In the 1980s, economic difficulties caused some rural localities to rely on their own financial and organizational resources to initiate projects generating local jobs or income. The authors set out to systematically study this phenomenon, which was designated "self-development." Through a survey, information was obtained on 103 self-development projects. This publication of profiles of each of these cases is aimed at providing useful information to community leaders and development professionals about those projects: name and location, a brief project description, involvement of local organizations, an estimate of income and/or number of jobs generated, and the means by which the project was financed. Types of projects include (1) community-based development (community-owned and worker-owned firms, agricultural marketing organizations, community finance institutions, community-based service firms, etc.), (2) local business and industrial development (locally owned industrial and value-added firms, business incubators, retention and expansion programs), and (3) tourism and historical development (recreational development, festivals, crafts fairs, downtown revitalization). Local contact persons are listed. A comprehensive index is included.