Search Results
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.
Discussion Paper
Growing Younger: Are Rural Demographics Shifting?
As the Baby Boomer generation ages, America has been "graying." The Census Bureau estimates that within the next decade, there could be more adults over 65 than children under 18. Geographically, rural areas tend to be older than urban areas and median age rose across both rural and urban areas from 2010 to 2020. More recently, however, the story has changed; in the last three years, many rural counties have gotten younger. And about a third of them are getting younger while growing their prime working-age population, a key group needed for economic and employment growth that can help lead to ...
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 ...
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.