This guide from the NADO Research Foundation equips regional development organizations with practical tools to measure inclusive economic progress through the WealthWorks framework. By focusing on eight forms of community capital — from financial and natural to cultural and social — the guide emphasizes strategies that build long-term livelihoods, expand local ownership, and ensure low-income residents benefit from economic growth. It offers RDOs methods for setting SMART goals, engaging stakeholders, and aligning measurement with community values, all while centering equity and resilience. At Aspen CSG, we see this approach as essential to creating rural economies that don’t just grow, but thrive — building wealth that stays rooted in place and strengthens communities for generations.
MEASURING RURAL WEALTH CREATION
