Strengthening Rural Idaho

The Idaho Rural Partnership's mission is to join diverse public and private resources in innovative collaborations to strengthen communities and improve life in rural Idaho.

In August 2007, the Idaho Rural Partnership (IRP) Board of Directors established
the following issues and activities as priorities for IRP action:

• Assess the conditions of rural Idaho. 
• Advise the Governor and Legislature on public policy & strategies to improve the quality of life in rural Idaho. 
• Act as a clearinghouse of information and as a referral center on rural programs and policies.
• Conduct research to rural communities and facilitate communication between rural residents and public and private organizations that provide services to rural communities. 
• Identify organizations, authorities, and resources to address various aspects of rural development. 
• Serve as a nonpartisan forum for identifying and understanding rural issues from all perspectives.
• Foster coordinated approaches to rural development that support local initiatives, not to usurp the individual missions of any of its member organizations or duplicate effort. 
• Seek solutions to unnecessary impediments to rural development, first within Idaho and then through the National Rural Development Partnership. 
• Work cooperatively with the National Rural Development Partnership and other state rural development councils.
• Develop better intergovernmental and private/public coordination and to seek out opportunities for new partnerships to achieve rural development goals within the existing structure.

Visit the Idaho Rural Partnership Web Site

Important IRP Announcements

New Executive Director Chosen for IRP - Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Idaho Rural Partnership is proud to announce its new executive director, Shelby Kerns. Shelby has a diverse background in agriculture, state government, education development and delivery, and public policy. She most recently worked at the Idaho State Department of Agriculture where she was a Trade Specialist working to promote Idaho’s agriculture products domestically and throughout the world, and to address policy issues impacting international trade for the state.

As native of Potlatch, Shelby is passionate about rural Idaho and about improving the quality of life for Idahoans. Her background and experience will serve IRP well and we are excited to have her on board. She officially started on January 2 and looks forward to meeting all of you as soon as possible. 

Contact

Contact Information

Community Review

Information on the Community Review.