GRN Nodes

In order to have the GRN network be as vital and sustainable as possible, nine state or regional organizations will be recruited to serve as collaborative “nodes” in different parts of the U.S. Each of these nodes will have the responsibility to:   

1. Identify and recruit contacts in rural communities under 25, 000 in population, 

2. Bring these representatives together to introduce them to the COTF concepts and methods of community transformation, and

3. Facilitate dialogue for each regional area that helps build deeper collaboration and understanding of transformational leadership skills.

The nine nodes are:

Node	States Involved	Stage of Development
Southeastern	North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Virginia
MidSouth	Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee	The Delta Economic Development Center at Arkansas State University will be the home for the Mid-South Node of GRN. The Center has already hosted a core group from the Delta area. A one-day seminar was held in Jonesboro on November 6 with Rick Smyre. In 2009, monthly videoconferences will be held to develop a Delta Network of “master capacity builders.” At the end of this learning experience, those involved will be awarded a certificate as a “master capacity builder.”
Mid-Central	Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma	The Institute for Decision Making at the University of Northern Iowa has agreed to be the Mid-Central Node of the GRN. LaDene Bowen will be the contact person. This node will evolve during the first half of 2009
North-Central	North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan
Northeastern	Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey,  Delaware
New England	New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont
Southwestern	Texas, New Mexico, Arizona
Western	Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Hawaii
Northwestern	Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Montana, Wyoming