Rural Development

With quality education systems, low crime rates, small close-knit communities, and numerous outdoor recreational activities, Midwestern states and their rural communities continue to be excellent places to live, work and raise a family. Even with this high quality of life, rural communities have challenges building and maintaining economic activity that supports the quality and well-paying jobs that are needed to promote family success. They lack the resources and economies of scale to address pressing issues such as access to quality health care, educational attainment, and economic development. Additionally federal programs designed for urban needs and high-density service delivery systems fail to meet the needs of rural communities, further compounding the development problems they face. Rural communities need to better leverage the limited federal and state funding they receive in order to maximize the return on these dollars. Rural communities need to plan strategically in order to better earn, keep and grow available state and federal dollars.

In collaboration with the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the MGA has hosted learning institutes focused on rural strategies for economic success. Teams of delegates-all of whom were appointed through their respective governors' offices-share ideas and perspectives on combating rural poverty. The focus is for each team to create an action plan to bring back to their home state.

MGA Policy Resolution on Rural Development

For more resources on Rural Development visit the Rural Families Economic Success webpage of the Annie E. Casey Foundation.