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Survey of Rural Challenges 2015 – 2025 results

By Becky McCray

10 Years of Rural Insights. What small town people see as their biggest challenges and what topics they most want help with. Survey of Rural Challenges, report written by Becky McCray and Deb Brown. Challenges, assets, actions

Download the PDF report Executive Summary The Survey of Rural Challenges asks rural people to share their ground-level insight into the challenges they face and the assets they can use. This report analyzes over 2200 responses from communities across the US and Canada from 2015 to 2024. The responses show what’s changing and what isn’t […]

February 3, 2025 Filed Under: announcement, community, economic development, entrepreneurship, resources, rural, success, Survey of Rural Challenges, trends, workforce, youth Tagged With: community development, economic development, Rural surveys and polls, rural trends, Survey of Rural Challenges

Make a “What to do in…” Pinterest Board

By Becky McCray

A Pinterest board showing local businesses and attractions in Crows Nest Pass, Alberta, Canada.

— How many times have you heard it? Someone lamenting, “There’s nothing to do here!” Worse yet, hearing someone tell visitors that. “What is there to do around here?” “Nothing, really. I don’t know.” Enough with that. Let’s give people an easy way to answer, and let’s do it the Idea Friendly way. Make a […]

September 11, 2024 Filed Under: community, economic development, marketing, rural, tools, tourism Tagged With: community development, effective marketing, experience economy, pinterest, rural

Young Americans Returning to Rural for More than Just Holiday Dinners

By Small Biz Survival

A group of diverse young people in a casual bar setting. One is holding a mic and speaking as others listen.

by Caroline Tremblay, The Daily Yonder August 5, 2024 Kansas: Elevate the work of younger people In rural Kansas, if you’re between the ages of 21 and 39ish, you might be considered a PowerUp —  but not just because of your age or location. A PowerUp is someone who is rural by choice. “The name […]

August 7, 2024 Filed Under: community, rural, trends, youth Tagged With: community development, guest post, rural, youth

Unlocking Community Potential: The Catalyst Approach for Change

By Paula Jensen

A group seated around a table in a meeting room

Who do we envision ourselves becoming? The big framing question, “Who do we envision ourselves becoming?” was written in wide black marker on a large flip chart and placed at the front of the room for easy viewing. I introduced the question and gave some context. The ten local leaders stared blankly at it. The […]

June 5, 2024 Filed Under: community, rural Tagged With: community development, guest post, Paula Jensen

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