Rural Counties Experiencing Higher Employment Growth Than Urban Counties

From 2003 to 2005, employment and income grew at a faster rate in rural counties than urban areas, with the recreational, big crops and livestock industries contributing to the upswing.

A new article by the Center for the Study of Rural America (CSRA) at the Kansas City Federal Reserve offers three recommendations to sustain this growth.

First, rural communities must develop the leadership capacity and regional cooperation to develop an economic development plan that leverages assets across jurisdictions.

These regions can then utilize federal research across industry sectors, such as advanced manufacturing, medicine, transportation and agriculture, aligned with their economic development plan.

Lastly, regions must build the infrastructure needed to create and support rural entrepreneurs.

To view the report A New Rural Economy: A New Role for Public Policy visit: http://www.kansascityfed.org/ruralcenter/mainstreet/MSE_4_06.pdf

(Many thanks to Southern Compass for passing this along. Russ)