BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FOR RURAL ADULTS

THE CRISIS STATE OF RURAL ECONOMIES HAS BEEN WELL DOCU- MENTED. FAMILY FARMS AND TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIESARE IN DECLINE. IN THE SOUTH, THE REQUIREMENTS OF MECHANIZEDMANUFACTURING AND SERVICE INDUSTRIES HAVE HIGHLIGTED A PROB-LEM OF STAGGERING PROPORTIONS: ONLY HALF OF THE ADULTS 25 AND OVER HAVE RECEIVED HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS AND MANY ARE FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE. THEY CONSTITUTE A WORKFORCE WHOSE SKILLS DO NOT MATCH THE DEMANDS OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT. RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT EMPHASIZES LOCAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. EDUCATIONAL INITIA-TIVES ARE NEEDED WHICH ARE TAILORED TO THE NEEDS OF ADULT WITH SIGNIFICANT EDUCATIONAL DEFICIENCES. SUCH INITIATIVES MUST IMPROVE WORKPLACE LITERACY AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, AND ENHANCE ENTREPRENEURUIAL AWARENESS AND OPPORTUNITIES. MICRO-BUSINESS, I.E. HOME-BASED ENTERPRISES THAT EMPLOY FEW-ER THAN FIVE PEOPLE, CAN PROVIDE A VIABLE OPTION. TO PREPARE PIOPLE FOR SUCH VENTURES, AN EFFECTIVE DELIVERY SYSTEM MUST BE DEVELOPED WHICH IS FLEXIBLE, ADAPTABLE, AND SUPPORTIVE OF THE LEARNER'S EXPERIENCES AND NEED FOR PRIVACYINTERACTIVE LASERDISC TECHNOLOGY CAN PROVIDE SUCH A SYSTEM. TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES WOULD LIKE TO PROVE THE TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY OF ITS APPLICATION TO RURAL ADULT LEARNERS WITH EDUCATUIONAL DEFICIENCES BY DEVELOPING A PRO- GRAM ON MICRO-BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERING IT THROUGHTHE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM.