Building Rural Resilience

Rural areas have been attracting a lot attention for news sources traditionally devoted to urban news and information. A new report from the Brookings Institution is the latest example.

1 minute read

December 2, 2020, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Platte River

Suzanne Tucker / Shutterstock

Hanna Love and Mike Powe write on the subject of building resilient rural places, sharing research that offers a prescription for the rural planning status quo, which relies on outdated, inaccurate stereotypes.

The research focuses on Main Streets as a key driver of equitable economic recovery; local solutions for rural small businesses; and a flexible, accessible, and healthy built environment. More details on those themes are included in the source article.

The research from the Brooking Institution is the latest in a stream of new research attempting to overturn stereotypes about rural areas (a trend which might have at least a little extra cultural relevance thanks to the intense debate over the film adaptation of Hillbilly Elegy, by J.D. Vance.)

Previous Planetizen coverage of recent rural research:

Tuesday, December 1, 2020 in Brookings

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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