New governance for a new rural economy : reinventing public and private institutions : a conference summary

Drabenstott, Mark; Novack, Nancy; Weiler, Stephan

Journal Article

New governance for a new rural economy : reinventing public and private institutions : a conference summary

Abstract: A growing chorus of rural leaders agrees that new opportunities are on the horizon for rural America. Economic consolidation and outmigration need not be rural America?s future. The question most rural regions now face is this: How to claim the new opportunities? At root, this question is all about governance?how regions make economic decisions quickly and effectively. Simply put, regional governance is about how public and private leaders work together to build new economic engines that can compete in globalizing markets. More than 150 rural policy experts and leaders gathered in Kansas City in May to discuss new approaches to regional governance at the fifth annual rural policy conference hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City?s Center for the Study of Rural America. This article summarizes the proceedings. Participants agreed that new models of governance are long overdue in rural America. While rural communities value cooperation, all too often city limits and county lines paralyze new economic development strategies. Participants were encouraged, however, by a number of innovative partnerships now being forged in rural regions. These partnerships are often sparked by higher education and philanthropic institutions, but governments and businesses are also participating.

Keywords: Rural areas; Rural development; Economic conditions - Indiana;