Indiana Rural Development Council

History of IRDC

1990

• President George H.W. Bush established the “Presidential Initiative on Rural America.” In 1991, eight pilot states established state rural development councils.

"To improve rural development program coordination among Federal agencies and to undertake active partnerships with states, localities, and the private sector; and To improve the effectiveness of the Federal rural development efforts by adopting a strategic and comprehensive approach to rural development."

1993

• The Indiana Rural Development Council was established as a quasi-public entity in 1993 through a cooperative agreement between USDA-Rural Development and the State of Indiana. Since the council was established, it has maintained a unique level of autonomy through its representation of the five key sectors which make up the council’s leadership – federal government, state government, local government, not-for-profit organizations and private businesses. State government has been and will continue to be an important financial resource for the Council in order to maximize the federal dollars available through the partnership. The Council was originally housed in the Indiana Office of the Commissioner of Agriculture. The first chairman of the Council was Lieutenant Governor Frank O’Bannon. Pat Murphy served as the Council’s first executive director.

1995

• Kermit Burrous, a long time legislator and rural leader from Mexico, Indiana was named Council Chairman. John Riemke was named as the Council’s executive director.

1996

• William Graham, Mayor of Scottsburg, was elected to chair the Council and has served in that role since.

1999

• Wendy Dant (Chesser) was named as the Council’s executive director.

2000

• A private 501(c)3 organization, the Indiana Rural Development Council, Inc., was formed to assist with a successful bid to host the National Rural Development Partnership Conference.

2002

• Indiana hosted the 2002 National Rural Development Conference in French Lick, Indiana.

• IRDC publishes the Rural Economic Development Strategy (REDS) Report at the request of the Indiana General Assembly. The initiative involved numerous partners from all the sectors served by the Council.

2003

• Don Koverman joined the Council as its executive director.

• The Indiana General Assembly establishes the Indiana Rural Development Fund with Action Grants and Regional Planning Grants to be administered by IRDC.

2004

• IRDC moved to the Indiana Department of Commerce in early 2004.

2005

• The Council moved into the newly created the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

• Phillip Anderson is named as the Council’s executive director.

• IRDC is part of a consortium to create the Rural Indiana Strategy for Excellence-RISE 2020

2006

• The quasi-public Council merges into the private IRDC, Inc. and the organization relocates outside state government. Mayor William Graham serves as chairman of the merged entity.

• The Council is selected by the RISE 2020 Coordinating Committee to provide the organizational home for RISE 2020.

• IRDC develops a new vision statement, reworks its mission statement, and begins to establish itself as an independent, non-profit organization working in rural development.