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A small town losing people or services

Ideas for rural places working to keep residents, services, and a future.

Before you rely on thisThese are older articles and answers, and laws and programs change and vary by place. For current rules, check with your county government and your state rural development office.

Start with these

  1. Guide

    Rural Community Development Builds Capacity

    Rural community development focuses on increasing problem-solving capacity, a sound economic base and school system, essential businesses, and clean-up.

  2. Guide

    Rural Economic Development Includes Diversifying

    Rural economic development entails creating new markets for the agricultural base and diversifying the economy to provide new opportunities.

  3. Visitor question

    Fear for the future of our small rural village

    What is a sustainable future for a small village of 3,500 that is primarily estate lots, agricultural land and forest and located just 15 minutes from

  4. Visitor question

    Attracting a grocery store to a rural small town

    Visitor Question: How do we attract a grocery store to our town? Editors Reply: Thank you for giving your zip code, which allowed us to see that you are

  5. Visitor question

    Small southeastern rural town future

    I'd like to know your views on small rural towns (pop. 2500 or less) futures, in re-identifying themselves and developing a sustainable economy based historical

  6. Guide

    Rural Housing Challenges Include Quality, Quantity, Cost

    Rural housing issues and solutions are discussed, including cluster design, farmworker shelter, and increased supply and affordability.

Ready to do something about it?

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Original guidance from A Good Community: How to Make and Keep It, owned and edited by Nancy Thompson (formerly Useful Community Development), shared with permission. Community Compass notes and updates are our own and have not been reviewed by Nancy Thompson.