How Global Trade Can Make or Break Rural Economies

Farmer checking commodity prices on a smartphone at sunrise, with a cargo ship visible on the horizon

How international trade shapes rural economic development — and what communities can do about it. Economic Development Series — Article 5 On a quiet morning in a rural farming community, a producer checks commodity prices before heading into the fields. What appears to be a local decision — when to harvest, when to sell — […]

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Rethinking the Rural Economy: New Paths, New Possibilities for Growth

Rural Economy - Vibrant Rural American Main Street with a bakery and bookstore.

When people picture small town and rural America, agriculture is often the first—and sometimes only—industry that comes to mind. But the truth is far richer and more complex. From manufacturing and mining to tourism and public service, rural economies and economic development across the United States are powered by a wide array of industries that […]

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Seasonal Arts and Culture Ideas to Instantly Energize Local Economies

Community gathering in a park with public art installations and local planners, highlighting arts as a foundation for economic growth.

Implementing arts-driven community and economic development to improve the places we live and love. Seasonal arts and culture ideas can be powerful drivers of economic growth in communities large and small, creating jobs, boosting tourism, and fostering local engagement. For community planners and economic developers, these initiatives act as valuable “cultural anchors,” stabilizing local economies […]

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