COLLEGE STATION A three-session course in community development was recently completed by 15 county agents with Texas Cooperative Extension.
Several key issues were covered throughout the course, including economic development, rural entrepreneurship and the social interactions of a community.
“The goal of this course was to offer professional development for county agents so they could get a broad understanding of the issues involved in economic and community development, and how agents could interact and be involved with the process,” said Dr. Danny Klinefelter, an Extension economist.
Klinefelter designed the course curriculum and received input from a state community development committee established in response to Extension’s Texas Community Futures Forum.
Extension agents completing the three-session course were: Phillip Bales, Stephens County; Lori Barfield, Fannin County; Galen Chandler, Wilbarger County; Mary Sue Cole, Hunt County; Paulette Cooper, Marion County; Lori Canyus, Nacogdoches County; Mark Dorsey, Baylor County; Illene Dreyer, Washington County; Marty Graves, Williamson County; Carolyn McFarlin, Grayson County; Lexie McGrane, Franklin County; Donnie Peters, Delta County; Justin Rogers, Grayson County; Roy Russell, Johnson County; and Ruben Saldana, El Paso County.
The first three-day session provided an overview on the community development process, including topics such as community diversity, social structure, demographics and leadership. The second session focused on community economics. The third session included discussions on business retention and expansion strategies.
“This training provided a comprehensive, in-depth understanding of community and economic development,” said Greg Taylor, course instructor and Extension state leader for community development programs. “This was limited to a small number of agents who are now going to implement these programs in their counties that can serve as models to all the other counties that identified these issues in their Texas Community Futures Forum.”
Some of the participants who completed the three sessions received full credit toward master’s or doctoral degree work.
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