Mission
The mission of the Louisiana Tech Rural Development Center is to:
1. use the resources of the public university system to improve rural communities in Louisiana; and
2. provide information and technical assistance to Louisiana's rural leaders on a wide variety of issues.
Current News
Basic Business Planning Workshop, 4/17
The Louisiana Tech Rural Development Center is participating in the University’s Advanced Certifications and Training for Technology (ACTT) Innovative Workplace Program. The RDC will provide three workshops for the program, Basic Economics, Basic Marketing, and Basic Business Planning. The third workshop, Basic Business Planning, will be offered in Ruston, LA, at Lomax Hall on the University’s south campus, from 6:30-8:30pm, April 17, 2012. Participants will complete a short survey and receive a Certificate of Completion from Louisiana Tech University. Register for the workshop here.
Students will gain an understanding of how marketing concepts such as the path a food product follows from raw material to final good; how to identify potential consumers for a product and how to create at marketing plan to sell a product.
The target audience for Basic Business Planning, and the other workshops, consists of those with an interest in business, sales, economics, politics and public policy and consumer behavior. By the end of the evening, participants will be able to
- Understand and identify the items in a Balance Sheet
- Understand and identify the items in a Cash Flow Plan
- Understand and identify the items in an Income Statement
- Perform simple calculations in Microsoft Excel
About Us
The Louisiana Tech University Center for Rural Development was approved by the Louisiana Board of Regents in 1994 to provide a central point of contact in the State of Louisiana for university-based research and outreach relevant to rural communities. It is housed in the Department of Agricultural Sciences at Louisiana Tech University.
1. The Center responds to inquiries from the public regarding sources of technical assistance, data, grants and loans, and state and federal programs for rural development projects.
2. The Center provides outreach and training to the public on rural development issues. This is done through its newsletter, Rural Louisiana, its website, other publications, conference presentations, workshops, and trainings.
3. The Center encourages and assists researchers at LA Tech University to both develop and to collaborate in projects that will benefit rural communities. In this work the Center's staff (a) identifies sources of funding, (b) assists in the development of proposals, (c) connects faculty and staff to rural community partners, (d) provides use of technology such as digital cameras, scanners, and other resources to aid projects, and (e) provides technical assistance to projects.
4. The Center undertakes research and projects relevant to the needs of rural communities in Louisiana.
Contact Information
Mail address:
Louisiana Tech Rural Development Center
PO Box 10198
LA Tech University
Ruston, LA 71272
(318) 257-2451
Street address:
Louisiana Tech Rural Development Center
Reese Hall Rm 101
LA Tech University
Ruston, LA 71272
(318) 257-2451
Campus mail address:
Campus Box 45
Dr. Aaron Lusby, Assistant Professor
(318) 257-2451 Email
Department of Agricultural Sciences
I'm on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dr.alusby
