Rural America
Millions in US live in places where doctors don’t practice and telehealth doesn’t reach
Nearly 3 million Americans live sicker, shorter lives in the hundreds of rural counties where doctor shortages are the worst and poor internet connections mean little or no access to telehealth services.
Rural Pennsylvania increases resident satisfaction with public transit modernization
One Pennsylvania transit agency hopes to be a guiding light for rural communities looking to embark on modernization journeys.
Rural New England needs EV chargers to keep tourism revenue flowing. The Trump administration is making it harder to build them.
Compared to surrounding states, New Hampshire’s rural communities lag in charging stations, threatening the tourism sector. Suspending federal funds could make it difficult to accelerate construction.
Rural Montana’s China tech challenge
Montana’s two largest telephone cooperatives took a multimillion-dollar hit when the federal government pulled the plug on Chinese tech company Huawei. Now they’re getting compensated to replace it, but is it enough to do the job?
Report: Broadband can transform a rural community
New research shows a more than 200% growth rate for businesses in rural areas with high broadband utilization rates.
How states are tackling the broadband worker shortage
COMMENTARY | The U.S. is investing more than $42 billion to bring affordable high-speed internet to all Americans, but there aren't enough skilled workers to get the job done.
Small towns are paying remote workers to move in
With remote work apparently here to stay, rural communities are trying to attract new residents with everything from cash to potlucks, and farm-fresh eggs.
Montana could be a model as more GOP states weigh Medicaid work requirements
The state has a program that can help Medicaid enrollees get job training, career guidance.
‘We can’t exist without child care’: Rural towns use state funding to open local centers
State grants are infusing over $3.7 million into helping rural communities build collaborative, innovative solutions to address child care needs across South Dakota.
Holdout states consider expanding Medicaid—with work requirements
The prospect of a second Trump administration has renewed interest in the idea.
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City-country mortality gap widens amid persistent holes in rural health care access
As rural health services continue to erode, population health declines and mortality rates increase. That endangers local economies and employment, rural health experts say.
Community groups step up to help rural agencies’ disaster recovery
Organizations like long-term recovery groups can help rural agencies get housing, financial, health care and food assistance to victims of natural disasters.
‘Brain gain’ in rural America and who is behind it
Young people leave their homes to explore and learn everywhere, not just in rural America. But rural spaces offer some unique advantages that inspire many to return and bolster their communities.
As COVID-19 emergency funding dries up, some rural schools may face a steep fiscal cliff in 2024
Lower-income districts are likely to face bigger budget reductions, along with districts who spent relief aid on teacher salaries and new faculty hires.
Rural employment edges back to pre-pandemic numbers
The number of jobs grew in November 2023, according to a recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Workforce shortages plague rural hospitals, legislation to address it stalls
Experts worry that without legislation incentivizing entry into various medical professions, rural healthcare systems will increasingly suffer from personnel shortages.
How governments are tackling medical debt
Medical debt can stymie communities’ economic mobility as unpaid hospital bills chip away at public dollars. That’s why local governments are looking to forgive residents’ medical debt, which experts say can be especially helpful for rural areas.
Rural counties dependent on recreation industry show best recovery from pandemic employment loss
Rural recreation counties added to their pre-pandemic employment numbers, but other rural economies struggled to recover.
Help for rural governments tackling the opioid crisis
The Reaching Rural Initiative helped officials in Harnett County, North Carolina, develop an opioid emergency response plan and a program to direct formerly incarcerated individuals to treatment.
A robust digital equity plan can boost rural broadband access
A new toolkit from a rural broadband association calls on local leaders to build partnerships, engage in community outreach, and emphasize digital literacy and cybersecurity skills among residents.
