White Paper Analysis of Human Resource Policy Considerations of Revitalization of Rural America. HRD & ALL Research Series.

The overall economic well-being of U.S. rural communities is on the decline. Rural America is now dependent on a highly diversified economy, and its problems will not be resolved through improved farm income alone. Various weaknesses in rural development policies must be addressed. The narrow policy focus on attracting manufacturing industries to rural areas has hindered needed economic restructuring and helped only a few communities. In many rural areas, aging infrastructures have been neglected, and modern telecommunications systems are not available. Years of selective outmigration have left rural areas short of human capital, and financial capital sources are inadequate in rural areas. Four existing policy options are described, and an approach that brings all four together into one comprehensive policy is advocated. A collaborative funding effort implemented by regional councils composed of a collaboration of stakeholders is recommended in place of the previous approach of pouring money into just one agency. The Colorado Rural Revitalization Program (CRRP) is described and presented as an effective model for rural economic development. A six-step blueprint for policy formation, implementation, and evaluation is based on identifying public preferences and implementing a stakeholder model with an evaluation-feedback cycle. Contains 17 references. (TD)