WHEREAS, Idaho is among the most rural states in the nation; and

      WHEREAS, Idaho's tremendous geography and sparse population create problems of distance and isolation; and

      WHEREAS, the most rural counties in Idaho consistently have lower per capita incomes, higher unemployment rates, lower rates of population growth, higher poverty levels, and less new construction, and job growth; and

      WHEREAS, the most rural residents of Idaho have less access to health care services, employment training, business assistance, library service, and diverse educational and cultural opportunities; and

      WHEREAS, the most rural communities have disproportionately large infrastructure needs for transportation, utility services, and education; and

      WHEREAS, the multitude of public and private organizations with an interest in helping rural Idaho need a mechanism for coordination and collaboration; and

      WHEREAS, there are critical areas of need in rural Idaho including increased leadership and governance, connectivity to telecommunication and broad bandwidth, excellent and relevant education and workforce development at all levels, funding for the creation, maintenance, and improvement of infrastructure, and the development of active local economic development teams;

      NOW, THEREFORE, I, DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Governor of the State of Idaho, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of this state, do hereby order that:

1. The Idaho Rural Partnership (IRP) shall be authorized as an organization with an open membership for institutions, including all local, tribal, state, and federal governments, as well as for-profit and not-for-profit private organizations, that have an interest in or some responsibility for Idaho's rural development.
2. The IRP's responsibilities will be to:

a. Assess conditions of rural Idaho;
b. Advise the Governor and the Legislature on public policy and strategies to improve the quality of life in rural Idaho;
c. Act as a clearinghouse of information and as a referral center on rural programs and policies;
d. Conduct outreach to rural communities and facilitate communication between rural residents and public and private organizations that provide services to rural communities;
e. Identify organizations, authorities, and resources to address various aspects of rural development;
f. Serve as a nonpartisan forum for identifying and understanding rural issues from all perspectives;
g. Develop better intergovernmental and private/public coordination and to seek out opportunities for new partnerships to achieve rural development goals within the existing structure;
h. Foster coordinated approaches to rural development that support local initiatives, not to usurp the individual missions of any of its member organizations or duplicate effort.
i. Seek solutions to unnecessary impediments to rural development, first within Idaho and then through the National Rural Development Partnership; and
j. Work cooperatively with the National Rural Development Partnership and other state rural development councils.

3. The IRP shall be managed by a Board of Directors that shall include the following members:
   a. A representative from the Governor's office;
   b. The Directors of the Idaho Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Environmental Quality, Labor, and Transportation;
   c. Representatives from the following federal agencies: USDA-Rural Development, Bureau of Land Management, Economic Development Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Farm Services Agency, US Forest Service, and Housing & Urban Development;
   d. Four state legislators (Two Senators and Two Representatives) selected by their respective leadership;
   e. A Representative chosen by [each of the federally-recognized] Indian Tribes in the State of Idaho;
   f. Representatives from each of the following local government organizations: Association of Idaho Cities, Idaho Association of Counties, Economic Development Districts, and Resource Conservation & Development organizations; and
   g. Eight rural leaders chosen by the Governor representing private for-profit businesses (including agri-business), private nonprofit organizations, Chambers of Commerce, and Community Based Organizations, who live and/or work in rural Idaho and represent a geographic balance across the state.
   h. Non-voting, ad-hoc members may be included on the Board to assist with specific issues and projects as necessary.
4. Except for their initial appointment, which shall be from the time this Executive Order is enacted, those IRP Board members appointed by the Governor (see paragraphs 3 a, b, and g above) shall serve four-year terms concurrent with the Governor's term, though lagging behind by three months, the Governor's term. The difference of three months will allow the Governor time to make appointments to the Board after his or her inauguration, and to ease the transition for new members.
5. The IRP shall be led by two Co-Chairs, one of which shall be elected by the IRP Board of Directors from among their membership, and the other appointed by the Governor from among the State Agency Directors serving on the Board. The Co-Chairs shall serve for a four-year term synonymous with the Governor's term. The responsibilities of the Co-Chairs shall be to:
   a. Set operating policies; and
   b. Manage the IRP budget and staff, including the hiring of an IRP Executive Director.
6. The IRP Executive Director shall be:
   a. Manage the day-to-day operations of the IRP as directed by the IRP Co-Chairs;
   b. An exempt, full-time position of the Idaho Department of Commerce as set forth in Chapter 349, Sections 3-4, Idaho Laws of 2002;
   c. A person with the skills necessary to manage a diverse public organization effectively and with broad experience in building and sustaining networks and partnerships; and
   d. Hired through an open and competitive process when a vacancy occurs, after a broad, statewide advertising campaign without any pre-selection.
7. The IRP Board of Directors shall meet no less than once a quarter.

This Executive Order repeals and replaces Executive Order No. 01-01.

This Executive Order shall cease to be effective four years after its entry into force.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at the Capitol in Boise on this twenty-third day of January in the year of our Lord two thousand and three and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred twenty-seventh and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred eleventh.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE