Investing in
Rural Colorado
A comprehensive approach
In June 2021, the CSU System Board of Governors voted to invest $8.58 million over three years to support rural Colorado students and communities. These rural initiative investments came after listening to and learning from our communities, economic and community development leaders, and individuals across the state.
CSU’s initial investment expanded the capacity of Extension to support Colorado’s rural communities through a focus on four areas:
- Accessible Education: Expanding educational pathways to increase college readiness and enrollment
- Improved Health: Empowering Coloradans to live healthy lives.
- Vibrant Communities: Expanding civic capacity in Colorado’s communities.
- Food and Agriculture: Increasing the vitality of rural businesses with expanded support for community planning through technical assistance and research and translation.
The impact
These stories highlight the importance of investing in rural Colorado and showcase the impacts of CSU’s rural initiative. Through personal stories and real-world examples, people demonstrate how efforts in accessible education, improved health, vibrant communities, and thriving economies made a difference. Capturing the expanded capacity of Extension across the state, the bridging of cultural divides, and the strengthened resilience of rural communities, we see the ongoing need for support and engagement in Colorado’s rural areas.
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