Rural Policy Forum: A Grassroots Voice

A Grassroots Voice:

While the conversation varies slightly across events and places, the main issue remains “Why invest in rural America?” The grassroots conversation is sparked by questions about:

Public policy
Service gaps and barriers
Successful strategies
Needed resources
Priorities and opportunities

Examples of the 'grassroots voice' from the Marketplace of Ideas Rural Policy Forum:

"It's important to engage urban and suburban citizens in this rural policy forum, as those of us who work and/or live in rural areas need to build strong coalitions of support with our urban/suburban neighbors, rather than this debate becoming an urban/rural 'us vs. them' thing. We are one country, interdependent on the health and well-being of people and communities everywhere."

"Young people will continue to leave en masse for the excitement of the big city.

Say you've grown up in rural Pingree, North Dakota. Say you love the countryside and just have to be around grain bins. Say you can't live without 20-below winters and those wonderful January ice storms.

Where're you going to work?

The local elevator? The cafe that's going broke? The implement dealer that folded 20 years ago. The neighbor farmer who'll pay you minimum, then fire you when the harvest is done? OK, you can buy a house cheap, but who's going to take if off your hands when you're ready to move up or out? How far do you want to drive for groceries? You want to commute 90 minutes each way in mid-winter just to get to work?

500 channels of satellite TV can't overcome the fact that you're economically knee-capped right out of high school. And if you're a male personage, where are you going to find a mate who's willing to live in that wonderfully cheap house out in the middle of nowhere just so she can get a clear view of the Aurora Borealis or chase wild bunnies with the likes of you?

We're asking taxpayers elsewhere to fund initiatives in our area when potentially big investors who already live here are shipping most of their investable capital to Scottsdale, Cabo San Lucas, etc., or buying blue chip corporate bonds and other non-rural investments."

Utilizing integrated services, the Rural Policy Forum seeks to listen to and capture the grassroots voice in relation to rural issues.

Outreach is conducted to potential participants through a variety of media.
Utilize existing networks/databases to reach the target market
Conversation is conducted online prior to an event
Conversation is managed daily to cultivate a comprehensive grassroots response