Whether and how the economic drivers of ecosystem services, energy, food, and natural
resources, have desirable and significant impacts on rural America will depend in
large part on its capacity to respond to the economic, social, and environmental
challenges that it will face over the next several decades. The Rural Futures Lab
will be focusing on elements of critical infrastructure that shape this long-term
productive capacity.
High speed broadband is a basic necessity for families and businesses particularly
in rural America. Commerce, education, health care, civic life, shopping and entertainment
are now driven by access to communications technologies. Rural areas that are able
to access and fully use high speed broadband can be competitive in the global marketplace. MORE »
Creating an educated, skilled and adaptable workforce in rural America is vital
to achieving a prosperous and equitable future. This means effective, quality rural
school and community college systems that can prepare rural people of all ages to
take advantage of the opportunities offered by the economic drivers. MORE »
Demographic, economic, and fiscal realities create major challenges for the delivery
and financing of health care in rural America. However, integrated, flexible health
systems that embrace both medical and community approaches to individual and public
health, as well as technology, are a critical component of rural capacity. MORE »
Transportation is a central part of rural economic development and quality of life.
The complexity and diversity of rural America, and the associated variety of needs
and expectations for transportation, call for flexible and integrated approaches
at the local, regional, state, and federal levels. Appropriate investments in rural
transportation can yield important economic development, cost of living, accessibility,
safety, health, and overall quality of life outcomes. MORE »