**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** PURDUE UNIVERSITY SERVES AS THE HOST INSTITUTION FOR THE NORTH CENTRAL REGIONAL CENTER FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT (NCRCRD). THE NCRCRD FACILITATES RELATIONSHIPS AND EXTENSION, RESEARCH, AND TEACHING CAPACITY AMONG THE 34 LAND GRANT INSTITUTIONS FROM 12 STATES IN THE NORTH CENTRAL REGION (NCR). THE NCRCRD'S WORK IS FOCUSED ON THREE THEMES: CREATING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMIES, DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND PROMOTING COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS. THE NCRCRD ALSO USES A SYSTEMS APPROACH AT THE INTERSECTION OF: COMMUNITIES, BUSINESSES, AND HOUSEHOLDS. THIS PROPOSAL ENHANCES FIVE OF USDA'S CURRENT (2022-2026) STRATEGIC GOALS: 1) COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE TO SUPPORT AMERICA'S WORKING LANDS, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND COMMUNITIES; 2) ENSURE AMERICA'S AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM IS EQUITABLE, RESILIENT, AND PROSPEROUS; 3) FOSTER AN EQUITABLE AND COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE FOR ALL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS; 4) PROVIDE ALL AMERICANS SAFE, NUTRITIOUS FOOD; AND 5) EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE IN RURAL AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.THE CENTER MAINTAINS AN OPEN ACCESS DATASET BASED ON A HOUSEHOLD SAMPLE FOR THE NORTH CENTRAL REGION TITLED NCR-STAT AND PUBLISHES DATA SNAPSHOTS RELEVANAT TO RURAL STAKEHOLDERS. THE PURPOSE OF THE DATASET IS TO DECREASE THE BARRIERS FOR INSTITUTIONS TO STUDY REGIONAL CHANGES AND CONDUCT COMPARATIVE RESEARCH. THE CENTER FACILIATES RESEARCH AND EXTENSION THROUGHOUT THE NCR WILL SMALL GRANTS, MULTISTATE WORKING GROUPS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND CONFERENCE DEVELOPMENT. THE NCRCRD INCREASES THE VISIBILITY OF RESEARCH AND EXTENSION FROM THE NCR THROUGH WEBINARS AND NEWSLETTERS AND BY PROMOTING THE IMPACT OF EXTENSION THROUGH THE COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION OF REGIONWIDE IMPACT INDICATORS.