial Leadership Development Grants

6. 1.Leadership Grants Benefit leadership programs already in place or enhance leadership capabilities for specific projects. Range up to $100,000 for 3 years. Grants

7. 2.Initial Leadership Development Grants Fund communities where little or no opportunity for leadership training exists, or where few trained community leaders are active. Range up to $10,000 for 1 year. 1.Leadership Grants Grants

9. Project Dynamics  Initial retreat (November 02)  Servicing Projects  Final Retreat (October 03)  Project Reports  http://ifro.okstate.edu http://ifro.okstate.edu

10. Project Success Stories Making a difference!

11. Gary Strickland Gene Davis Dianna Thompson Jackson County

12. Kent Orrell Kiowa County

13. Three-Year Projects Project Initial FundingSpent Percent Spent 1$78,000$23,03829.5% 2$90,000$28,94532.2% 3$90,000$7,4108.2% Average$19,79823.3%

14. One-Year Projects Project Initial FundingSpent Percent Spent 1$9,000$3,59139.9% 2$9,000$3,86342.9% 3$9,000$5,19957.8% 4$9,000$8,37793.1% 5$9,000$7,81286.8% 6$9,000$6,39771.1% 7$9,000$2,73030.3% 8$2,800$1,03537.0% 9$6,500$4,34966.9% 10$9,000$6337.0% Average$4,39953.3%

15. Quotable Quotes “This [project] is a definite economic boost for the county and the timing couldn’t be better.” Steve Booher, Editor, Cherokee Messenger “We have received more good from the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service and the Greer County Office in the past year than I can ever remember before.” T.A. Allen, President/Greer County Extension Leadership Committee

16. Quotable Quotes (continued) “This type of training is ultimately beneficial to our county community. Rural areas need this to be able to survive in the future. This is a great effort.” Altus Community Leader “This has been an excellent project. We are really getting where we need to be. This grant has brought together the entire county and I hope we can continue the same progress for several years.” Dub Moore, President First National Bank of Davis

17. Where to next?