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Understanding and supporting the development of community-driven approaches to developing healthy and sustainable rural economies.
Pathways to Prosperity is an applied research and extension project that focuses on how communities can collaboratively develop
local food processing facilities, branding and marketing campaigns, and other value-added agriculture strategies aimed at improving
the profitability and economic viability of local farms and ranches.
It connects rigorous research with extension outreach to support the development of effective, collaborative approaches to
strengthening the value-added food and agricultural sector in rural communities by developing their unique resources and amenities.
Rural Issues and
Opportunities
Despite providing important resources and stewarding many assets, rural communities suffer from disinvestment and the economic strains of a changing economy. Pathways to Prosperity seeks to reverse these trends through investing in these communities.
A Focus On
Collaborative Pathways
Collaborative approaches to leveraging rural resources is what we term the “pathway to prosperity.” Within this perspective are four foundational assertions that leverage a community’s resources and values.
Project Research
and Outreach
Pathways to Prosperity combines research at both the local community and national levels. Extension and policy outreach help to identify, verify, and disseminate effective and collaborative approaches to value-added sector development.
National Assets Database
To foster further research and informed practice on asset-based approaches to rural agriculture economic development, Pathways compiles nationwide metrics on community wealth and value-added agriculture. These databases are made public so that other researchers and communities can use them to further advance this work.
Resources and Publications
Pathways to Prosperity develops resources and publications to support your research or community efforts in strengthening the development of healthy rural economies.
Contact Us
Questions about Pathways to Prosperity, have ideas or recommendations, or want to know how you can contribute or get involved? We would love to hear from you!
Or Snail Mail at: Pathways to Prosperity | 310C Page Hall | 1810 College Road North | Columbus, OH 43210
This work is supported by Innovation for Rural Entrepreneurs and Communities Program
(grant no. 2019-68006-29681)
from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
