Skip to content

Intentional Growth

involves direct investment in resident capabilities and job quality rather than relying on top-down corporate tax breaks to reduce economic displacement.

Affordable Housing

Affordable housing plays a pivotal role in not only providing shelter but catalyzing community growth and social engagement.

--

Impact:

  • More money spent locally
  • Fewer evictions
  • Healthier neighbors
  • More job opportunities and employees retention
  • Investing in children

Build Up, Not Out

To foster greater resilience, small towns and rural communities are identifying ways to strengthen their built environment and economies, provide a better quality of life for residents, and enhance local assets.

--

Impact:

  • Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs)
  • Environmental Regulations reducing pollution and saving money
  • Zoning Preemption allowing mixed-use/multi-family buildings, reuse of vacant buildings
  • State Growth Management Acts, establish urban growth boundaries

Public Transportation

Public transportation in growing rural areas is a lifeline that bridges the gap between isolated communities and essential services.

--

Impact:

  • Help residents get to work by providing safe, affordable, and dependable transportation
  • Ensure businesses have the workforce they need to operate and grow
  • Neighbors move easily within our communities, spend money locally, and keep businesses open
  • Connects people to educational institutions, vocational training centers, and career development programs, ensuring that neighbors have the resources they need to advance their careers

We are aligned with organizations centering evidence-based methods to develop intentionally for people over corporations:

Habitat for Humanity

Community development reaches its pinnacle when every individual has access to secure and stable housing. 

https://www.habitatcltregion.org/blog/the-impact-of-affordable-housing-on-community-development 
 
 

EPA Smart Growth

Leveraging smart growth approaches and inclusive community engagement strategies can help rural communities and small towns achieve their goals for growth and development while maintaining their distinctive rural character.

https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/smart-growth-small-towns-and-rural-communities 

Human Resource Agency

Why Rural Transportation is Essential for Economic Growth

https://fthra.org/news/blog/why-rural-transportation-is-essential-for-economic-growth  

Ready to fight for women and workers?