Community Resource Development Program
The Inter-mountain West is experiencing some of the most dramatic population growth and land development in the nation. From 1982 to 1997, the total amount of developed land in the region grew by 2 million acres, through conversion of agricultural land and natural open space. Arizona is no exception, more than doubling its population and tripling its employment between 1969 and 2003. Although much of this growth occurred in urban areas, many rural counties have also experienced rapid development. The resulting change in rural demographics and land use patterns has created new challenges to local and county governments, planners and ultimately the general public. These challenges include biophysical landscape changes, changing rural economies and the need for governments to provide services in previously undeveloped areas with limited tax revenues.
Arizona Cooperative Extension’s Community Resource Development (CRD) program was created to help residents, landowners and governments understand these changes in the state’s rural areas, as well as to identify ways to adapt to, or mitigate, those changes. The CRD program will strive to help citizens define and contribute to the future of their communities and become better informed about issues addressing use and management of natural resources, the rural-urban interface, economic development, land use planning and sustainability.
Erik Glenn is the CRD Area Agent for Yavapai, Coconino and Mohave Counties. His background is in economic development and economic geography. His program areas include Small Acreage Landowner Education, Economic Development and Economic Analysis, and Land Use Planning. Contact him at 928-899-4595 or erikg@cals.arizona.edu.
The Inter-mountain West is experiencing some of the most dramatic population growth and land development in the nation. From 1982 to 1997, the total amount of developed land in the region grew by 2 million acres, through conversion of agricultural land and natural open space. Arizona is no exception, more than doubling its population and tripling its employment between 1969 and 2003. Although much of this growth occurred in urban areas, many rural counties have also experienced rapid development. The resulting change in rural demographics and land use patterns has created new challenges to local and county governments, planners and ultimately the general public. These challenges include biophysical landscape changes, changing rural economies and the need for governments to provide services in previously undeveloped areas with limited tax revenues.