The Rural Arkansas Community Development Program was carried out by the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service as part of the United States Department of Agriculture. Records document efforts to assist small business development, educate community leaders, develop comprehensive community planning, improve community facilities and housing, increase the quality and availability of health services, implement manpower training programs, improve the operation of recreation and tourism, improve the quality of the environment and reduce pollution, organize rural cooperatives, assist with taxation and local government issues and civil rights issues throughout the state in the 1960s and 1970s. Areas of emphasis include Community Resource Development, Overall Economic Planning, Rural Development, and Rural Areas Development. Individuals primarily involved include Dr. Donald Voth, J. B. Williams, Leo Rainey, Mark Peterson and Delton Price. J. B. Williams was the head of the Community Development Program when the majority of the records were generated.