EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- Geoffrey A. Marchant* - Executive Director, E.G. Community Development Consortium
- R. Larry Aker - Local Official, Exeter
- Kenneth D. Ayars - RI DEM Division of Ag.
- Edward T. Baker, Jr. - USDA RC & D
- Harriet E. Powell - Southern RI Conservation District
- Raymond M. Goff - Town Planner, Glocester
- Jeffrey A. Gofton - Past Chair RIRDC
- Thomas Sandham - Eastern RI Conservation District
* Executive Committee Chairman
COUNCIL STAFF
- Gerard N. Bertrand - Executive Director
Email: Director@ruralri.org
MISSION STATEMENT
The Rhode Island Rural Development Council is dedicated to improving the quality of life in rural Rhode Island,
while preserving the characteristics which give rural communities their unique sense of place. BACKGROUND & HISTORY
On July 3, 1998, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed the act creating the Rhode Island Rural Development Council. The Act declares, "…
it is in the public interest and a public policy to establish a means by which to promote communication among those interested in rural development and to support the coordination of
programs for rural development". The Council derives its authority from the Rural Development Act of 1972, and Section 754A of the Federal
Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, which provide a mechanism for the National Rural Development
Partnership (NRDP) to strengthen State and Federal rural development relationships. In May 22, 2008, in
accordance with Section 6019 for the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 under the 2008 Farm Bill, Pub.
L. No. 110-234 the National Rural Development Partnership authorization has been extended until September 30,
2012. Accordingly, recognition agreements between existing federally recognized State Rural Development Councils (RIRDC) and USDA extend to this date.
In 2004, The Rhode Island Rural Development Council became a 501(c)3 non-profit organization is currently
continues as a USDA-recognized State Council serving rural-eligible Rhode Island communities. The Council reports to the USDA-Rural Development State Director, Amherst, Massachusetts. |
