Thread by @anthonypipa

Excited about new report w/Natalie Geismar: We believe a thriving #rural America is possible & central to America’s future. So we took a close look @ effectiveness of federal rural policy. Lots of takeaways on ways to #DoRightByRural. Thread👇1/
brookings.edu/research/reima…

Mindset shift needed by policymakers: #rural America more #diverse demographically & economically than most think. More than 1/5 Black & brown; significant entrepreneurialism; major service economy; less than 6% employed in ag. cc @urbaninstitute 2/
urban.org/urban-wire/deb…

A #rural agenda is integral to a #racialequity agenda – see @gbenga_ajilore @KatrinaEBadger.

And #rural will be central to successful #ClimateChange strategies w/large investments in clean energy infrastructure & shifts in food production. 3/
americanprogress.org/issues/economy…

Federal leadership has historically been important in supporting #rural econ/community dev’p.

It's now in urgent need of modernization & reform: 400+ programs; 13 depts; 10 agencies; 50+ offices. 14 leg committee have authorizing jurisdiction. Imagine navigating this! 4/

.@USDA technically has responsibility for #ruralpolicy but as above chart shows, this goes far beyond its authority & reach. Also far beyond @SenateAgGOP @SenateAgDems.

#Rural policy is NOT just ag policy. #Ruraldevelopment not just domain of @usdaRD. Another mindset shift. 5/

Many federal programs that are open but not specific to #ruraldevelopment disadvantage #rural through eligibility requirements or spending formulas.

Any definition of “#scale” should also include relative improvements or depth of impact. 6/

A close look @ #ruralspecific programs for community/econ dev’p shows funding heavily weighted towards loans.

#Grants=0.2% of federal spending & less than 7% of #ruralspecific portfolio.

Little funding is flexible & available for investing in capacity + institutions. 7/

Using a dev’p effectiveness lens challenges us to track #rural well-being & assess ROI of these federal investments.

It's important to work from a set of principles that guide dev’p practice both in local communities & globally. 8/

brookings.edu/blog/up-front/…

What to do? 1st: Launch domestic dev’p corp in manner of @MCCgov created by @GeorgeWBush for overseas dev’p.

Large, long-term block grants; flexible funding; relentless measurement of results; rigorous economic analysis & tech assistance. Limit to #rural for 1st 5 years. 9/

Key point: investments must support local visions/local leadership/local capacity.

Strengthen local institutions like the #ruralhubs that help develop sustainable & locally-led economic & civic activity. cc @KatharineWFerg @AspenCSG 10/
aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/rur…

2nd: Reforms! Start w/#NationalRuralStrategy. Add WH position & ongoing interagency body (e.g. @USICHgov).

Have OMB audit regs/eligibility reqs to ID barriers to access by #rural.

And advance regional approaches that break down #ruralurban divide. cc @MarkMuro1 @amy_liuw 11/

Increased #transparency about which federal funds go to #rural communities would be a huge help.

We need more data plus a tool like @USAID_Data Foreign Aid Explorer (explorer.usaid.gov) but for US.

We suggest a 5% set-aside for evaluation. 12/
urban.org/research/publi…

3rd: Get Congress involved. Bipartisan commission to review #rural assistance.

Akin to HELP Commission report (rb.gy/z3v6eh) on #foreignaid reforms.

Addressing geographic divergence in US prosperity should be bipartisan project. 13/
brookings.edu/events/beyond-…

Bottom line: federal leadership can do much better by #rural. The challenge is to scale up impact based on the bright spots scattered across US.

These proposals for reforms & innovations at federal level are a start. @Sarah_Smarsh @JamesFallows @portereduardo @tarawestover 14/

Huge thx to @KatharineWFerg @dobrien_coop @DavidLipsetz @nathanohle @CorianneScally, @AndrewDumont @KatrinaEBadger @kenanfikri @EricPostel @LandonWebber @gbenga_ajilore @OppFinance @headecon & many others for invaluable feedback & support. #ReimaginingRural #PowerofRural /end.