Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Americana
Building community is complex and our landscapes are rapidly shifting. Even in small towns and rural areas. Maybe more so outside of urban areas, as we face both persistent challenges and emerging opportunities. Yet rural leaders are recognizing we don’t have to navigate this terrain alone. Last July, we explored some common policy exchange mechanisms—professional […]
JCShepard.com | June 21, 2026 | Category: Policy, Economy Rural America is about to feel the energy transition in a very literal way: not as a headline about megawatts and gigatons, but as center pivots moved for a transmission line, prime farmland plowed under for a bright new data center lighting up the night sky, […]
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 […]
This article launches our November series: From Ideas to Action—A Month of Praxis and Implementation in Rural Communities. Over the next five weeks, we’ll explore how small towns drive rural progress by combining local knowledge with practical implementation strategies. We’re starting with the basics: What is praxis in rural planning, and why does it matter? […]
September Sneak Preview As we turn the corner into September, we’re pausing to focus on a theme that blends past, present, and future in rural places: the power of heritage tourism. In towns across America, heritage isn’t just what you find in a museum—it’s the main street brickwork, the fall festivals, the oral histories passed […]
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 […]
The Strategic Power of Shared Policy in Rural Development In today’s complex and rapidly shifting rural landscape, communities face both persistent challenges and emerging opportunities—from population shifts and workforce shortages to broadband expansion and climate resilience. Amid these dynamics, rural leaders are increasingly recognizing that they don’t have to navigate this terrain alone. Policy exchange […]
Community resilience can be greatly improved by engaging in hazard mitigation planning. In the US, Congress has passed legislation encouraging this… and making it a requirement for certain FEMA funding. Now, in early 2025, there is a great deal of uncertainty with what the new Presidential administration will do with Congressional intent. There is even […]
Community disaster preparedness is essential as communities across the United States—particularly in rural areas—face challenges from natural disasters, economic disruptions, and demographic and environmental changes. Strengthening resilience means preparing for and withstanding shocks, recovering quickly, and adapting for the long term. But how can these resilience strategies be effectively applied to rural planning? A wealth […]
