Advancing the Future of Rural America

Connecting Community Leaders Across Rural America 

We’ve heard from rural leaders around the country that they need a place to come together — to exchange insights, lessons and opportunities to collaborate on common challenges facing their communities. In response, The Conservation Fund is hosting a series of gatherings to facilitate this collaboration. Last year, we convened a diverse group of rural leaders from eight states to discuss the future of rural America, share resources, and to learn from examples in Western North Carolina, all at the intersection of conservation and economic development.

How Rural Western North Carolina is Balancing Tourism and Community Needs

Western North Carolina is an outdoor recreation paradise. In recent years, tourism has surged, breathing new life into many of its towns and communities. However, this rapid growth and revitalization has brought its share of challenges — and natural disasters like Hurricane Helene and recent wildfires have compounded these issues for leaders and the communities they serve. The area proved to be the ideal spot to hear from local leaders who have fueled the rise in interest in outdoor recreation and the natural resource economy, and who are helping their communities and businesses recover from natural disasters. These leaders are now using this momentum in innovative ways to meet pressing community needs.  

The Conservation Fund partnered with the G5 Trail Collective, The Industrial Commons, and Foothills Conservancy, to showcase how communities are leveraging outdoor recreation, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and natural resource industries like forestry and agriculture to drive sustainable growth. Retreat attendees learned about The Industrial Commons’ innovative models for employee ownership and cooperative housing. At The Foothills Conservancy’s Oak Hill Community Farm, they explored integrated land management practices, including traditional Hmong cultural crop farming, sustainable forestry, chestnut research, and recreation opportunities. 

Finally, partners heard from the Catawba Vale Collaborative, which has helped drive community-led economic development as part of the outdoor recreation economy. Through intentional community engagement and innovative partnerships, the Collaborative’s partners have expanded their focus to address affordable housing, education, equitable access, and small business development, all critical issues in emerging outdoor recreation communities. 

Looking Ahead: The Future of Rural America 

Rural communities are the frontline stewards of America’s most treasured natural landscapes — these communities sustain nature and nature sustains them. These successful models from Western North Carolina highlight creative solutions that drive regional economic growth while preserving natural resources, promoting environmental sustainability, and enhancing climate resilience. The Conservation Fund is expanding these learning opportunities for local leaders and seeking long-term investments from corporations, foundations, and public agencies to support projects that enhance the health and viability of rural communities and their workforce. 

Our nation’s economic and environmental futures are inextricably linked. The Conservation Fund’s growing network of community champions and changemakers demonstrate that economic development that prioritizes the conservation of natural resources creates a more resilient and prosperous future for rural America, because land sustains us all.