2025 Rural Innovation Summit brings together rural development leaders at NACo headquarters

Key Takeaways

On April 10, NACo hosted the 2025 Rural Innovation Summit at its Washington, D.C. headquarters, convening more than 60 rural development leaders, practitioners, policymakers and advocates for a day of in-depth policy dialogue, partnership building and federal advocacy.

The event was co-hosted by NACo in partnership with the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) and the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA). All three organizations collectively serve on the steering committee of the Rural Network, a nonpartisan coalition of over 100 organizations committed to strengthening rural communities.

Elevating Rural Priorities Across Federal Policy

NACo CEO and Executive Director Matt Chase opened the Summit by welcoming attendees and underscoring the importance of the moment. “Rural places are at a crossroads,” Chase said. “There are real challenges in rural communities, from housing and workforce to health care and infrastructure, but there’s also real opportunity. It’s more important than ever that rural leaders rise to the challenge.”

Following his remarks, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.-02), the Ranking Members of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees, delivered opening keynotes sharing insights on the legislative landscape and called for greater collaboration between rural leaders and congressional lawmakers.  

Participants then heard from leaders across the rural development field, as well as a bipartisan group of senior congressional staff and USDA officials. Summit attendees discussed a range of key policy areas, including rural broadband and digital equity, affordable housing and infrastructure, rural health access, economic and workforce development, and the future of USDA Rural Development programs and Farm Bill investments.

From Dialogue to Congressional Advocacy

Following the morning programming, attendees advanced shared policy priorities in advocacy meetings on Capitol Hill.  

Key advocacy priorities included:

• Robust funding for USDA Rural Development to support the delivery of essential services and community development efforts in rural counties
• A dedicated rural capacity building provision in the Farm Bill to invest in local leadership and implementation capacity
• Swift confirmation of an Under Secretary for Rural Development at USDA with deep experience and field-based expertise
• Improved USDA efficiency and operational capacity through securing adequate staffing, technology and stronger coordination with state offices

Earlier in the week, NACo, alongside a diverse group of 59 other rural stakeholder organizations, distributed a joint letter to the full membership of the House and Senate Appropriations and Agriculture Committees urging Congress to provide robust funding for USDA Rural Development programs in the FY2026 budget, highlighting their vital role in supporting infrastructure, housing, broadband and economic development across rural America. Read the letter here.

NACo’s Role in the Rural Network

As a core member of the Rural Network Steering Committee, NACo plays a critical role in facilitating rural policy discussions, advocating for county governments and amplifying the voices of local leaders. NACo also serves as a leading convener in the rural development policy ecosystem, bringing together diverse stakeholders to drive forward shared priorities.

Counties are on the front lines of rural development efforts, managing infrastructure, delivering health and human services, supporting housing efforts and guiding local economic strategy. The Rural Innovation Summit reaffirmed the need for strong federal partnerships and intentional investment in the capacity of rural counties and our partners. Counties remain committed to working with federal leaders to advance community-driven solutions across rural America.