Thread by @anthonypipa, Excited about new report w/Natalie Geismar: We believe a thriving #rural America [...]

Excited about new report w/Natalie Geismar: We believe a thriving #rural America is possible & central to America’s future. So we took a close look @ effectiveness of federal rural policy. Lots of takeaways on ways to #DoRightByRural. Thread

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten" aria-label="Emoji: Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten">1/ http://www.brookings.edu/research/reimagining-rural-policy-organizing-federal-assistance-to-maximize-rural-prosperity/">https://www.brookings.edu/research/...

Reimagining rural policy: Organizing federal assistance to maximize rural prosperity

Anthony F. Pipa and Natalie Geismar review the landscape of U.S. federal assistance to rural areas and outline an agenda to revamp and harmonize the disparate programs.

http://www.brookings.edu/research/reimagining-rural-policy-organizing-federal-assistance-to-maximize-rural-prosperity/

Mindset shift needed by policymakers: #rural America more #diverse demographically & economically than most think. More than 1/5 Black & brown; significant entrepreneurialism; major service economy; less than 6% employed in ag. cc @UrbanInstitute 2/ https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/debunking-three-myths-about-rural-america">https://www.urban.org/urban-wir...

Debunking Three Myths about Rural America

News media and scholarly reporting frequently misrepresent or misunderstand rural America. Few examples illustrate this more than the wake of the 2016 election, when droves of largely nonrural

https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/debunking-three-myths-about-rural-america

A #rural agenda is integral to a #racialequity agenda – see @gbenga_ajilore @KatrinaEBadger.

And #rural will be central to successful #ClimateChange strategies w/large investments in clean energy infrastructure & shifts in food production. 3/ https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/news/2020/11/19/493092/focus-equity-geography-no-longer-destiny/">https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/ec...

With a Focus on Equity, Geography No Longer Has To Be Destiny - Center for American Progress

With the rural-urban divide in the headlines, it is time to address long-standing inequities by building a more comprehensive equity analysis.

https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/news/2020/11/19/493092/focus-equity-geography-no-longer-destiny/

Federal leadership has historically been important in supporting #rural econ/community dev’p.

It& #39;s now in urgent need of modernization & reform: 400+ programs; 13 depts; 10 agencies; 50+ offices. 14 leg committee have authorizing jurisdiction. Imagine navigating this! 4/

. @USDA technically has responsibility for #ruralpolicy but as above chart shows, this goes far beyond its authority & reach. Also far beyond @SenateAgGOP @SenateAgDems.

#Rural policy is NOT just ag policy. #Ruraldevelopment not just domain of @usdaRD. Another mindset shift. 5/

Many federal programs that are open but not specific to #ruraldevelopment disadvantage #rural through eligibility requirements or spending formulas.

Any definition of “ #scale” should also include relative improvements or depth of impact. 6/

A close look @ #ruralspecific programs for community/econ dev’p shows funding heavily weighted towards loans.

#Grants=0.2% of federal spending & less than 7% of #ruralspecific portfolio.

Little funding is flexible & available for investing in capacity + institutions. 7/

Using a dev’p effectiveness lens challenges us to track #rural well-being & assess ROI of these federal investments.

It& #39;s important to work from a set of principles that guide dev’p practice both in local communities & globally. 8/ https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2020/04/14/redesign-required-principles-for-reimagining-federal-rural-policy-in-the-covid-19-era/">https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-f...

Redesign required: Principles for reimagining federal rural policy in the COVID-19 era

The relief funds already allocated and being contemplated by Congress must be designed to enable every community to thrive, including rural areas.

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2020/04/14/redesign-required-principles-for-reimagining-federal-rural-policy-in-the-covid-19-era/

What to do? 1st: Launch domestic dev’p corp in manner of @MCCgov created by @GeorgeWBush for overseas dev’p.

Large, long-term block grants; flexible funding; relentless measurement of results; rigorous economic analysis & tech assistance. Limit to #rural for 1st 5 years. 9/

Key point: investments must support local visions/local leadership/local capacity.

Strengthen local institutions like the #ruralhubs that help develop sustainable & locally-led economic & civic activity. cc @KatharineWFerg @AspenCSG 10/ https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/rural-development-hubs-report/">https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-post...

Rural Development Hubs Report - The Aspen Institute

Strengthening America's Rural Innovation Infrastructure - Hubs focus on all the critical ingredients in a region’s system that either advance or impede prosperity — the integrated range of social,...

https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/rural-development-hubs-report/

2nd: Reforms! Start w/ #NationalRuralStrategy. Add WH position & ongoing interagency body (e.g. @USICHGov).

Have OMB audit regs/eligibility reqs to ID barriers to access by #rural.

And advance regional approaches that break down #ruralurban divide. cc @MarkMuro1 @Amy_Liuw 11/

Increased #transparency about which federal funds go to #rural communities would be a huge help.

We need more data plus a tool like @USAID_Data Foreign Aid Explorer ( https://explorer.usaid.gov/ )">https://explorer.usaid.gov/">... but for US.

We suggest a 5% set-aside for evaluation. 12/ https://www.urban.org/research/publication/search-good-rural-data">https://www.urban.org/research/...

In Search of "Good" Rural Data

Economic and demographic data drive research, policy development, distribution of government resources, and private investment. But many of the datasets that policymakers, practitioners, and

https://explorer.usaid.gov/

3rd: Get Congress involved. Bipartisan commission to review #rural assistance.

Akin to HELP Commission report ( https://rb.gy/z3v6eh )">https://rb.gy/z3v6eh&qu... on #foreignaid reforms.

Addressing geographic divergence in US prosperity should be bipartisan project. 13/ https://www.brookings.edu/events/beyond-assistance-report-of-the-help-commission-on-foreign-aid-reform/">https://www.brookings.edu/events/be...

Beyond Assistance: Report of the HELP Commission on Foreign Aid Reform

On December 10, the Global Economy and Development program hosted the HELP Commission for the official release of its report on foreign aid reform, Beyond Assistance. Mary Bush, chair of the HELP...

https://rb.gy/z3v6eh

Bottom line: federal leadership can do much better by #rural. The challenge is to scale up impact based on the bright spots scattered across US.

These proposals for reforms & innovations at federal level are a start. @Sarah_Smarsh @JamesFallows @Portereduardo @TaraWestover 14/

Huge thx to @KatharineWFerg @dobrien_coop @davidlipsetz @nathanohle @coriannescally, @andrewdumont @katrinaEbadger @kenanfikri @EricPostel @LandonWebber @gbenga_ajilore @OppFinance @headecon & many others for invaluable feedback & support. #ReimaginingRural #PowerofRural /end.

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