Join the Rural Impact County Challenge

In February, NACo and the White House Rural Council launched a new initiative to support counties in combating chronic rural poverty.

The initiative calls on any and all counties interested — or currently engaged — in combating chronic rural poverty to share their stories and successes. Participants also receive technical assistance and additional resources from initiative partners to help implement effective policies and practices to address this pressing issue.

To sign up to participate in the initiative, please visit the Rural Impact County Challenge page at http://www. naco.org/rural-impact-county-challenge-national-effort-combat-rural-child-poverty. There you’ll find additional information on the initiative including a draft resolution and whiich counties are  taking steps towards tackling rural poverty.

The Rural Impact County Challenge will unite county leaders from across the country to examine contributing factors to chronic rural poverty. Through this initiative, participants and partners will examine programs and initiatives designed to help address the needs of rural Americans living in poverty including early childhood development, food and nutrition, drug and substance abuse, and workforce training and development.

“Rural America provides the vast majority of food, energy and environmental benefits for the rest of the country, and is the source of nearly 90 percent of renewable water resources, while serving as home to important service sectors and manufacturing hubs,” said USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.

“Eighty-five percent of our country’s persistent poverty counties are in rural America,” he added. “Lack of opportunity for rural kids and families is often compounded by other challenges, including distance from health and early learning programs, lack of access to public transportation and higher rates of substance use disorder, among others.”

For more information, please contact Arthur Scott, associate legislative director, at ascott@naco.org or 202.942.4230.