Controversy between two opposing factions have confused rural development policy formulation. Infrastructure advocates believe that the improvement of highways and sewer systems, as well as the provision of industrial park sites and industrial recruitment, are the keys to successful rural economic growth. Human resource development advocates promote structural change in rural areas through increased investments in education and effective leadership in rural communities. It cannot be deduced from research that infrastructure investment leads directly to regional development, yet state and local governments continue to pursue industrial recruitment via physical infrastructure development. Lack of research on the impact of human resource investment on local or regional economic growth causes communities not to value education as a means of creating economic opportunities. If the effects of increased investment in human resources could be assessed adequately, community-devised employment strategies could become a key factor in solving the problem of under-utilized labor supplies. In a survey of the literature on leadership program evaluation, obstacles that are likely to be encountered are presented in this study. This paper contains 63 references. (ALL)