Rural Development Institute

University Affiliation: Brandon University
Contact: Dr. Robert Annis, Director
Contact information: 270-18th Street
Brandon, MN R7A 6A9
Tel: 204-571-8515
Fax: 204-725-0364
Email: rdi@brandonu.ca
Website: www.brandonu.ca/rdi

The Rural Development Institute is a centre for excellence in rural development, helping to strengthen rural and northern communities through research and information on issues unique to rural areas. It functions as a not-for-profit research and development organization designed to promote, facilitate, coordinate, initiate and conduct multi-disciplinary academic and applied research on rural issues. The Institute acts as a conduit for rural research information and as a facilitator of community involvement in rural development.

The projects undertaken by the Rural Development Institute are characterized by cooperative and collaborative efforts of multi-stakeholders. The focus of the Institute's research includes:

  • community economic development (CED);
  • community leadership;
  • environmental and agro-economic issues;
  • information technology: utilization and access for CED;
  • policy and program research and development;
  • rural adaptation and change;
  • rural health; and,
  • rural tourism.