Wealth Creation in Rural Communities – A Project of the Ford Foundation

Wealth Creation in Rural America is based on the premise that low-wealth rural communities can increase wealth, broadly defined, through the use of a triple bottom line approach to development. Experience suggests that development focused solely on economic outcomes often results in depreciation of both environmental and social assets. A balanced approach to development— what we are calling triple bottom line development – benefits the economy, the environment and social inclusion simultaneously.

Practitioners engaged in cluster-based strategies, value chains, entrepreneurship development, and triple bottom line community development financing were selected to undertake this work because they each offer a proven contrast to more conventional and less systemic approaches to rural economic development.We understood from the start that these practitioners represent approaches that are necessary, but are not sufficient to achieve our goal.

We have completed the first two phases of this work. Phase One was an assessment of existing practice. Phase Two was a place-based regional learning experience.While we still have a long way to go and many unanswered questions, we believe there is value in sharing what we have learned from the very first phases of our work.We welcome your feedback!

More Information: http://www.yellowwood.org/wealthcreation.aspx

***

(Many thanks to Julie Hitchcock of the Wheeler Center for passing this along. If you have an interest in learning more about a major aspect of rural development, I hope you’ll be able to attend the upcoming Wheeler Conference on Education in Montana: "The Burton K. Wheeler Center -"Montana’s Challenge: Rethinking Education For The 21st Century", 9/20-21, Helena, Montana" http://matr.net/events.phtml?showdetail=3255