Report

WORKING TOGETHER: A GUIDE TO COLLABORATION IN RURAL REVITALIZATION

Erin Cahill   |   July 23, 2023

Working Together: A Guide to Collaboration in Rural Revitalization (NC State Extension, 2023) is a practical handbook for rural communities seeking to strengthen their economies and quality of life through collaboration. Drawing on case studies from North Carolina, Iowa, and beyond, it emphasizes three pillars of successful partnerships—coming together, staying together, and growing together—highlighting how shared vision, trust, and leadership transitions can sustain long-term change. With recommendations for leveraging a strong sense of place, building social assets, and nurturing entrepreneurial leadership, the guide provides actionable strategies for communities facing widening rural-urban disparities. Its insights resonate with Aspen CSG’s focus on Rural Development Hubs, where cross-sector collaboration and locally rooted leadership are central to advancing equitable and durable rural prosperity.

Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group
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