Discussion Paper

Spotlight on Rural Best Practices: Lessons From the 2023 IRA Poster Session

Abstract: Throughout our region, small towns and rural communities are continually working to improve outcomes for their residents. And we can learn a lot from how different communities, and the organizations within them, are gaining positive traction. What are their ingredients for success? While the mix of ingredients differs from one community to the next, a top five list has emerged from the Richmond Fed's engagement with rural communities over the past several years: 1) regional collaboration; 2) strong local leadership; 3) telling a compelling story; 4) playing to strengths; and 5) taking a long-term view of success. Last spring, at our annual Investing in Rural America Conference, community organizations shared their recipes for success when they presented their initiatives during a poster session. As the year ends, we're excited to recap their projects and open the call for additional communities to spotlight their initiatives at our upcoming 2024 conference.

Keywords: workforce training; rural areas; nonprofit; rural economy;

Bibliographic Information

Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Part of Series: Regional Matters

Publication Date: 2023-12-14