Idaho Rural Partnership

The Idaho Rural Partnership (IRP) was created by executive order on May 5, 1991, under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “National Initiative on Rural Development.” IRP is Idaho’s official Rural Development Council and works with other Rural Development Councils from across the county through Partners for Rural America .  In 2008 the Idaho Legislature passed the Idaho Rural Development Partnership Act.  The statute was amended in 2016 and 2024.

In accordance with the Idaho Code, the IRP board consists of 18 members representing a variety of state, federal, and local stakeholders with an interest in rural prosperity.  This mix of stakeholders brings together a diverse array of public and private resources in innovative collaborations to strengthen communities and improve life in rural Idaho.

IRP is currently housed in the Idaho Department of Commerce and is supported by the agency’s Rural Services team.  

The Idaho Rural Development Partnership Act  (Idaho Code Title 67 Chapter 90) sets forth the following duties for the Idaho Rural Partnership:

• Assess the conditions of rural Idaho.
   
• Advise the Governor and the Legislature on public policy and 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.
   
• Develop better intergovernmental and private/public coordination and to seek out opportunities for new partnerships to achieve rural development goals within the existing structure.
   
• 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.
• To guide IRP activities the Board has established a number of standing committees and will use working groups as the need arises.

• Tom Kealey  – Director, Idaho Department of Commerce (Co-Chair)
• Kelley Packer  – Executive Director, Association of Idaho Cities (Co-Chair)
• Jess Byrne – Director, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
• Brian Dale  – State Director, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Nikol Green – Economic Development Rep., Nez Perce Tribe
• Brad Huerta  – CEO, Lost Rivers Medical Center
• Randy Jensen  – Superintendent, American Falls School District
• Rick Youngblood  – State Director, USDA Rural Development
• Shannon Madsen  – Director, U.S. Small Business Administration Boise District
• Jeff McCurdy  – President, Region IV Development Assoc.
• Hope Morrow  – Senior Advisor , Idaho National Laboratory
• Barbara Petty  – Extension Director, University of Idaho Extension Services
• Representative Doug Pickett –  Idaho House of Representatives
• Senator Doug Ricks – Idaho Senate
• Hayden Rogers – Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor
• Tim Solomon – Regional Business Manager, Rocky Mountain Power
• Chanel Tewalt – Director, Idaho Department of Agriculture
• Federal Agency Representative – Open                                
• Tribal Nation Representative – Open    

View the latest reports from IRP:

• Idaho Rural Partnership Strategic Plan
• Idaho Rural Partnership Organizational and Operational Review
• Idaho Rural Impact Report
• COMING SOON: Idaho Rural Partnership 2024 Annual Report
• Idaho Rural Partnership’s 2020 Annual Report

Point of Contact

Jerry Miller
Rural Services Manager

Idaho Department of Commerce

jerry.miller@commerce.idaho.gov

(208) 287-0780

Find the latest news and events for IRP, Rural Idaho, and meeting announcements on our News & Events Page.