Rural communities have been counted upon to feed, power, and build America. Our coverage will help you keep up with the latest economic trends shaping rural life and livelihoods. From jobs and workers to investment and development, we’ve got it covered.
The Daily Yonder’s coverage of rural economic issues, including workforce development and the future of work in rural America, is supported in part by Microsoft.
Navajo Climate Justice Advocate Awarded Prestigious Heinz Award
Nicole Horseherder works to protect the land of the Navajo Nation and its communities.
More Economic Stories
Nonprofit, Community-Owned, or Multi-Use: North Dakota Towns Get Creative to Keep Grocery Stores Going
In response to a decline in the number of rural grocery stores, North Dakota communities are trying a variety of approaches to keep the doors open at these “foundational” community institutions. A state-sponsored grant program is one of the tactics.
Commentary: Rural Organizers Focus on ‘Monumental Opportunity’
Federal legislation has created a once-in-a-generation chance to strengthen democracy and restore faith in government. Rural leaders need to work together to make the most of it.
Commentary: Conversation With Terry Woodbury About the Battles He Picks
A new podcast presents an interview with an activist who helps solve big-scale, community-spanning problems.
Thousands of People Moved to the Rural South During the First Year of the Pandemic. Where Did They Come From?
In 2021, more than 325,000 Americans moved from metropolitan areas to rural counties. For most of them, the journey wasn’t very far.
Featured Coverage
Data: Jobs, Economic Trends, and More
Related Coverage
Stay up to speed on the latest rural economic trends.
Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.
Featured Contributor: Bill Bishop
Even More Economic Stories to Explore
Commentary: The Free Market
A good idea brought about a community place to exchange used things and keep tons of stuff from going to a landfill.
Novel Survey Elevates Rural Lived Experience
Oregon Voices Survey used a unique methodology that helped raise the voices of rural residents.
Data Centers Love North Dakota. Should North Dakota Love Them?
North Dakota is considered one of the best states for mining cryptocurrency, but the high energy use that comes with it has some skeptical of its benefit to the state.
New Market Tax Credits Provide ‘Patient Capital’ for Rural Business Growth
The federal tax breaks encourage investors to put their money into communities that might otherwise miss out on chances to grow.
Tennessee Tech Program Helps Economically Distressed Counties With Tourism And Economic Development
Rural Reimagined program is a win-win for students, counties and residents, officials say.
Analysis: A New Approach to Defining Persistent Poverty
Switching from using counties to census tracts in order to define persistent poverty may hurt rural communities and their chances when competing for federal dollars.
Rise and Relevance of Rural Coworking Spaces
With small business and remote working taking off, coworking spaces are becoming a community building tool for smaller communities.
Walking the ‘Fine Line’ of Rural Development and Gentrification
Woodlands Development Group in central West Virginia works to economically revitalize small town communities it serves. But as the tourists come, the danger of pricing locals out of the home towns follows in their wake.
Commentary: Book Refutes the ‘Angry Rural Voter’ Thesis, but Its Economic Analysis Isn’t Convincing
Elizabeth Currid-Halkett says the media trope of “rural rage” doesn’t match her experience as a child of small-town America. But the argument that rural America is succeeding economically is not a strong one.
Radically Rural Summit Returns to Keene, N.H., in September
The sixth annual conference will feature tracks in community development, journalism, arts and culture, clean energy, and more. Speakers include nonprofit and policy leaders, journalists, and government officials from across the country.
Radically Rural: Striking a Sustainable and Profitable Balance in Outdoor Economies
For small towns, recreation and tourism can bring both profits and problems. Programs in two states help small communities promote the positive and avoid the negative in developing their outdoor economies.
Rural SNAP Recipients Will Have Harder Time with Return to Work Requirements
In May the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) resumed work requirements for beneficiaries. Rural counties have fewer employment prospects, which means finding those jobs will be more difficult.
Small Town Cafe Years in the Making Opens with Community Support
Three decades of dreams come to fruition with the help and encouragement from friends, family and other businesses in a tight-knit community.
Report: Central Appalachia Could Be a Safe Haven for Climate Change Migrants
Researchers found that the region could see a wave of climate-related migration. Early findings point to the need for robust infrastructure investments to support potentially growing population.
A ‘School-to-Prison Pipeline’ Aims to Fill Job Vacancies at Texas’ Prisons and Jails
To address massive staffing shortages across its prisons, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is building relationships with high school programs that train students for careers in corrections and law enforcement.
When a Rural College and Chamber of Commerce Team Up to Fight Local Unemployment
In southwest Virginia, Patrick & Henry Community College and the Martinsville Chamber of Commerce are working together to reverse the decline of local manufacturing jobs in their community by promising companies a qualified and adaptable workforce.
Commentary: The Hidden Reach of the Farm Bill
With the reauthorization of the Farm Bill approaching, lawmakers have a chance to recognize – and fund – rural development programs as drivers of equitable prosperity in rural America.
Loading…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.