Isolation and lack of services for members of minority groups can be real hurdles for colleges in small towns and rural areas that want to diversify their work forces. The chance to meet people from the same background, worship in a shared faith, or share cultural interests can make or break someone's living experience. This article describes Cornell University's concerted effort in recent years to be sure the surrounding community shares its emphasis on diversity. By patronizing businesses owned by women and minority groups, and by requiring campus contractors to employ a diverse mix of workers, Cornell has made a difference. Such efforts allow Cornell to show job candidates that it is genuinely committed to diversity--and are far more meaningful than the statements on diversity so common on campus Web sites.