Rural Connections Blog
Rural Partners Network Forum Convenes in North Carolina
In Wilson, North Carolina, changemakers and rural leaders from all corners of federal, state, and local government met on Wednesday, August 23 for the first-ever convening of the North Carolina Rural Partners Network Forum. The event brought more than 200 attendees to the Wilson Agriculture Building where a shared commitment and enthusiasm to improve the lives of the rural people in North Carolina simmered.
Making an impact in Angoon, Alaska with RPN
Rural Partners Network was launched in April 2022 to change the way the federal government works with and listens to rural people.
Uplifting rural voices with the Sierra Region Community Network
The Sierra Community Network, hosted by Northern Nevada Development Authority (NNDA) consists of two counties, Lyon and Mineral, in the Northwestern Region of Nevada’s high desert. Strong mining communities, both rail and mining played a role in the growth of these communities many years ago. In fact, the first transcontinental railroad, the Central Pacific, ran through Lyon County though the route has since shifted.
Instilling hope and opportunity in the Southern West Virginia Community Network
The Southern West Virginia Community Network, hosted by the West Virginia Community Development Hub (The Hub), consists of the 12 southernmost counties of the Mountain State. The counties of Boone, Fayette, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers, Wayne, and Wyoming are steeped in pride and southern tradition and long associated with blue collar jobs in extractive industries. The coal industry dominated the region for more than a century with mining operations in all 12 counties. The combination of the coal and strong timber industry led to the expansion and development of the railroads. Downturns in the coal and timber industries, resource depletion, and shifting energy concerns diminished the prosperity and created a persistent cycle of poverty.
The Nevada 95-80 Community Network works with RPN to drive economic development
Humboldt and Pershing Counties are in the high desert region of northern Nevada, an agricultural and mining region rich in history, beautiful landscapes, and close-knit communities. The city of Lovelock in Pershing County and Winnemucca in Humboldt County are northeast of Reno along the I-80 corridor. Winnemucca has been regarded as the friendliest town in Nevada, and Lovelock is Nevada’s love-locking locale. Known for its beautiful open spaces and sprawling sand dunes, the area is home to outdoor enthusiasts and a prime area for fishing and hunting.