Debra Hansen and Monica Babine have received the 2015 Leadership and Collaboration Award of Excellence from the University Economic Development Association for their development of the Rural Pathways to Prosperity (P2P) Conference.
“We are proud of this national recognition for the Rural Pathways to Prosperity conference,” said Rich Koenig, associate dean and director of WSU Extension. “It is a great example of how WSU brings the resources of federal, state and regional partners together to strengthen the vitality of Washington towns.”
Debra Hansen and Monica Babine developed P2P as a more easily accessible resource for rural small businesses to continue thriving, growing, and creating jobs. Even though small businesses comprise more of Washington’s rural economies than their urban counterparts, conferences and other learning opportunities are almost always located in urban centers, creating time and money barriers for rural community leaders and business owners.