I. Introduction

The idea of a rural futures institute grew out of a Hewlett Packard Digital Village grant proposal effort undertaken by community and campus leaders in Havre Montana. When the proposal did not receive funding, the team contacted the President of Communities of the Future, a North Carolina-based futures thinker.

In December 2000, a small business futurist organization, (Sohodojo, the technical support provider for the Communities of the Future network), was engaged to develop an Internet-based community platform website for a potential rural futures institute. The new institute was to be located in Havre Montana. It was named the North American Rural Futures Institute (NARFI), to define the scope of its mission.

The NARFI community website (http://narfi.org) was designed, developed and put on line by early April 2001. Initial Internet search engine promotion of the NARFI website was conducted from April through June 2001.

In July 2001 the Regents of Montana State University approved the Havre-based North American Rural Futures Institute as an MSU-Northern agenda.

In June 2002 a Congressional appropriation was awarded from the “Fund for the Improvement of Post Secondary Education” as start-up funding for the new institute.

In mid-September, 2002 a director for the new institute was hired. The director, then living in Raleigh, North Carolina, was provided with the 4-page budget proposal/narrative from the Congressional Award Application as the guideline for initial activities, which commenced remotely from North Carolina.

On January 30, 2003, the director and family completed the selling of their house in Raleigh and their move to Havre Montana.

On February 3, 2003, the director was provided with a full copy of the Directed Grant Application and Grant Award Notification (Award No: P116Z020226), which included the Statement of Work submitted with the Congressional Award application.

In March, April and May 2003, the director of NARFI conducted an in-depth evaluation of the Congressional Award Application, Statement of Work, Timetable, Budget and Evaluation Plan. The Program Update was written in June 2003.

The Program Update provided here:

Provides a revised Program Plan for 2003-2005 based on well specified:

Goals, Objectives and Methods
Evaluation, Dissemination and Utilization Plans
Facilities, Equipment and Personnel Needs
Program Budget and Plan for Future Funding

Recommendation

In-depth evaluation of the original Statement of Work determined that the program originally proposed relied on there being expertise and interest among the faculty at MSU-N, as well as keen interest in the region, for rural futures planning. Evaluation showed that this was not yet so.

In order for any futures-oriented program to occur, a number of steps must be taken to first develop knowledge and expertise among those charged with providing the education – in this case, MSU-N faculty. Grass-roots interest must be developed in the rural communities, among community leaders, economic developers, decision makers, educators and citizens to even seek alternative models and innovative solutions to issues that not all of these stakeholders yet see as serious.

Information on emerging trends, research and case studies of programs working on rural futures and rural sustainability must be disseminated across the rural population in a very pro-active, easily understood, forthright, friendly, and visible manner.

Young students – the next generation of rural decision makers – need to understand that rural life is changing. Before they reach adulthood, we must inspire them to seek innovative solutions to rural futures issues. They must gain basic skills in planning for the future and understand the impact decisions can have on complex problems.

We cannot afford to wait for potential teachers in teacher education programs to be inspired, graduate and then perhaps begin developing rural futures curricula in their classrooms. We must approach young students and their current teachers, with rural futures issues now. Planning for a sustainable rural future is that important to all of us!

Reacting to crises is not a sustainable strategy. Rural citizens need to start thinking now about how to shape their future.

Montana is not alone in facing rural futures planning challenges. But it is here where we can experiment, test, model and call rural citizens to action to find some of the “best practices” for all of rural North America.

To truly have an impact on rural futures in North America, NARFI must follow a clear path. NARFI must find where rural citizens are currently focused, help them to widen their view of the issues and problems they will need to face over the next 10 – 50 years, and help them gain the skills they will need, to make wise choices and sustaining decisions.

The NARFI Program should start at the beginning of the path and develop a strong mapping to potential successes. The Program Update detailed below is focused on that road to a strong rural future for Montana - and all of North America.

II. NARFI Program Update Overview

The Program Update that follows details a revised plan for the use of the Congressional Award - P116Z020226 to seed and start the North American Rural Futures Institute at MSU-Northern. (Note: A number of the projects listed in the update plan are already underway and are indicated as such below.)

A. Introduction

Although the original NARFI Program tasked Montana State University-Northern faculty with creating relevant curricula and sponsoring a Rural Futures Summer Institute based on faculty futures-oriented projects, it was clear during the evaluation, that the faculty does not yet have the relevant background to launch into such an endeavor.

For MSU-N to become a leader in rural futures thinking and to be able to collaborate with local, regional and national partners on rural futures issues – as is supported by the Congressional Award – a strong foundation must first be laid.

B. Goals and Objectives

The thrust of activities in the Program Update is on the step-wise progression to move MSU-Northern and rural Montana, from where they are now to where potential lies for Montana to become a leader in rural futures innovation and education.

The NARFI Program Update includes the following overall goals:

· Educate MSU-N faculty on emerging trends in their respective fields.

Help Northern faculty gain skills in the methodologies of futures planning, (e.g., environmental scanning, scenario building and assessment, and forecasting).
Develop interest among local and regional community citizens to explore current issues, emerging trends, and innovations related to all aspects of rural sustainability.
Develop grass-roots interest among local and regional community leaders to consider innovative alternatives in their planning for the future.

· Help local and regional decision makers to develop basic skills in the methodologies of futures planning.

Develop in the next generation of rural citizens interest in, and awareness of, the need to become skilled in the methodologies for futures planning.
Help rural educators to develop a rural futures focus in their middle and high school curricula.
Develop networks of local, regional, and national futures thinkers focused on rural futures issues.
Seek collaborationson state, national and global projects to develop and test new models and innovations for rural economic sustainability.

NARFI’s overall objective is to connect educators, rural citizens, community leaders, researchers and futurists throughout Montana, North America and around the world who are working on innovative visions to enhance the sustainability of rural regions.

C. Mission and Roles

Beginning with revised mission, roles and objectives statements, the North American Rural Futures Institute Program Update more sharply focuses on building the background required for NARFI at MSU-N to become a change agent for rural Montana – to help position the State as a leader in rural futures innovation.

1. Mission Statement

The North American Rural Futures Institute (NARFI) is an applied futures institute. Its mission is to provide the most important information relevant to decisions that must be made over the next five decades by rural citizens across North America; and to provide opportunities for those citizens to acquire the skills necessary to evoke and evaluate change and innovation for a sustainable rural future.

NARFI has four key roles to its overall mission:

· LENS - to be the eyes and ears for rural sustainability in North America.

· CATALYST - to evoke change and innovation among rural leaders and educators and to develop a rich network of collaborators to engage in rural futures research, experimentation and thinking.

EDUCATOR - to assist educators to develop a rural futures focus within their existing programs and to help students plan for a sustainable rural way of life.
REPOSITORY - to become an information and education resource for all of Montana, North America and interested others across the globe.

2. Mission Objective

NARFI’s mission objective is to connect educators, rural citizens, community leaders, researchers and futurists throughout Montana, North America and around the world who are working on innovative visions to enhance the sustainability of rural regions.

D. Projects and Collaborations of the Program Update - Overview

To accomplish the mission, goals and objectives of the NARFI Program Update, a number of NARFI-led Projects are already underway. To position NARFI, MSU-N, and Montana as leaders in rural futures activism, a number of Collaborations are already under development with key researchers from across North America and Australia; others are being explored with rural futurists from New Zealand, Japan, and the UK.

Below is the list of Program Update Projects and Collaborations with a brief overview description of each. Following this Overview section, each NARFI-led Project is more fully described with details on specific activities, cooperating organizations, staffing and administration, work plan and timetable, budget, evaluation, dissemination, etc. Each Collaboration agenda is described in greater detail in terms of goals, collaborators, anticipated projects, and strategies for funding.

1. NARFI-led Projects

The following projects are under the direct leadership of the North American Rural Futures Institute (NARFI). These projects are currently being seed funded by the Congressional Award as they get underway. Detailed information can be found on each project in the NARFI-led Projects in Detail section that follows the Overview.

a) Futures Thinkers mini grants

This project funds individuals from rural regions in Montana to attend information events on alternative energy, emerging technology, etc., and skill-building events in futures studies methodologies.

b) Rural Futures Information and Community Outreach Project

NARFI’s downtown Havre location provides rural futures information - brochures, pamphlets, informative events (speakers, films, discussions, etc.) and suggested sites to visit in Montana to see innovative projects already underway.

c) NARFI Interactive Rural Futures On-line Portal

This project provides in-depth information on emerging technologies, events and conferences, white papers, articles and research in any way related to rural sustainability.

d) NARFI on-line Rural Futures Directory

This Directory provides annotated links to information sources, organizations, research, field tests, best practices, legislation, value-added agendas, etc., on any and all issues related to rural future issues across North America.

e) Future Futurists Outreach Project

This project engages rural youth and the adults involved in their education in information-based exhibits, hands on experiences, contests, classroom projects, field trips, etc., focused on current issues and emerging trends in various aspects of rural Montana life.

f) NARFI Communities of Practice

This project stimulates the creation of grassroots-based special interest groups on rural futures issues and facilitates local and regional expertise in emerging knowledge areas essential to future rural economic sustainability.

g) Futures Planning – Skills Workshops

This project for educators, community leaders, economic development stakeholders and rural citizens, provides basic skills in the methodologies of futures studies, e.g., environmental scanning, scenario building and assessment, and forecasting.

h) Rural Futures Institute Conference

This project for educators, community leaders, economic development stakeholders and rural citizens, provides education, information and hands-on opportunities to explore best practices, innovations and on-going research on rural futures issues.

NARFI-led Projects	Lens	Catalyst	Educator	Repository
Futures Thinkers mini grants	X	X	X
Rural Futures Community Outreach		X	X	X
NARFI Rural Futures on-line Portal	X	X	X	X
NARFI Rural Futures Directory	X	X	X	X
Future Futurists Outreach		X	X	X
NARFI Communities of Practice	X	X	X	X
Futures Planning – Skills Workshops		X	X
Rural Futures Institute Conference	X	X	X

Table 1: NARFI-led Projects and the key role of the NARFI mission
to which each primarily relates

2. NARFI Collaborations

The following Collaborations are already underway with key researchers and stakeholders from across North America and Australia. The Congressional Award is currently being used to fund some initial costs e.g., travel expenses to attend meetings, teleconference and long-distance phone calls, and to provide seed money for design and initial development of on-line collaboration websites. Detailed information on these Collaborations can be found in the NARFI Collaborations in Detail section that follows the Overview.

a) NWAF Poverty Reduction Proposal

In the Spring of 2002 the 11-county region of North Central Montana was selected as one of four regions in the U. S. with a high level of poverty, yet potential, to which the North West Area Foundation (NWAF) provided seed funds to develop a 10-year plan proposal to reduce poverty. At the end of 2003, NWAF will select 1-2 of the 4 contending regions with which to partner over the next ten years, providing seed funding for the poverty reduction 10-year plan for that region.

The key NWAF criteria for proposal selection is for regional citizens and community and organization leaders to develop a region-wide plan that would move forward with or without NWAF funds.

(1) Poverty Reduction in North Central Montana

Since February 2003, NARFI has been a key participant on the Economic Development Strategy Team of the North Central Montana Community Ventures Coalition – the Montana regional group working on this NWAF proposal. Timlynn Babitsky, the Director of NARFI was asked in May to join the Leadership Council and made pivotal contributions to development of the Mission Statement and Guiding Principles for the 10 year Poverty Reduction Program proposal.

(2) North Central Montana Brand and Portal

Development of a rich network of economic developers, marketing and technology specialists to focus on regional, national and global marketing of North Central Montana agricultural, arts, crafts, cultural, history-related, and tribal products through deployment of a North Central Montana Internet portal. This is the key project in the 10-year plan in which NARFI will participate.

b) The Network Economy Research Theme

The Network Economy focus within NARFI’s applied futures research program brings together a collection of communities of practice, projects, and research collaborations that address the social and economic opportunities for rural citizens and communities to “Live locally, think globally.” How do we tap the inherent creativity and independent spirit of rural entrepreneurs and rural communities to find ways to effectively participate in the global economy without succumbing to the too-often self-destructive trends toward over-consumption and unchecked growth that plague urban areas?

NARFI’s initial projects and collaborations within the Network Economy theme address innovations in small business and workforce independence that tap what Richard Florida, Carnegie Mellon’s distinguished professor of regional economic development, calls “the rise of the Creative Class.”

(1) The “Rise of the Creative Class in the Small” Research Agenda

Knowledge workers of the last twenty years have transformed to become members of what Richard Florida calls the Creative Class. In his best-selling book of the same name, Florida suggests that we are witnessing “The Rise of the Creative Class” (the book and theory being widely referred to by the acronym, tROCC). Necessarily independent in a world where employment relationships are measured in months rather than years, members of the Creative Class value “place” above the “job.” Where folks live is increasingly more important than for whom they work.

(a) tROCCits Creativity Index Project

NARFI, together with its collaborative partners Sohodojo and The Richard Florida Creativity Group, will engage in fundamental research to identify and understand the dynamics of “the Rise Of Creative Class in the small” (tROCCits) to complement and extend Richard Florida’s social and economic theory. Dr. Florida recognizes the extension of his theory into rural regional economies as vital and timely to the growth of his research.

(b) tROCCits On-Line Conference

As part of an initial awareness program and to stimulate collateral research projects related to the Creativity Index Project, the tROCCits partners will host and sponsor a web-based, on-line conference to network researchers, local and regional rural economic developers and graduate students wanting to intern and otherwise participate in this research agenda.

(2) Microenterprise Networks Research Agenda

With the erosion of life-long, career employment, especially in rural economies, we are seeing the reinvigoration of solo and family-based entrepreneurship. Multi-job “portfolio” work-lives and the growth of owner-operated (no employee) small businesses are as much a return to the past as they are a reflection of 21^st Century rural lifestyles where independence and a can-do spirit are vital to personal and community sustainability.

(a) The Chandler Guild and Big Sky Chandlers

ME-nets applied research is being most actively pursued by NARFI collaborator, Sohodojo, the non-profit applied R&D lab supporting solo and family-based entrepreneurship in rural and distressed urban communities. Sohodojo co-founder and research director, Jim Salmons, is currently NARFI’s Entrepreneur and Futurist In Residence. He brings a deep understanding and practical experience to this position that is helping to create and shape the research focus of NARFI’s Rural Entrepreneurism Community of Practice.

Sohodojo has strategically partnered with Iowa-based Soyawax, Inc. on the development of The Chandler Guild, a microenterprise network of soybean wax candlemakers. NARFI’s Rural Entrepreneurism Community of Practice will mentor and support the creation of Big Sky Chandlers, a statewide hub within the larger Chandler Guild microenterprise network.

(b) Montana Scatterlings Project

As the employment system, social relations and regional economic opportunities increasingly are driven by the dynamics of the emerging global network economy, social networks and local economies are transcending the limits of place and moving toward extended networks of trust and mutual interdependence. NARFI calls this extended social and economic network the Montana Scatterlings – Montanans who have the best interest of Montana at heart but who do not currently reside in Montana.

This collaborative project will map the distribution of Montanans within the extended social and economic networks that transcends geographic borders. By first mapping the composition and extent of this extended network, NARFI will seek to articulate and advocate programs and business strategies that maximize the effectiveness of the participation of rural small businesses in the network economy.

NARFI Collaborations	*Trend*		*Focus*
NARFI Collaborations	Economic	Social	Research	Applied
NWAF Grant Proposal
- Poverty Reduction - North Central Montana	X		X
- North Central Montana Brand and Portal	X	X		X
Network Economy Research Theme
The Rise of the Creative Class in the Small	X	X	X
- tROCCits Creativity Index Project	X	X	X
- tROCCits On-Line Conference	X	X		X
Micro-enterprise Network	X		X
- The Chandler Guild and Big Sky Chandlers	X		X	X
- Montana Scatterlings Project	X	X	X	X

Table 2: NARFI Collaborations and the trend and focus to which each most relates

III. NARFI-led Projects in Detail

The following section provides greater detail on the projects under the direct leadership of the North American Rural Futures Institute (NARFI).

These projects are currently being seed-funded by the Congressional Award as they get underway. Further funding will be pursued through focused grant proposals aimed at particular project activities, appropriate funding sources, and a specific set of goals and objectives for each fundable activity.

A. Futures Thinkers Mini-grants Project

1. Goal

Leadership in rural futures planning will develop in rural Montana.

2. Description

This project provides funds for individuals from rural regions in Montana to attend information events on value-added electricity, fuel cell development, bio fuels, solar power, wind power, alternative energy and emerging technology in general; new trends in agriculture, ranching, conservation, housing, transportation, community decision making, education and so on – essentially on any issue related to rural futures. Mini grants are also provided to individuals to attend skill-building events in futures studies methodologies.

3. Implementation

NARFI staff members select mini-grant opportunities and alert MSU-N faculty, local organizations, media sources, educators, and community leaders in rural Montana of the availability of a mini-grant for a particular event. Prospective mini grant recipients are selected through a short interview and outside recommendation.

Following the event, mini-grant recipients must provide a copy of any information distributed in the event and an event report and interview for the NARFI Interactive on-line portal. The recipient is identified to the community and on-line as a “NARFI Futures Thinker.”

Futures Thinkers are subsequently kept informed on their particular topic area through inclusion on all NARFI information dissemination lists and newsletters. A NARFI Future Thinker becomes part of the local, regional and state network of interest in the topic area; will be invited to NARFI sponsored events as a VIP; and is expected to take a leadership role in his/her community on rural futures issues.

4. Project 2003-2005 Activities

Provide mini-grants to five Futures Thinkers in the first year and ten in the second year of the NARFI program update using seed funds from the Congressional Award. (2003 and 2004)
Expand the mini-grant program through further funding sources by year 2005.
Develop the mini-grant program into an internship opportunity by 2005 for two students, with funds provided jointly by NARFI and an outside partner.

5. Cooperating Organizations

The North American Rural Futures Institute (NARFI) at MSU-Northern with promotional help from MSU-Northern, the Havre Daily News, and NARFI’s growing network of futures focused organizations across Montana. Internships will be for work with MSU-N faculty engaged in rural futures projects.

6. Staffing and Administration

NARFI Director, Assistant, and the technical services of NARFI’s contract Webmaster.

7. Work Plan/Timetable

This project is already underway. NARFI’s first Futures Thinker was granted funds to attend the Montana Secretary of State’s “Energy from the Farm” bus Tour in May.

(See Appendix B - NARFI Program Update – Overall Work Plan Time Table)

8. Project A - Mini-grants 2003-2005 Budget

2003: 5 mini-grants @ approximately $500 = $2,500.00

2004: 10 mini-grants @ approximately $500 = $5,000.00

2005: 5 mini-grants match funds @ $200 = $1,000.00

Develop internship opportunity

Research/design $200.00

Promotion $200.00

Seek funding (grant proposal) $200.00

NARFI matches funding for two
Futures Thinkers interns @ $1,000 $2,000.00

Total Project A = $11,100.00

9. Budget Justification

Our first mini-grant provided for a Havre recipient to attend the Montana Secretary of State’s Farm Energy three-day bus tour out of Helena. Promotion was by word of mouth, a news article in the Havre Daily News, phone calls and use of the NARFI network of relationships across North Central Montana.

Costs for this event were: $100 to the SEC for registration; $147.60 for mileage at (.365/mile x 410 miles); $81.00 for food ($23.00 x 3 days); for a total of $228.60.

This was very inexpensive in terms of event registration, as the bus tour was subsidized with government money. Lodging was provided as part of the low registration fee. Other events will cost more for registration; will need to cover lodging, and could cost more for travel depending on the location of the event and the grant recipient.

10.Plan for Future Funding

The first two years of this project will be fully funded by the Congressional Award. Year three activities will be partially funded by the Congressional Award, but to continue this project and NARFI in general, further funding will be pursued through grant proposals. The internship activity will be supported by proposals for outside funding; the Congressional Award will cover proposal development costs.

11.Evaluation

The mini grant project will be evaluated at the end of each year to determine if the grant events provided a broad range of issue coverage consistent with the NARFI mission. At the end of each mini grant recipient’s cycle, a short survey will be sent to the recipient to elicit feedback on improvements for the project. Recipients will be tracked over three years to determine if they have continued their interest in the event topic and if they have developed their Futures Thinkers role into a leadership role within their community or organization.

12.Dissemination and Utilization

Information about NARFI’s mini grant project, the Futures Thinkers spotlights, and the information brought back from each funded event will be developed into website content on the NARFI on-line Rural Futures Portal for free public use. Event sponsors will be invited to use this information or to link to it from their respective websites. Presenters who participated in or sponsored the event will be contacted for brochures and information packets to be used in the NARFI Community Outreach Project.

B. Rural Futures Information and Community Outreach Project

1. Goal

Visitors, educators, students and rural citizens in the North Central region of Montana will become knowledgeable advocates of rural futures planning.

2. Description

NARFI has chosen a downtown Havre location in the Heritage Center as a Community Outreach Center for FY 2003-2004.

“The Havre Heritage Center is the historic and cultural hub of Hill County and the Hi-Line of Montana. It houses the H. Earl Clack Museum and hosts numerous cultural activities.”

NARFI will provide visitors to the Heritage Center and the H. Earl Clack Museum with a selection of brochures and pamphlets developed by NARFI and related organizations. The focus of these publications will be innovations, emerging technologies, new models, experiments, and alternative solutions related to any area of sustaining rural communities and the rural way of life. NARFI will also provide a list of suggested sites with maps and contact information to see innovative projects already underway across Montana.

NARFI will sponsor and present informative events on rural futures issues (films, speakers, discussions, etc.) to the Hi-Line community on a regular basis.

Teachers bringing students on field trips to the Heritage Center and H. Earl Clack museum, will be offered the option of having a short presentation and information event on topics related to rural futures issues presented to their students during their field trip.

NARFI will participate in the Montana Committee for the Humanities Open Bookreading and discussion programproviding a focus on rural futures issues.

3. Project 2003-2005 Activities

Develop and distribute copies of an information brochure on the North American Rural Futures Institute, its mission, projects, and call for partners. (2003)
Research Montana and other rural states’ programs on alternative energy resources, alternative fuels, innovative solutions to rural problems, etc., and solicit information brochure packets for distribution, videos and speakers. (2003)
Research, develop and distribute the list of suggested sites to visit in Montana to see innovative projects aimed at rural sustainability. (2003)
Research, design, develop and distribute, five to ten brochures/pamphlets on rural futures issues most relevant to Montana. (2003-2004)

· Develop a 15-minute presentation on rural futures issues for use with middle school and high school students on field trips to the H. Earl Clack Museum. (Fall 2003)

· Develop a focused reading list on rural futures topic most relevant to North Central Montana and provide a NARFI discussion leader for the Montana Committee for the Humanities Open Bookreading and discussion program. (Spring 2004)

· Invite researchers and organization leaders from North Central Montana who have a keen interest in a topic relevant to rural futures issues to present topic-focused discussion sessions. (2004-2005)

Research and purchase 3 – 5 videos related to rural futures issues and innovative projects for rural sustainability for presentation in NARFI community outreach events and potential use in the local middle and high schools. (2003-2004)
Build a small, but focused library of books, monographs, publications, conference proceedings, videos, etc., on rural futures and rural sustainability for reference use by researchers. (2003-2004)

· Develop a library of current publications focused on rural futures and rural sustainability for reference use by visitors. (2003-2004)

4. Cooperating Organizations

The Heritage Foundation, the Havre Historic Preservation Commission, the H. Earl Clack Museum, Sohodojo and JFS Consulting. Other organizations that may help on this project include MSU-N faculty, educators from the Havre School District, Montana’s Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO), National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Ethanol Producers and Consumers (EPAC), and others.

5. Staffing and Administration

NARFI Director, Assistant, and the tech support services of NARFI’s technical services contractor, JFS Consulting.

6. Work Plan/Timetable

This project is already underway - NARFI is in process of setting up offices in The Heritage Center in downtown Havre. We are slowly building a small, focused library of books and publications.

(See Appendix B - NARFI Program Update – Overall Work Plan Time Table)

7. Project B – Community Outreach 2003-2005 Budget

2003- 2004:

Heritage Center rent *10 @ $600 = $6,000.00

(Note: first, last and deposit paid in June 2003)

Postage $ 200.00

Envelopes (printed) $ 120.00

Library/Repository

Books $ 400.00

Videos $ 200.00

Magazine subscriptions $ 125.00

NARFI collaterals

Desktop Publishing Service $ 200.00

Printing $ 200.00

Format/PDF for portal $ 100.00

Montana Innovative Projects Lists

Printing $ 100.00

Format/upload to Portal $ 100.00

Rural Futures brochures - Five

Desktop Publishing Service

5 @ $200 $1,000.00

Printing $ 250.00

Format/PDF for portal 5 @ $100 $ 500.00

2004-2005: Rural Futures brochures - Five

Desktop Publishing Service

5 @ $200 $1,000.00

Printing $ 250.00

Format/PDF for portal 5 @ $100 $ 500.00

Public Information Events $ 500.00

2004-2005: Travel to Open Book sites $ 500.00

Total Project B = $12,245.00

8. Budget Justification

Content for the printed brochures will be provided by NARFI staff. Desktop publishing services will include editing, formatting, layout; each brochure will be unique requiring idiosyncratic design, layout, etc.

9. Plan for Future Funding

The Congressional Award will be used to set this project in motion and to fund most of the activities for the first two years. If this program is successful, additional funds will be sought to continue these activities as part of NARFI grant proposals to fund the Institute’s overall activities. There is room in the Heritage Center for NARFI to showcase hands-on exhibits on rural futures related topics. Future funding would focus on developing this aspect of NARFI’s Community Outreach agenda.

10.Products/Outcomes Summary

This project will significantly increase NARFI’s public presence and visibility. It will provide rich opportunity to expand NARFI’s network of potential partners and collaborators while gathering a repository of information to share with rural citizens and the next generation of community leaders in rural North Central Montana. NARFI’s community outreach is key to developing among rural citizens in Montana, the awareness of: a) innovative projects throughout North America focused on rural sustainability and b) the need to plan and shape our rural future and not just react to unexpected change.

11.Evaluation

Although this is an ambitious project with many activities, each is easily accomplished. For the first year of this project in particular, we will keep tight records on the number and topic of the pamphlets that are picked up by visitors. Our success in reaching educators and students will be evident in how well they respond to the presentation on rural futures issues and how many request more information from NARFI staff or visit/contribute to the web portal discussions. Rising interest in the rural communities will b