THIS PROJECT AIMS TO IDENTIFY EXISTING EMPLOYMENT GAPS FACED BY RURAL NEW ENGLAND EMPLOYERS. LITTLE ACADEMIC RESEARCH HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN TO UNDERSTAND BETTER EMPLOYMENT SKILL GAPS THAT ARE PRESENTLY FACED IN THE UNITED STATES, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY. THIS LACK OF ACADEMIC RESEARCH ON THE TOPIC IS IN SPITE OF RURAL EMPLOYMENT SKILL GAPS BEING A CALL TO ACTION ITEMS IN THE 2017 TASK FORCE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL PROSPERITY. BY IDENTIFYING THESE SKILL GAPS, WE WILL BE ABLE TO HELP THESE RURAL COMMUNITIES CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING PERSISTENT EXTREME POVERTY TO IDENTIFY STRATEGIES THAT WILL ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC GROWTH, THROUGH EXTENSION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS. WE WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS TASK BY LEVERAGING THE LOCAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS TO PINPOINT SKILLS THAT HAVE PROVEN DIFFICULT TO FILL BY SURVEYING THEIR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS AND ALSO TO DETERMINE EXPECTED FUTURE EMPLOYMENT NEEDS. WE WILL ALSO WORK TO CATALOG THE EXISTING TRAINING PROGRAMS IN THE REGION, BOTH AT SECONDARY AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, AS WELL AS WITHIN THE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY COMMUNITIES THEMSELVES. DIRECT OUTREACH WILL BE PERFORMED TO INFORM UNEMPLOYED, UNDEREMPLOYED AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES. WE HOPE TO PRODUCE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH BY ASSISTING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN APPROPRIATE LABOR SUPPLY THROUGH INCREASING ACCESS AND AVAILABILITY TO TRAINING AND RESOURCES. AS A RESULT OF INCREASING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, WE BELIEVE WE WILL BE ABLE TO IMPACT PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES ALSO EXPERIENCED IN THESE SAME COMMUNITIES AND PRODUCE RESEARCH EVIDENCE OF AN EFFICIENT WAY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.