The Grant County Community, Natural Resource and Economic Development (CNRED) Agent (Community Resource Development) designs and delivers educational programs and provides technical assistance to civic organizations, community leaders, businesses, farmers, and local government officials. Acting as “community catalysts,” CNRED Agents enhance the ability of communities, organizations, and community members to identify and resolve pressing community issues, to explore new opportunities, and to pro-actively respond to change.Community Development programming areas include:

• community development (economic development)
• community decision-making and leadership
• organizational development and strategic planning
• community conflict resolution (community mediation)
• land use & planning
• natural resources care-taking, hazardous waste disposal & water quality
• local government education & support including lean government
• entrepreneurial, rural broadband, and small business support

Primary Areas of Programming & Research:

• Strengthening & Stabilizing Local Communities
  • Business-succession planning (retirement and transitions for small businesses)
  • Land use and community planning—focused on community stability and resilience
  • Quiet Communities—protecting natural resources including natural soundscapes
  • Community-scale Community Design
  • First Impressions Evaluations
    • Cuba City & Princeton
  • Renewable energy & distributed energy (solar, wind, micro-hydro)
  • Community-scale rural housing & energy efficient housing
• Building Community Leadership Capacity
  • Community conflict resolution and community mediation
  • Community Leadership Alliance  leadership training
  • Strategic planning
• Growing Local, Rural Businesses
  • Local economies
  • Local food systems & “farm-to-” programs
  • Farm-based businesses
  • e-Commerce Initiatives
  • Rural, technology-based business start-ups
  • Rural broadband
  • Cybersecurity and data protection for rural businesses
  • Downtown revitalization & stabilization