Recognizing that Emergency Services Sector (ESS) departments and agencies in rural communities across the country face unique challenges, the U.S. Congress authorized the development of the Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC) in 2004, to create and deliver all-hazards training in support of rural homeland security. The RDPC is now offering responder organizations throughout the nation a free resource to bolster critical incident protection and maintain response capabilities: Department of Homeland Security (DHS) -certified hands-on training. Eastern Kentucky University subsequently received funding from DHS to establish such a consortium. In 2006, the Consortium conducted a training needs assessment. The assessment instrument was organized based on the DHS Target Capabilities List with input from law enforcement, fire, EMS, public health, and local officials. From the standpoint of the number of personnel needing training, each discipline named a different Target Capability as its greatest training need: law enforcement (responder safety and health); fire service (citizen preparedness and participation); EMS (CBRNE detection); public health (planning for terrorism events); and, general government (WMD/hazmat response and decontamination). For information at the EKU College of Justice and Safety website, go to: http: //www.jsc.eku.edu/news_2007.05.08.asp