The Rural Community Development Institute (RCD) at Voorhees University in Denmark, SC is designed to provide mechanisms to improve the quality of life in rural communities and counties surrounding Denmark, South Carolina. Specifically, the Rural Community Development Institute creates and implements integrated sustainable community initiatives that address the socio-economic as well as other needs the targeted counties. The specific goals of the Institute include the following:

• Increase and enhance the mobilization of the citizens in targeted communities to become active participants in a community-based development strategy.
• Provide integrated solutions for the community needs, including the establishment of community business and management structures through training.
• Identify grant and or other fiscal and human resources that will assist communities in goal attainment toward becoming self-sufficient.
• Facilitate skills development and transfer thus ensuring self-employment & job creation.
• Provide administrative support, regular monitoring, evaluation and training for projects to ensure their sustainability.