Rural Development Hubs, a Possibility for Nebraska?

The Aspen Institute, Community Strategies Group conducted an analysis of 43 Rural Development Hubs from across the country to discover their strategies, organizational structures, regional roles, and practices. Their aim was to learn how rural regions can help investors, policymakers and other local and regional decision-makers better serve their regions. The following provides an overview of their findings detailed in the report: Rural Development Hubs: Strengthening America’s Rural Innovation Infrastructure. The report provides an opportunity for further discussion on the potential role of Rural Development Hubs in Nebraska. Rural Development Hubs are defined as a “place-rooted organization working hand-in -glove with people and organizations across a region to build inclusive wealth, increase local capacity and create opportunities to improve livelihoods, health and well-being.” Their roles include helping to identify and connect regional assets to market demands. They focus on the broader, regional systems that either contribute to or hinder regional prosperity. Effective Hubs utilize local assets to create and sustain enterprises that retain greater wealth within these regions. This wealth is reinvested in the region to sustain the health and well-being of communities and people. Hubs work within the context of local people building their capacity to make and influence strategies, actions, and investments to improve their regions