Rural Renaissance: New Initiative Aims to Revitalize Communities
Rural communities have historically struggled with inequality. Among the biggest challenges are weaker infrastructures, fewer workforce and educational opportunities, and inadequate funding.
A new nationwide economic development cohort that includes two Indiana entities is seeking to reverse the trend and address the divergence rural communities face.
A $2.6-million grant from the Ascendium Education Group and ECMC Foundation supports the initiative. Civic collaboration nonprofit CivicLab, the organization that is managing the grant funding, has selected 10 rural partnerships throughout the country to “rethink and revitalize their communities” through new strategies concerning higher education and workforce development. Indiana partners include the John Jay WorkReady Institute at the John Jay Center for Learning and the Community Education Coalition at the Columbus Learning Center Management Corporation. The two organizations join higher learning institutions, nonprofits, employers and public agencies from Arkansas, California, Florida, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, and South Carolina. Through the grant, each partner will receive training, opportunities for collaboration and financial assistance to develop pathways for education and employment.
