USDA designation of a Great Region for the Tri-State Development Summit is an acknowledgement of a community’s regional approach to creating economic opportunity and job creation in rural communities. USDA supports rural communities that work together on a multi-county or regional basis, with a focus on the development and implementation of ground-level economic development plans. Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack has considered the designation as a priority in the USDA efforts. This designation recognizes the work of the 35-county Tri-State Summit region.
This designation was presented on behalf of USDA Rural Development by State Directors Ms. Colleen Callahan (Illinois), Ms. Janie Dunning (Missouri) and Mr. Bill Menner (Iowa) on November 21, 2013 in Quincy, IL.
By designating the Tri-State Development Summit as a Great Region, Illinois, Iowa and Missouri Rural Development commit support through at least Fiscal Year 2015. This support may include training, technical support, actions to foster intra-regional collaboration, project funding for plan implementation and other support deemed useful.
To be designated, a region must have an economic development plan in place, in process or be willing to prepare an economic development plan. In addition, the region must demonstrate an interest in increasing collaboration across counties and institutions. An economic development plan is generated by a local team with broad participation, built upon careful analysis of the region’s assets and includes key current and emerging economic clusters.
USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has a portfolio of programs designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.
To see more on USDA investments and opportunities in rural communities, please visit Rural Development’s interactive web map at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.
View a pdf of the 2014 Tri-State Development Summit’s Strategic Plan.