How Can We Revitalize Rural America?

Encourage entrepreneurial small businesses

Stimulate innovative community development

Open up new farming opportunities

The Renew Rural America section of our site explores these three key strategies: Small Business, Community Development and Farming Options. Below, you'll find a summary of each strategy with links to the larger discussions of the topics, including resources, examples, news and tips.

The Strategy: The most effective and desirable economic development strategy for many rural communities is small entrepreneurship – development based on locally owned and owner operated small businesses.

Often called microenterprise development, small entrepreneurship has been proven to work in rural areas. Encouraging this kind of economic development is vital to the renewal of our communities and the SMALL BUSINESS section lays out the key avenues to creating it. Below are some samples:

Resources and Ideas:
REAP: The Rural Enterprise Assistance Project
SBA Training Courses
Where Do You Find Small Business Financing?
Should I Start My Own Business?
How to Run Your Business on a Shoestring Budget
[More...]

New in this section: Rural tourism marketing expert Joanne Steele offer advice to small business owners and communities on how to make the most of a new wave of rural tourists. Click here.

More ideas, strategies and resources in the SMALL BUSINESS section.

The Strategy: Communities that invest in themselves can better keep and attract the people who energize communities and create new businesses.

Communities that are successful in the coming decades will not be defined by whether they are rural or urban, but instead by what they offer residents. Strong schools, opportunities for recreation, access to broadband internet, and initiatives to bring cultural attractions will help communities succeed. The COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT section includes resources for community leaders, inspiring ideas and detailed examples of how other communities are succeeding within this realm. Below are a few highlights:

Resources:
Rural Opportunities & Stewardship Program Rural Community Revitalization Digest
Community Development Resource Guide
Community Leadership Series
Ideas on How to Attract and Maintain Vibrant Communities
[More...]

New: The Small Town Grocery Store as Critical Infrastructure:
The rural grocery store gives a community more than just ready access to healthy food. Rural grocery stores provide jobs and generate tax revenue. They also help attract new residents, just as schools, a post offices, restaurants and churches do. The Center for Rural Affairs has devoted a new page to news, information and resources for and about saving the small town grocery store. Join the conversation here.

More ideas, strategies and resources in the COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT section.

The Strategy: New farmers are finding new markets(natural and organic meat, vegetables for local and regional markets and organic grains and milk) and that can help revitalize our rural communities by creating economic opportunity, bringing people back to our communities and children back to our schools.

Getting started, however, is no easy task. The FARMING OPTIONS section offers resources, ideas, strategies and insights for new farmers and those interested in encouraging the comeback of the family farm. Below are a few highlights:

Resources and Ideas:
Rural Opportunities & Stewardship Program
Getting Started on Farm Finances
Where Do You Find Funding?
USDA Report: Emerging Market Opportunities for Small-Scale Producers
Profitable Practices
[More...]

More ideas, strategies and resources in the FARM OPTIONS section.