Jeff S. Sharp

Social infrastructure and community economic development strategies: the case of self-development and industrial recruitment in rural Iowa

Abstract This research examines the relationship between features of community social organization and the existence of two contrasting types of economic development, self-development and industrial recruitment in rural places. Self-development is an endogenous form of development relying primarily on entrepreneurism and local resources. Industrial recruitment is an exogenous form of development that seeks outside investors and firms to locate in the community. Using data collected in a statewide sample of 99 Iowa communities, we hypothesize that social infrastructure, the group-level interactive aspects of community organizations and institutions, is more strongly related to the existence of self-development than industrial recruitment. A key finding is that social infrastructure, measured by the existence of active community organizations, businesses that support local community projects, community-wide fund-raising capacity, and extra-local linkages to peer communities and state government, is positively associated with the existence of self-development. The relationship between social infrastructure and industrial recruitment is also significant but more modest. Findings indicate that a communitys social organization can be a resource for development, but may be more appropriate for endogenous development efforts than exogenous ones.

Between the Country and the Concrete: Rediscovering the Rural-Urban Fringe

Substantial U.S. population growth in relatively rural areas adjacent to large urban areas is sparking renewed interest in the rural–urban fringe. This research identifies some of the roots of the rural–urban fringe concept and reviews recent scholarly interest in the related exurban concept. Analysis of primary and secondary data is conducted to examine the fringe in relation to both urban/suburban areas and rural areas of Ohio, seeking to determine the extent to which the fringe is similar to or dissimilar from the suburbs or more rural areas. Comparisons are made across a number of ecological, occupational, and sociocultural attributes. Differences between incorporated (cities and villages) and unincorporated (township) areas are also considered. Findings support the notion of the fringe being distinct from the suburbs, with more modest differences compared to more rural places. Practical implications of this research are discussed as are future research needs for further understanding an increasingly important settlement area of the United States.

Profiling alternative food system supporters: The personal and social basis of local and organic food support

Consumers appear increasingly interested in how to engage in consumptive practices that lead to a more sustainable food and agricultural system. In this paper, we examine two possible consumptive pathways for achieving sustainability: the purchase of organic foods and/or the purchase of local foods. While there is some debate regarding the integrity and sustainability of organic versus locally produced foods, there is limited information examining the similarities or differences among consumers variably interested in one or the other attribute. Using data from a statewide survey of Ohio, USA, respondents and members of a food cooperative and an environmental and social responsibility organization, a typology is proposed and comparisons are made among different types of local and organic food consumers regarding their attitudes about food, agriculture and the environment. While a large proportion of the survey respondents expressed little or only modest interest in either local or organic foods, distinct groups of respondents interested in primarily the local attribute, primarily the organic attribute, and both attributes are identified. The results reveal similarities and differences across types with the profiles of each type of consumer contributing to a more nuanced view of supporters of these foods that can assist in production decisions, as well as purchasing and marketing decisions among retailers.

The Social Basis of Agro-Environmental Concern: Physical versus Social Proximity

In this study, we explore the social basis of environmental concern, specifically focusing on attitudes about the agricultural environment in relation to an individuals geographic and social distance from agriculture. We also consider the significance of rural recreational behaviors in relation to agro-environmental concern. The analysis, based on data from a statewide survey of Ohioans, reveals a strong relationship between ones geographic location along the rural-urban continuum and attitudes about agriculture and the environment. This relationship, though, does not exist once the effects of social proximity to agriculture are accounted for, suggesting that the relationship between residential location along the rural-urban continuum and agro-environmental attitudes may be spurious. The analysis also reveals a strong relationship between participation in rural recreation and attitudes about agriculture and the environment. We describe several conceptual and practical implications of this research for natural-resource management.

Growth, Development, and Farming in an Ohio Exurban Region

The mixing of newcomers, longtime nonfarm residents, and farm household residents in exurban areas has the potential to lead to conflicts over community change and farming. Data from a survey of residents of an Ohio exurban region are analyzed to identify attitudinal differences among three sets of exurban residents. Several attitudinal differences among farm households, newcomers, and long-time residents are identified with farm household residents reporting greater concern about the effects of growth on local rural character than both newcomers and longtime nonfarm residents did. Farm household respondents were also more tolerant and accepting of agricultural annoyances than were either newcomers or longtime residents. All sets of residents are supportive of efforts to preserve local farmland. A conclusion of this exurban case study is that conflicts about land use and community change may have more to do with farm versus nonfarm interest than with length of residence in the community.

Awareness and Concern about Large-Scale Livestock and Poultry: Results from a Statewide Survey of Ohioans*

The development of large-scale livestock facilities has become a controversial issue in many regions of the U.S in recent years. In this research, rural-urban differences in familiarity and concern about large-scale livestock facilities among Ohioans is examined as well as the relationship of social distance from agriculture and trust in risk managers to concern about large-scale livestock facilities. Findings from a survey of Ohio residents reveal few differences between rural and urban Ohioans, although country, nonfarm residents were more likely than others to be aware of the issues. Greater trust of farmers was found to be related to lower levels of livestock concern. Environmental concern was strongly related to overall concern about large-scale livestock development, while perceptions of economic benefits of livestock production were associated with lower overall concern. In general, the findings contribute to improved understanding of the increasingly complex relationship between farming and the social setting within which it occurs.

Entrepreneurial Social Infrastructure and Growth Machine Characteristics Associated with Industrial-Recruitment and Self-Development Strategies in Nonmetropolitan Communities

Elements of entrepreneurial social infrastructure and the growth machine perspective are used to contrast industrial recruitment and self-development activities—two different types of community economic development. Data come from a purposive survey of 287 key informants associated with successful economic development projects in nonmetropolitan places throughout the U.S. The pattern of resource mobilization, and individual and organizational support for or opposition to both types of projects, is analyzed. Self-development projects are found to have access to more diverse resources and engage a greater diversity of local actors, while industrial recruitment is found to frequently engage local growth machine actors. Industrial recruitment is also found to rely heavily on resources and support from local and state governments. Opposition to projects, regardless of type, occurred in about one-third of the projects and was generally associated with occupations anticipated to be anti-growth. These findings ha...

Farm Operator Adjustments and Neighboring at the Rural-Urban Interface

ABSTRACT This research examines how farmers are responding to some of the challenges associated with population growth and development at the rural-urban interface. A basic question is whether these challenges are associated with negative changes in the farm operation, such as land farmed or total sales. The study also examines differences in the problems experienced, adaptations, and neighboring practices of four different sets of farmers located at the interface (full-time, part-time, retiree, and hobby farmers). The analysis is based on mail survey data from 109 households in an eight-township region located in an Ohio metropolitan region. The analysis finds that farms in this region are generally adapting, and even expanding their operations, despite population growth and the difficulties of farming amidst nonfarmers. The analysis also finds that full-time operators most actively engage in neighboring with nonfarmers. Hobby farmers are least involved in neighboring. The analysis identifies several opportunities for agricultural education and development at the rural-urban interface and suggests several research questions for future consideration.

Networks and Fields: Corporate Business Leader Involvement in Voluntary Organizations of a Large Nonmetropolitan City

This paper examines the network structure of overlapping leadership between the corporate business sector and voluntary sector of a growing, non-metropolitan city in the Midwest. The data are from a study initially conducted in the early 1970s, and the analysis uncovers a pattern of selective, possibly strategic, involvement by corporate business leaders in the communitys voluntary sector. An interactional field perspective is utilized to anticipate and interpret the findings. There are a number of community development implications of the findings and analytical approach, including support for expanded utilization of network analysis as a diagnostic tool for identifying strengths and limitations of community structures related to local capacity for community improvement activity.

Exploring barriers to home gardening in Ohio households

Scholars have noted that race and ethnicity, socio-economic status (SES) as well as other socio-demographic factors may limit participation in local food systems based on the historic and structured patterns of inequalities that remain in communities promoting alternative agriculture and food (agrifood) activities. However, few empirical studies have examined the barriers which prevent people from participating in local food system activities. This paper uses survey data from the 2008 Ohio Survey of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Issues to consider whether barriers such as interest, time, financial resources, geography and space impact the participation of households in home gardening. Results from logistic regression show that SES, the availability of space and housing type are important factors which limit or enable household participation in home gardening. This paper contributes to our understanding of the barriers that prevent households from participating in home gardening, a form of food system localisation that, while a potentially powerful way to transform the agrifood system, has been underexamined in its own right.