RAND Rural America Partnership

Approximately 56 million people live in rural America, in communities as distinct as the landscapes they call home. “Rural” might describe them, but it does not adequately define them. These communities each have their own needs and aspirations—and effective public policy decisions often depend on understanding those differences.

RAND is partnering with rural-serving universities across the United States to build a foundation for smarter rural policy, in concert with state governments and others. The Rural America Partnership aims to define and elevate the issues that matter most to rural communities. It may be national in scope, but it is also local and regional in its focus and impact.

Our mission is straightforward: to help rural communities build on their strengths, address their challenges, and thrive. We leverage expertise from RAND and our university partners across a wide range of fields:

• Workforce development and education
• Health, health care, and substance use
• Critical infrastructure
• Energy and the environment
• Water security
• Agriculture
• Biosecurity and biotechnology

The challenges are clear. Gaps between urban and rural areas have widened over time. What is needed now is a coordinated effort to meet the needs of rural, remote, and indigenous communities. That is what drove us to create the Rural America Partnership.

Research & Commentary

Leadership

Researchers