Locals rally around General Store, charting a new path for sustainable community development A place to send and receive mail. Somewhere to catch up with neighbors and pick up provisions. A lifeline during the pandemic. The Elmore Store serves many purposes, depending on who you ask, but for everyone in rural Elmore, Vt. (Population: 886), the country store is a symbol of … [Read more...]
Episode 48: Building Thriving Rural Communities
Since 1987, the NC Rural Center in North Carolina has worked to improve the quality of life for the state’s rural people and places. It operates with the core belief that rural communities have inherent cultural value and are vital to the overall economic health of the state. Patrick Woodie is a lifelong rural North Carolina resident and President & CEO of the NC Rural … [Read more...]
Farm Bill 101: Inside the Legislation
The bill that decides how America eats is on the table again. Up for renewal is the Farm Bill, a $1.5 trillion package of laws that governs everything from agriculture to rural community development, to nutritional assistance, renewable energy and more. The Farm Bill is reauthorized every five years, with the 2018 version set to expire on September 30. The … [Read more...]
Episode 47: A Small Town’s Fight to Save Its Historic General Store
Trevor Bruan of the Elmore Community Trust shares a remarkable story of how the small town of Elmore, Vermont, which has about 850 residents and no stoplight, rallied to save its only General Store and preserve the town's identity. The Elmore Community Trust also found innovative ways to fund the project and has a hopeful vision for the future. Find out more about the … [Read more...]
Episode 46: Impact of The Farm Bill
Kalee Olson is a policy associate for the Center for Rural Affairs and joins Ben Rowley in this episode of the Rural Business Show to discuss some of the Center’s top priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill and how it will impact rural communities. The Farm Bill comes up in Congress every five years for renewal and is a comprehensive package of laws that provides funding for … [Read more...]