Designed to facilitate rural development efforts, this pamphlet presents a grading key for ranking community factors in each of four key areas of progress as follows: (1) People Building (education, health services, cultural satisfaction, outreach to the disadvantaged, and leadership); (2) Community Facilities (housing, transportation, utilities, and public services); (3) Environmental Improvement (conservation, recreation, and community initiatives); and (4) Economic Development (jobs, business and industry, credit, and natural resources). Additionally, this guide provides instructions for creating a community action plan, suggesting that a graphic community profile be developed; opinions regarding the profile be shared; the community needs be identified and prioritized; tasks be assigned to community representatives; a steering committee be formed; and an action group be established to secure help from such U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies as Cooperative Extension Service, Farmers Home Administration, Rural Electrification Administration, Forest Service, Soil Conservation Service, and Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. (JC)