Rural Development

Rural development policy addresses the economic, infrastructure, and service gaps between rural and urban America — gaps that have widened as economic activity, population, and investment concentrate in metropolitan areas. Approximately 46 million Americans live in rural communities, which face distinct challenges: lower average incomes, higher rates of chronic disease, limited access to healthcare providers, deteriorating infrastructure, and broadband deserts that exclude residents from the digital economy. Rural hospital closures are a critical issue: more than 140 rural hospitals have closed since 2010, and hundreds more are at financial risk, eliminating access to emergency care and obstetric services for millions of people. The opioid crisis has hit rural communities with particular severity. Broadband access — or lack thereof — determines whether rural students can do homework online, whether remote work is possible, and whether small businesses can compete. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021) allocated $65 billion for broadband expansion, with rural areas a priority. The USDA Rural Development agency administers housing loans, business grants, utility infrastructure funding, and community facilities programs across rural America. Farm consolidation has reduced the number of small family farms, and the communities built around them have struggled economically. Politically, rural voters have shifted dramatically toward the Republican Party since the 1990s, and the distinct policy priorities of rural America now feature prominently in national debates.