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The “Ripple Effect” of Investing in Rural America

Erin Cahill   |   July 23, 2023

In her essay The Ripple Effect of Investing in Rural America, Suzanne Anarde of Rural LISC argues that traditional measures of scale miss the true impact of rural investments, which often create outsized cultural, social, and economic benefits across tightly woven community networks. From rebuilding a single bridge to restoring an abandoned factory into housing and arts space, these projects may look “small” by urban standards but reverberate widely in rural contexts, strengthening resilience and community fabric. This call for valuing rural places on their own terms aligns with Aspen CSG’s emphasis on asset-based, community-driven development—measuring wealth not only in numbers, but in the health, equity, and vitality of rural communities.

Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group
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