The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and its land grant system, responding to the mandate of the PCSD and as a part of the Sustainable Development Extension Network, should create a learning infrastructure for sustainable communities. The infrastructure will provide information on how to accomplish specific community development tasks, connect with potential regional partners, and access potential funding sources. It will do this through a "high-tech/high-touch" approach compromised of electronic, paper, and direct contact components. As part of this effort, the Council for Excellence in Government should convene a group of partners within USDA to work with the Joint Center for Sustainable Communities in order to bring together the various technical assistance services now available within the land grant system. This group would work with the Council on Environmental Quality, leaders from all sectors, as well as USDA's four regional Rural Development Centers, its Resource, Conservation and Development Councils, and its Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas program. It would also link to HUD's Office of Rural Housing and Economic Development, which is creating an information clearinghouse on innovative housing and economic development strategies, as well as funding for direct grants for development projects.