The council develops, reviews and recommends policies to the governor to promote expanded economic and social opportunities for rural Pennsylvania.
It also seeks to build partnerships with individuals and organizations to improve the coordination and effective use of federal, state and other programs affecting rural Pennsylvania and serves as a vehicle for advocacy on behalf of rural communities and their residents.
"I'm very honored to have been chosen to represent the corporation, the county and all of rural Pennsylvania on this council," Chappel said. He thanked Rendell for the appointment.
"I am looking forward to getting involved with the council and the important work it does for rural Pennsylvania," he said.
During the last few years the council has held numerous public meetings on behalf of the governor. It also has held state wide video conferences and web casts on a variety of topics beneficial to rural citizens.
At the governor's request, the council researched and produced the Governor's Resource Guide to Community and Economic Development, a pocket-sized guide that lists more than 200 state, federal and local programs.
This guide has since been copied by a number of other states. The council also in partnership with the Pennsylvania Rural Leadership Program recently produced a statewide guide to rural leadership programs.
In September, it joined with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and state Department of Community and Economic Development to sponsor the first statewide conference showcasing the Pennsylvania Wilds tourism area.
The council has 30 members, with six each representing the private sector, the nonprofit sector, local government agencies, state government agencies and federal government agencies.