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Journal Article
Features: The Philanthropy Gap in Rural America
Warsaw, Va., is well positioned to welcome visitors to Virginia's Northern Neck, the northernmost of three peninsulas jutting out into the Chesapeake Bay. Travelers from Richmond and parts farther west enter the peninsula via a bridge over the Rappahannock River and quickly find themselves in Warsaw's downtown, where they are greeted by colorful storefronts and charming brick sidewalks. But just a few years ago, they would have seen something very different: abandoned buildings, cracked sidewalks that dated back to the Great Depression, and streets that regularly flooded due to poor ...
Journal Article
President's Message: Bringing Talent to Small Towns
Over the last few decades, we've seen small towns struggle, particularly those that lost manufacturers, which had historically helped build communities, employ residents, and forge local identities. As a natural reaction, economic development in small-town America has often focused on replacing those big employers. These efforts attracted investment, but success wasn't easy.
Briefing
President's Message: A Unique Moment for Small Towns
Every month, I visit small towns and hear from business and community leaders about what's working, what's not working, and what they need. In my previous column, I looked at the key elements I've seen in every small town that has made major progress toward revitalization: a story, regional cooperation, and dedicated funding, all tied together by "scrappiness." (See "Making It Work," Econ Focus, First Quarter 2022.) Now, I'd like to take a deeper dive into the issue of funding, because money is the one critical constraint every community faces, across every issue.