About NREDA

Mission
NREDA's mission is to provide education, advocacy and networking opportunities to rural and suburban utilities and affiliated organizations. NREDA is an individual-member, professional organization dedicated exclusively to the advancement of rural development, the development of member proficiency, and achievement of social and human service objectives in rural areas. NREDA's membership base is comprised primarily of, but not limited to, development professionals working for rural utility organizations.

Bylaws
Click here to download the NREDA Bylaws

Purpose
The purpose of the National Rural Economic Developers (Association) shall be:

1. To promote the exchange of ideas and information between association members.
2. To provide members educational opportunities to encourage professional advancement.
3. To further the movement of revitalizing rural America through economic enhancement.

History
The National Rural Economic Developers Association (NREDA) was formed to promote rural development opportunities through electric and telephone cooperatives. At the time of the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), cooperatives had been a long time advocate of marketing rural locations as a competitive and low cost alternative for business investment. The creation of a national organization, structured to coordinate recruitment resources would provide all members a greater presence to corporate America.

In 1988, a handful of cooperative members responsible for economic development, met in Platte City, MO, to evaluate this idea and its many benefits. In the spring of 1989, NREDA was formally organized, and later that year held the first member meeting in Washington, DC. The next year, Nashville, TN served as the conference city for the first annual meeting, attracting over 300 attendees. From that small beginning, NREDA had matured into a professional organization providing members valuable assistance with their economic development, key account management, community development, infrastructure development, or other rural development programs.

Submitted by NREDA member: Mark Woodson, CED, CKAE
Associated Electric Co-op, Inc., Springfield, MO


Definition of Membership

Any person employed by a corporation, company, cooperative or association hereinafter defined as rural utilities, government agencies, economic development related vendors, non-utility economic development practitioners and retired employees of said organizations.

Rural utilities shall be defined as organizations that borrow monies or are eligible to borrow monies from (1) Rural Utility Service, (2) National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, (3) Rural Telephone Bank or (4) CoBank and Rural Water Districts.

The membership shall be in the name of the person(s) and qualifying organization as identified on the membership application.

Categories of Membership

1. Individual Member: Those individuals who are working for a government or non-profit economic development organization or who are engaged full-time in economic development and who have satisfied the requirements for Individual Membership as established by the Board of Directors may qualify to be Individual Members and shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of membership, including, but not limited to, voting, the right to vote and the right to hold office.
2. Associate Member: Individuals representing those private sector firms involved in economic development may qualify to be Associate Members.  Such firms include but are not limited to consultants, construction companies, real estate brokerage and real estate development companies, financial institutions, law firms, accounting firms, and site consultants.  Associate Members shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of membership including, but not limited to voting, the right to vote and the right to hold office.
3. Honorary Member: A past president or founder of the Association. Dues and Annual Conference registrations are complimentary for Honorary Members.
4. Student Member: An individual enrolled at a college, university, community college or other educational institution full-time (12+ credit hours) at the undergraduate (or graduate) level in an economic development or related degree program.

Where are NREDA members located? Click here!

Interested in Serving on a Committee?

If you are interested in serving on a NREDA Committee, please click on the link to the respective Committee here and contact the Chair to express your interest. Don't hesitate to volunteer! Your involvement is important and encouraged!

Click here to download a Committee Interest Form.