Barriers to Federal Investment in Rural Communities 

The Barriers to Federal Investment in Rural Communities report, using West Virginia as a case study, highlights how persistent challenges like shifting grant timelines, stringent match requirements, and restrictive spending rules prevent rural and coal-impacted communities from fully accessing historic levels of federal funding. By elevating the voices of local practitioners and identifying agency-level reforms, the report underscores the need for more equitable, accessible pathways to federal investment. This aligns directly with the Aspen Community Strategies Group’s mission to strengthen rural and Indigenous prosperity by amplifying practitioner insights, fostering peer learning, and driving systemic changes in philanthropic and public funding. Together, these efforts aim to ensure that rural regions are positioned to thrive in the face of economic transition and opportunity.