In this webinar, we will address: What makes rural communities appealing to university partnerships? Combining classroom experience with experiential learning and the unique opportunities available in rural communities Current trends in rural communities and how colleges and universities can support growth strategies How we can leverage existing resources (grants, programs, etc.) that would support campus/community partnerships or that could support community growth and accessing those resources This webinar will be led by Christopher Merrett, Director and Professor in the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA) at Western Illinois University and Anne Hlavacka, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CEI) as well as the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.