THIS RESEARCH PROJECT WILL ADDRESS SEVERAL ISSUES THAT RESULT IN THE UNDERDEVELOPMENT OF THE GEORGIA BLACK BELT REGION. THERE ARE TWO PRIMARY AREAS OF FOCUS, BLACK FARMERS, BLACK BELT COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS AND RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES. THE GEORGIA BLACK BELT REGION HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN UNDERRESOURCED AND UNDERDEVELOPED, WITH NO REGIONAL IDENTITY OR DEVELOPMENT APPROACH. AS A RESULT, THE REGION LAGS BEHIND THE REST OF THE STATE ECONOMICALLY AND NEGATIVELY IMPACTS THE STATE'S OVERALL ECONOMY. TRADITIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES HAVE NOT BEEN EFFECTIVE IN THE REGION FOR VARIOUS REASONS AND THERE IS AN URGENCY TO COME UP WITH ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES THAT ARE MORE REFLECTIVE OF THE REGION. THE REGION IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT HOUSES SOME OF THE LARGEST POPULATIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE COUNTRY. THE ECONOMIC HISTORY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS, PARTICULARLY AFRICAN AMERICAN FARMERS, HAS OFTEN BEEN SHAPED BY EXCLUSION AND DISCRIMINATION, INCLUDING UNFAIR TREATMENT BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA). THIS DISCRIMINATION RESULTED IN A LAWSUIT (PIGFORD DECISION) AGAINST THE USDA, WHICH SUBSTANTIATED THE MISTREATMENT. WHILE THE PIGFORD DECISION WAS A MILESTONE IN CORRECTING THE MISTREATMENT OF THE GROUP, IT DID NOT COMPLETELY ADDRESS ALL OF THE ISSUES ASSOCIATED. THIS RESEARCH LOOKS AT THE ACCESS OF USDA PROGRAMS TO BLACK FARMERS. IN ADDITION, FEDERAL AND STATE AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM ACCESSIBILITY WILL BE ANALYZED THROUGH INFORMATION OBTAINED FROMTHE FARMERS THROUGH LISTENING SESSIONS, INTERVIEWS AND ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION. SUCCESS OF THE BLACK FARMER IN THE BLACK BELT HAS IMPLICATIONS ON BLACK LAND RETENTION, COMMUNITY WEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY. IN ADDITION, INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY GENERATIONAL WEALTH IS ALSO INFLUENCED BY BLACK LAND RETENTION AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. ANALYZING THE ACCESSIBILITY OF USDA PROGRAMS, WHICH SERVES AS THE PRIMARY ASSISTANCE FORUS FARMERS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES, SERVES AS AN IMPORTANTAND USEFUL VEHICLE FOR UNDERSTANDING BENEFITS AND BARRIERS TO THE SUCCESS OF BLACK FARMERS AND BLACK BELT COMMUNITIES. THE RESEARCH WILL ALSO FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES FOR GEORGIA BLACK BELT COMMUNITIES AS A WAY TO ADDRESS UNDERDEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE REGION. THESE INCLUDE OPPORTUNITIES CONNECTED TO AGRICULTURAL PURSUITSAS AGRICULTURE IS A VERY IMPORTANT INDUSTRY IN THIS STATE. SPECIFICALLY FOCUSING ON NICHE FARMING AND AGRITOURISM AND THE DOCUMENTATION OFKEY AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE SITES, THIS PROJECT AIMS TO SERVE AS A CASE STUDY ON THE FEASIBILITY OF CULTURAL AND HERITAGE TOURISM AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR THE GEORGIA BLACK BELT AND OTHER BLACK BELT COMMUNITIES. IT ALSO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS A CATALYST FOR DEVELOPING A GEORGIA BLACK BELT REGIONAL IDENTITY AND COULD SERVE AS A BLUEPRINT FOR THE BLACK BELT SOUTH. THIS RESEARCH HAS POSITIVE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE LARGER BLACK BELT REGION AS IT COULD SERVE AS A MODEL FOR ALTERNATIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES IN OTHER BLACK BELT COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH. THE NEED FOR DEVELOPING UNIQUE APPROACHES TO DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE REGION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ITS SUCCESS INTHE 21ST CENTURY. THIS RESEARCH AIMS TO IDENTIFY ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EFFECTIVE TOOLS FOR CHANGE FOR THE REGION.