THIS PRE-DOCTORAL RESEARCH PROJECT INVESTIGATES COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND PLANNING DYNAMICS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY THE U.S.' WIDESPREAD CLOSURE OF COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS. CLOSURES POSE IMMEDIATE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES FOR THE LOCALITIES AND REGIONS THAT HOST THEM. RURAL COMMUNITIES IN ISOLATED COUNTIES THAT HOST BOTH COAL PLANT AND MINES ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE TO THE LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT AND TAX REVENUE AND IN NEED OF TRANSITION PLANNING ASSISTANCE. WITHOUT NATIONAL GUIDANCE OR SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY TRANSITION PLANNING, THE QUALITY OF LOCAL TRANSITION PLANNING IS HIGHLY VARIABLE AND DEPENDENT ON THE LOCAL RESOURCES AND CAPACITY. THIS RESEARCH USES QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS TO ANALYZE HOW POLICY AND LOCAL PLANNING PROCESSES INTERACT TO PRODUCE DISTINCT TRANSITION PATHWAYS IN RURAL, COAL-DEPENDENT COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S. WEST. KEY OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: (1) CHARACTERIZE THE RANGE OF POLICIES AND PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO TRANSITIONING COAL COMMUNITIES IN THREE U.S. WESTERN STATES; (2) DEVELOP THREE COMMUNITY TRANSITION CASE STUDIES EXAMINING THE LOCAL PROCESSES DRIVING TRANSITION PLANNING; (3) COMMUNICATE PRACTICAL RESEARCH FINDINGS TO PLANNERS, POLICY, AND STUDY COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. THIS PROJECT SUPPORTS MY FELLOWSHIP GOALS OF STRENGTHENING SKILLS IN RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND BUILDING EXPERTISE IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSITION PLANNING, PREPARING ME FOR A FUTURE CAREER IN APPLIED RURAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH. THIS RESEARCH PROMOTES THE AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES FARM BILL PRIORITY AREA BY EXAMINING THE IMPLICATIONS OF PUBLIC POLICY ON RURAL COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, AND PLANNING PROCESSES THAT SUPPORT PROSPERITY AND ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND RURAL ECONOMIES.