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Sunday, July 31, 2005

Ind. Government - A look at the new state office of rural affairs

Pam Tharp of the Richomd Palladium-Item, has a story today about the new state Office of Rural Affairs. She explains:

When the former Indiana Department of Commerce was divided, two offices -- the Indiana Economic Development Corp. and the Office of Rural Affairs -- were created. The name change, though, emphasizes the opportunities the Daniels administration thinks are waiting for development in the state's rural areas. More than two-thirds, or 67, of Indiana's 92 counties, are considered rural counties.

"If you can't hit another house from your house with a rock, it's rural," Pearson said.

[Joe] Pearson, former assistant commissioner of agriculture and Grant County farmer, will oversee the office's seven divisions: the Community Development Block Grant Program, High Speed Communications, Strategic Development, Indiana Main Street, Leadership Development, the Indiana Rural Development Council and Grants Management.

Former Randolph County commissioner Greg Beumer of Modoc will head up the Community Development Block Grant Program. Beumer formerly was a grant writer and administrator before joining the Indiana Department of Commerce several years ago.

For more information, see the Office of Rural Affiars homepage, and this page showing details of the Office of Rural Affair's areas of service.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on July 31, 2005 05:35 PM
Posted to Indiana Government