In August 2007, the Idaho Rural Partnership (IRP) Board of Directors established the following issues and activities as priorities for IRP action:
- Assess the conditions of rural Idaho.
- Advise the Governor and the Legislature on public policy and strategies to improve the quality of life in rural Idaho.
- Act as a clearinghouse of information and as a referral center on rural programs and policies.
- Conduct research to rural communities and facilitate communication between rural residents and public and private organizations that provide services to rural communities.
- Identify organizations, authorities, and resources to address various aspects of rural development.
- Serve as a nonpartisan forum for identifying and understanding rural issues from all perspectives.
- Develop better intergovernmental and private/public coordination and to seek out opportunities for new partnerships to achieve rural development goals within the existing structure.
- 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.
- Seek solutions to unnecessary impediments to rural development, first within Idaho and then through the National Rural Development Partnership.
- Work cooperatively with the National Rural Development Partnership and other state rural development councils.
To guide IRP activities the Board has established a number of standing committees and will use working groups as the need arises.