The New Architecture of Rural Prosperity

Southern Growth Policies Board’s 2005 Report on the Future of the South

Released June 12th at the Rising Together: Summit on the Rural South conference in Point Clear, Alabama, The New Architecture of Rural Prosperity builds on the premise that the prosperity of the rural South is crucial to the prosperity of the South as a whole. Gathering input from more than 2200 Southerners to prepare the report, Southern Growth puts forth two recommendations for building rural prosperity. The first recommendation is to expand the view of economic development beyond industrial recruitment to include community-building activities as part of the actions that create, expand and recruit business to the rural south.

Among other things, this means that economic development should operate within the context of quality of life. The second recommendation urges that economic development activities be managed along regional lines, without regard to traditional or state boundaries. The New Architecture of Rural Prosperity also includes action items for states and communities to build rural prosperity, an analysis of the research and recommendations from rural economic development experts and profiles of successful rural initiatives in the Southern region.

Visit http://www.southern.org/pubs/architecturereport2005/execsumm.pdf to view the executive summary.

Reports are $10. An accompanying 14 minute VHS format video documenting several of Southern Growth’s rural community forums is also available for $10. To order, download the publications order form at http://www.southern.org/pubs/puborderform.pdf to fax or mail in your order.

Or contact Niraj Goswami at [email protected] or 919-941-5145. Discounts available for orders of five or more.

Leigh Ann Wilder
Communications Director
Southern Growth Policies Board
P.O. Box 12293
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Phone: 919.941.5145
Fax: 919.941.5594