OCES’s nationally recognized Community & Rural Development Program provides educational and technical assistance to help local leaders and residents promote self-sustaining, long-term economic and community development appropriate to their specific situations.

Educational and training programs focus on a wide range of concerns and issues: Attracting new businesses, expanding existing industry, tourism development, value-added enterprises, product/services research, market analysis, consumer and client opinion surveys, effective customer relations, PRIDE Program, local or county infrastructure development, and many others. A particular focus of the program is to empower local citizens and groups through participatory, community driven efforts to improve their quality of life.

Harper County Rural Development Council

Chairman: Randal Thrasher
Vice Chairman: Charles Dotson
Other members: Merle Swineford, Robert Ward, Gary Waugh, Mike Adams and Troy Lotspeich.

The Harper County Rural Development Council aims to promote businesses within the region. The Council meets every third Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Harper County Extension Office.

The Harper County Rural Development Request for Funding application form can be downloaded in .PDF form by clicking here.