Rural Recreation and the Outdoor Economy: Trails, Fairs, Community Identity
Health, Parks & the Outdoors · Week 4 of 5 Why rural recreation infrastructure is economic infrastructure Policy Outdoor Economy May 2026 Memorial Day weekend is the informal start of summer across the United States — and for rural communities across America, it is also the clearest reminder that outdoor recreation is not a hobby. […]
Smart Growth in Rural Communities: Planning That Works
The Problem With the Pattern We’ve Built Rural sprawl does not look like urban sprawl, but it produces many of the same outcomes: longer distances between people and services, higher per-capita infrastructure costs, degraded natural lands, and built environments that make daily life harder for anyone who cannot drive. The pattern is familiar across rural […]
Rural Housing Futures: Policy Tools for Livable Small Towns
Rural housing isn’t just one problem, it’s three braided together. Demography is tugging at our small towns with aging neighbors, fewer kids, and new folks drifting in and out on search of jobs and housing. The cost of living rural no longer pencils out for everyone who’d like to be here, especially when wages, materials, […]
The Rural Comeback: How Small Town Innovation Sparks Growth
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 […]
Who Is Rural? McKinsey & Company Have an Idea
A team at McKinsey & Company explored this question earlier this year–there are many different “right” answers to who is rural. They pick up on the USDA ERS Rural-Urban Continuum codes and use this lens to look more closely at common characteristics of rural counties across the US. What did they find? In other words, the […]
Remarkable Challenges of Aging in Rural America: Planning for a Supportive Future
Aging in Rural America – As the population of rural America continues to age, planning for elder care has become a critical issue. While rural life is often celebrated for its close-knit communities and quiet, pastoral landscapes, it also presents significant challenges when it comes to providing care for an aging population. From access to […]
Unlocking the Remarkable Transformation of Rural America: How Small Towns Are Thriving by Balancing Tradition and Innovation
Discover how Rural America is evolving by balancing tradition and modernization. Explore the impact of technology, infrastructure, and cultural preservation on small towns across the U.S.
