Headwaters Economics’ Rural Capacity Map (updated February 2025) spotlights the uneven ability of rural and historically under-resourced communities to secure and manage federal investment. By layering data on staffing, fiscal stress, and social vulnerability, the tool shows where limited administrative capacity is most likely to block access to programs for infrastructure, climate resilience, and disaster recovery. It underscores a core challenge: dollars alone do not translate into impact without the people, systems, and networks to compete for and sustain them. For rural advocates and policymakers, the map offers both evidence of structural inequities and a practical guide to targeting technical assistance, ensuring that smaller communities are not left behind in the current wave of federal investment.
HEADWATERS CAPACITY MAP
