Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Americana
Spring is a good time to look around and ask, “Is this really working for us?” As the snow melts to reveal the promise of a new growing season, it also uncovers the little cracks in the system. We start to notice the potholes, aging buildings, and overworked local offices. It’s a simple reminder: if […]
You’ve seen the headlines—in print or online—heralding the impending doom of Rural America (or Canada, or Australia, or wherever you call home). When I see click-bait like these (hey, even online newspapers have to sell content) I try to pause, breath deeply, and try to work out the context. OK, whatever. But what do the […]
Let’s look more closely at housing supply in the US and Canada. Housing supply isn’t as flashy as mortgage rates or viral TikToks about “forever renters,” but it’s the slow, structural side of the story that shows up in a patchwork of crowded houses, “no vacancy” signs in resort towns, and the permit line at […]
Most of us know a small town or rural area when we see it. Certain thing stand out, like cows, crops, or more trees than people. Yet it is unlikely any two of us could agree, exactly, on a specific definition of how small a town must be to be considered “small”, or how rural […]
The rural housing market is more of an idea than a thing. Housing supply and needs vary considerably across nations and regions, let alone around the world. Today’s post builds on our February theme of demographics and housing trends, and implications for rural development. We’ll discuss demographics and housing markets in the US, Canada, and […]
Public participation in planning and public policy is where democracy meets daily life. It is the process of involving citizens, stakeholders, and affected parties in decisions that shape their communities—from comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances to capital budgets and infrastructure projects. In small towns and rural counties, where residents know each other on a first […]
Despite a slight rebound from October’s five‑year low, Creighton University’s latest Rural Mainstreet Index report shows the Midwest & Northern Rockies heartland still mired below growth neutral, with weak grain prices, soft ag land values, and cautious rural bankers keeping recession risks elevated. November’s RMI: Off the Floor, Still in the Red The Rural Mainstreet […]
Why Community-Driven Development Works This article continues our November series: From Ideas to Action — A Month of Praxis and Implementation in Rural Communities. In week four, we spotlight the engine room of rural resilience: community and economic development. In small towns, these aren’t just planning categories—they’re everyday work. It’s neighbors drafting grant applications, local […]
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? […]
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, […]
