AN EXPLORATION OF REGIONAL IDENTITY AS A RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY WITHIN THE GEORGIA BLACK BELT REGION

The goal of this project is to identify successful rural economic development strategies for the rural Georgia Black Belt through astrategic examination of select federal and state of Georgia agricultural programs. Specifically focusing on the 63 rural counties that comprise the Georgia Black Belt region, this research project will analyze select agricultural initiatives found in the 2018 Farm Bill, the Agriculture Improvement Act (P.L. 115334), and select state of Georgia agricultural programs and services. Through the assessment of select services and programs, the project will:Identify strategies to increase African American farm capabilitiesand Black Belt community asset and capacity building Identify methods of Black land acquisition and retentionAssess a Georgia Black Belt regional approach to economic development based on a distinct regional identity basedon alternative agricultural enterprises, agritourism and cultural and heritage tourismDevelop a replicable pilotfor rural economic development strategies throughout the Black Belt region of the South in the Georgia Black Belt regionStudy Black farmer and community knowledge of changes to the Farm bill and identify barriers to existing outreach efforts for selected federal and state programsIdentify cultural and heritage sites for cultural and heritage tourism.