Reenvisioning Rural America (Urban Institute, with support from RWJF and USDA) reframes how we see rural communities—not by their deficits, but by their diverse strengths, assets, and potential. Using census tract–level data and the Community Capitals Framework, the project developed a typology of seven peer groups that highlight rural areas’ varied realities—from energy-rich hubs and agricultural centers to culturally rich, recreational regions. This asset-based approach challenges the “not urban” narrative and equips policymakers, practitioners, and investors with a nuanced view of rural America’s infrastructure, culture, economy, and natural environment. Like Aspen CSG’s work, it emphasizes the power of evidence-driven storytelling to guide smarter, more equitable investments that build on what rural communities already do best.
REENVISIONING RURAL AMERICA
