ABSTRACT
State government administration of rural development policy refers to the activities directed toward the economic and cultural development of rural communities that are undertaken by administrators in state government departments, agencies, and affiliated organizations. These activities may include providing resources such as finances, information, and expertise; direct service delivery; indirect service delivery by coordinating development efforts across multiple communities and/or through various state agencies; designing comprehensive development strategies by linking related programs; and establishing relationships with administrators in both federal and local government, and with non-governmental actors in communities. No single administrative activity is more important than another, and the degree to which state government administers development policy through these activities will vary according to the needs and capabilities of individual communities.
