Who We Are
North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD) is one of four Regional Rural Development Centers in the United States. NCRCRD’s work links the research and educational outreach capacity of our region’s 34 land-grant universities with our region’s communities, local decision-makers, entrepreneurs, families, farmers, and ranchers to help address a wide range of development issues unique to our region.
The North Central Region (NCR) depends on three interconnected systems: communities, businesses, and households. A robust North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD) enables the achievement of each system’s goals by creating resilient communities and economies, developing leadership and civic engagement, and promoting community health and wellness.
The United State Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) provides core budget and logistical support for coordination across the four regional centers. The North Central Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors (NCRA) is composed of key Land Grant University research administrators from the twelve-state region, and provides operating support for the NCRCRD. The North Central Cooperative Extension Association (NCCEA) is composed of Extension Directors from the twelve-state region, and provides operating support for the NCRCRD.
What We Do
It is the NCRCRD’s mission to build rural communities through cutting-edge research and Extension programs and innovative partnerships. To achieve this mission, we seek to engage research and Extension at all of the land-grant institutions across the North Central Region.
NCRCRD promotes regional collaboration by elevating the research and extension programs in our region; offering grant opportunities to support new and ongoing regional research, extension, and integrated activities; establishing a North Central Region dataset to encourage regional exploration; and creating networking opportunities through webinars, sponsorships, and making introductions between our partners.
Our History
President Richard Nixon signing the Rural Development Act, August 30, 1972.
The passage of the Rural Development Act of 1972 led to the creation of the nation’s four Regional Rural Development Centers (RRDC), which have since played a critical role in elevating Rural America through research, Extension education, and outreach.
The RRDC play a vital connecting role in rural America, linking the research and educational outreach capacity of the nation’s public universities with communities, local decision-makers, entrepreneurs, families, and farmers and ranchers to help address a wide range of rural development issues.
In 2020, NCRCRD moved to West Lafayette, Indiana as Purdue University became the new host of the center. Prior to this move, the Center was hosted by Michigan State University from 2009 – 2019 and Iowa State University from 1972 – 2009.
In 2022, the RRDC commemorated the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Rural Development Act with special events, publications, and engagement opportunities throughout the year. Learn more about our 50th anniversary initiatives
Key Funding and Operational Partners
- United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA)
- North Central Cooperative Extension Association (NCCEA)
- North Central Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors (NCRA)
- Purdue College of Agriculture
- Purdue Extension
- Purdue Department of Agricultural Economics