Extension personnel can aid rural decision makers with impacts felt from rapid growth in their communities via a locally applicable community impact model. This paper illustrates how extension professionals can utilize community impact models. Impact models reviewed include: model to measure the impact of new industry on rural communities in…

After struggling through the recession of the 1980s, Powell, Wyoming, like many other small towns in rural America, has bounced back and experienced economic and population growth during the past five years. Fueling this growth is the town's attractive location for urban refugees, economic development efforts aimed at attracting small businesses,…

Large-scale energy or resource development projects in rural areas cause environmental, social, and economic changes in the community. The negative aspects of these impacts can be mitigated and the positive aspects enhanced, through the use of effective impact management strategies by local and state governments (together and separately), the…