Rural and urban communities are evolving in response to economic shifts—but not in the same ways. Differences in funding, infrastructure, and development strategies are widening the divide.
Bridging these divides to build stronger, more inclusive regional ecosystems is possible through regional collaboration, infrastructure investment, and a focus on localized strengths.
Abby Smith, Program Manager for Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development, Heartland Forward in Arkansas, has extensive experience in this area. Heartland Forward is the only policy think tank in the nation completely dedicated to advancing the economy of the 20 states defined as the “heartland,” which geographically includes everything from Texas up through the Dakotas, over to Michigan and Ohio, down to Alabama, and all the states in between.
This diverse set of states has a lot in common but also many differences, specifically as it relates to economic growth. Urban areas see growth through innovation clusters, defined as a concentrated geographic area where a combination of businesses, research institutions, and startups work together to drive innovation, collaboration, and economic growth. They all benefit from shared talent, infrastructure, and investment. Rural communities, on the other hand, experience growth through their specific industry, which anchors their local supply chain.
“Both are vital to economic resilience across the country, but are experienced differently,” Smith said. “When those are put together, it’s regional collaboration. That’s what’s happening. A successful regional collaboration leverages strengths from both areas to drive shared economic growth. That comes from an alignment in infrastructure, workforce development, industry, all coming together for regional prosperity.”
Smith cited an example in North Central Indiana that has been successful in driving this kind of collaboration. WHIN unites 10 rural and urban counties in North Central Indiana, particularly around manufacturing and agriculture coalitions, to accelerate the adoption of IOT technology to help enhance efficiency and productivity.