Find out how rural and Tribal leaders like you are creating partnerships, or networks, to bring new opportunities and improvements to their communities.
The Rural Partners Network is working on the ground in selected RPN Community Networks to help navigate and access programs from across the federal government and other providers, secure technical assistance, and develop local capacity.
You can follow along as the locally-led RPN Community Networks listed below move forward, building the futures they envision for the places they call home.
Alaska
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Western Alaska: Bering Strait, Kashunamiut, Lower Kuskokwim and Lower Yukon
Arizona
Georgia
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Southwest Georgia Regional Commission: Counties of Mitchell, Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Seminole, Miller, Terrell, Thomas, and Worth
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Ben Hill County and City of Fitzgerald
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Emanuel County and City of Twin City
Kentucky
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Fulton County and Cities of Fulton, Hickman, Cayce, and South Fulton, Tennessee
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Kentucky Highlands: Counties of Bell, Perry, Harlan, Leslie, Letcher, Whitley, Knox, Clay
Mississippi
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Washington County Economic Alliance: Counties of Washington, Bolivar, Sunflower, and Leflore
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Lake District Partnership: Counties of Grenada and Yalobusha
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North Delta Planning and Development District: Counties of Coahoma, Quitman, and Tunica
Nevada
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Southern Nevada Community Network: Nye and Esmeralda counties
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Sierra Region Community Network: Lyon and Mineral counties
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Moapa ValleyCommunity Network: Clark County and cities of Moapa, Moapa Valley, Overton, Logandale, and Bunkerville
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Nevada 95-80 Regional Development Community Network: Humboldt and Pershing counties
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Southern Clark County Community Network: Clark County and cities of Laughlin, Searchlight, Cal-Nev-Ari
New Mexico
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Northern New Mexico Pathways Economic Development District: Counties of San Miguel, Taos, Mora, and Colfax
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Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments: Counties of Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, and Luna
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Doña Ana County Community Network: Doña Ana County
North Carolina
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Robeson, Bladen, Columbus County Community Network: Robeson, Bladen and Columbus counties
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Glow House Society Community Network: Randolph County
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Wilson, Edgecombe, Nash, and Johnston Community Network: Wilson, Edgecombe, Nash, and Johnston counties
- Halifax-Northampton Community Network: Northhampton County
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Albemarle-Roanoke Community Network: Bertie, Martin, Tyrrell, and Washington counties
Puerto Rico
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Southwest Puerto Rico: Municipalities of Mayaguez, Maricao and Guanica
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Central Puerto Rico-Mountainous Region: Municipalities of Utuado, Jayuya, Ciales, Orcovis, Villalba, Ponce, Adjuntas, Barranquitas and Coamo
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Roosevelt Roads Community Network: Fajardo, Cieba, and Naguabo, to include El Yunque National Forest
West Virginia
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Southern West Virginia Community Network: Mingo, Wayne, Lincoln, Boone, Logan, Wyoming, McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers, and Fayette counties
- West Virginia Pioneer Community Network: Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Nicholas, Roane, Webster, and Wirt counties
Wisconsin
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Northern Wisconsin Community Network: Ashland, Iron and Price counties
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Greater Menominee Community Network: Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and Menominee County
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Northwestern Wisconsin Community Network: Eau Claire, Dunn, Clark, Buffalo, Pepin, and Chippewa counties
A community network is a collaboration among local leaders, residents, civic and business organizations, nonprofits, service providers, development agencies, and others representing the diversity of a region’s population and perspectives.
Rural stakeholders define the footprint of their community network, which can be a single county – or can include multiple counties and towns in a geographically-distinct rural region.
A community network can come together solely to address a specific need in their community. Or, groups of engaged local leaders and citizens can meet regularly to collaborate on several local priorities.
Whether operating as an organized partnership or informal collaboration, networks of invested rural people are what drive local efforts to enhance their economy and improve their quality of life.
The Rural Partners Network provides on-the-ground technical assistance to RPN Community Networks dealing with substantial resource gaps. The community networks are comprised of motivated, inclusive, and collaborative local leaders and stakeholders collaborating to identify opportunities to address high-priority community needs with additional technical and financial assistance.
The Rural Partners Network hires small, full-time teams of federal Community Liaisons and Planners to work RPN Community Networks in each RPN-designated state. These place-based employees help their communities build local capacity, identify community-driven solutions, navigate federal programs, connect to a variety of funders and assistance providers, and leverage resources to support locally-led projects.
RPN agencies and other partners also coordinate through the networks and Community Liaisons to support community planning, provide technical assistance, and direct program funding for projects and initiatives prioritized by the local community.
RPN identified counties for consideration based on factors such as levels of economic distress, low participation in federal programs, local capacity, and readiness to participate. USDA also conducted community engagement sessions with a diverse group of local community leaders in each county under consideration to identify local interest and opportunities for RPN assistance. Leaders were then invited to define the footprint of their network and identify key partners interested in submitting letters of interest for consideration in RPN.
USDA launches RPN Community Networks in groups (“cohorts”) of 5 – 7 states or territories, with 2 – 3 networks selected in each state. Multiple cohorts are launched each year. USDA will implement RPN in additional states, territories, and Tribal communities as funding is available, with a long-term vision of implementation in every state.
It’s no secret that rural communities sometimes struggle to get financial or technical assistance from highly-competitive federal programs. Through RPN, federal agencies collaborate to improve access to government resources, staffing, and tools.
RPN’s work in selected Community Networks helps federal agencies develop improved service delivery models, program processes, and funding priorities for the benefit of rural communities nationwide.
Participating RPN agencies designate key points of contact – Rural Desk Officers – who coordinate with Community Liaisons working on the ground to help local people access programs and funding. In turn, this direct assistance helps RPN partners develop rural strategies, implement program improvements, and identify rural investment priorities across the country.
Through this new, direct line between rural communities and federal program leaders, we are changing “business-as-usual” by working across agencies to coordinate rural technical assistance, share rural data and measures of success, and align grant requirements.