Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Americana
October’s Mainstreet Index Marks a Five‑Year Low The heartbeat of rural America slowed this month. The latest Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) came in at 34.6 for October 2025—the weakest reading since May 2020, and the eighth straight month below the growth neutral mark. For those who watch the contours of the rural economy, […]
Clean energy is driving a quiet revolution in rural America—not just through wind farms and solar panels, but through a rediscovery of local power, community resilience, and land-based innovation. Is the future of rural America to be found in our past? Author L. Michelle Moore thinks there are lessons there, especially for small towns and […]
A Perfect Storm for Rural Electricity This article kicks off JCShepard.com’s October energy series, exploring how the accelerating energy transition is reshaping rural communities across North America. Across the world we are using and producing more energy of all sorts. There is also a major shift unfolding beneath the surface of that energy trend: how […]
As a gateway community to Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colorado—alongside Grand Lake on the park’s west side—faces growing concern about the outdoor economy and the effects of recent changes in federal policy. This Larimer County town of about 5,900 year-round residents mirrors challenges seen in gateway communities across the nation. Meg Carney, outdoor […]
How heritage conservation fuels tourism, strengthens identity, and supports sustainable rural economies Week 3 – September 2025 | Heritage & Tourism Series Rural Cultural Preservation is emerging as a powerful tool for building cultural resilience in rural communities. Stewardship of authentic local heritage makes heritage tourism a game changer. By protecting rural cultural landmarks, honoring […]
Week 2 – September 2025 | Heritage & Tourism Series Reviving rural America requires more than infrastructure or incentives—it calls for strategies rooted in identity, community, and resilience. One powerful and often underused approach is heritage-driven rural tourism development. By drawing on a community’s unique stories, traditions, and historic assets, small towns can attract visitors, […]
Over the past month, we’ve explored what makes rural economies resilient. From the diverse economic base beyond agriculture, to the importance of retaining and expanding local businesses, to the rise of entrepreneurship and micro-enterprises, and most recently, to the role of innovation and community-driven development—each article has shown that resilience is never the result of […]
Rural innovation doesn’t always look like flashy tech hubs or billion-dollar startups. More often, it takes the form of community-driven projects that reimagine local spaces, harness cultural assets, and strengthen social and economic connections. From Main Street revitalization to broadband expansion, from creative placemaking to cross-sector collaboration, small towns are proving that innovation in economic […]
While entrepreneurs bring the ideas and drive, planners and policymakers create the conditions that help those ventures thrive.
In most of rural America, job creation isn’t about attracting new employers—it’s about making sure the businesses you already have can thrive. In our previous article, we explored how a diverse rural economy—spanning manufacturing, tourism, public services, and more—provides a strong foundation for resilience. In coming weeks we’ll explore entrepreneurship and the creative economy, and […]
