Investing in Infrastructure: Rural Strategies for Building and Maintaining Healthy Local Economies

Explore strategies for leveraging federal funding to invest in rural physical infrastructure and build thriving local economies in this 1-hour 5-minute conference talk from The Aspen Institute. Examine the critical role of water systems, roads, bridges, broadband, and affordable housing in fostering prosperous rural communities and Native nations. Understand how underinvestment and deferred maintenance have led to crumbling infrastructure and inequitable outcomes in many rural regions across the US. Learn about the challenges faced by rural and tribal communities in accessing basic needs like clean drinking water and safe housing, and how these limitations impact health outcomes and economic growth. Discover why recent federal funding presents a significant opportunity for rural infrastructure investment and gain insights on effective ways communities can utilize this funding to create healthier, more vibrant rural places.