Rural Communities

Iowa Towns Embrace a ‘Shrink Smart’ Approach
Population loss doesn’t have to be a harbinger of doom. Some rural communities are taking small but impactful steps to improve quality of life for their remaining residents.

The Housing Crisis Grows in Rural Idaho
The state’s smaller communities are feeling the pressure of sharply rising housing costs, stagnating wages, and an aging population.

Federal Program Funds Broadband in Underserved Areas
The program supports efforts to improve internet connectivity in remote and rural areas.

Florida Boosts Rural Infrastructure Fund
Five rural communities will receive $15 million under a new law designed to assist rural areas in developing their infrastructure.

Study: Housing Assistance Programs Not Enough for Rural Renters
Many housing and human services providers say their programs are underfunded as the housing crisis in rural parts of America grows.

The Quiet Housing Crisis in Rural America
While housing shortages in major cities are grabbing headlines, rural communities are seeing higher rates of growth in housing prices and a silently spreading homelessness crisis.

Maine Housing Market Tightens as New, Younger Residents Move In
State leaders see the influx of younger residents as a boon to Maine’s economy, but this could come at the expense of affordable housing.

Rural Communities Growing Faster Than Cities
After a decade of sustained population loss, rural America is bouncing back thanks to shifting demographics and pandemic-induced migration.

Identifying and Addressing Rural Park and Recreation Needs
Rural communities are not homogeneous. Each has its own unique demographics, location, topography, history, park and recreation needs, and community preferences.

Senate Bill Would Support Rural Tenants
With housing costs skyrocketing, a proposed bill would extend assistance and help preserve affordable rental housing in rural areas.

Could Inflation Spur an Urban Rebound?
Inflation is hitting rural areas particularly hard. One expert sees the possibility of rural residents reconsidering cities as a place to avoid higher costs associated with rural mobility and to make more money.

Initiative Brings Capacity Building to Booming Rural Towns
A research and capacity building initiative based at Utah State University seeks to help fast-growing tourist meccas in the West plan for smart growth.

Housing Scarcity in Rural America
With the growth of ‘Zoom towns’ and the sharply rising demand for small-town living, rural communities are facing pressure to maintain housing affordability for long-time residents and boost housing production.

Biden Administration Targets Rural Infrastructure Investments
The federal government is directing billions from the infrastructure package to areas outside of major cities.

How Rural Transit Systems Are Doing More With Less
With limited resources and dispersed service areas, rural transit systems are turning to technology to provide on-demand service and improve transit options for residents.

The Great Plains Real Estate Boom
Cities on the Great Plains were giving away land in recent decades in the hopes of attracting new residents. Now they have a different challenge: responding to a sudden, but still modest, spike in demand.

Small Communities Could Lose Out on Infrastructure Funding
Awarding federal funding via competitive grants could block grant opportunities for communities that need them the most.

Colorado To Prioritize Climate Impacts in Transportation Projects
Under new state regulations, Colorado transportation projects will be required to reduce GHG emissions and promote more sustainable transportation modes.

Rural Areas Left Behind in Climate Adaptation Plans
While resources pour in for urban climate resilience projects, smaller communities often bear the brunt of extreme weather events.

Report: Rural Communities Urgently Need Safer Transportation
Despite the reputation of rural America as "drive-through country," many residents depend on walking and transit to get around.
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