Innovators in Rural Community Economic Development

Resource Library

Building a Regional Food System: A Case Study of Market Umbrella in the New Orleans Region

This case study looks at the role of Market Umbrella in helping to develop a regional food system around New Orleans. Interviews throughout the case study highlight the importance of building multiple forms of wealth to create community resilience…


Learn More

Case Studies of Wealth Creation and Rural-Urban Linkages

This report contains four case studies about rural-urban linkages in Oregon, the New Orleans region, Texas, and Nebraska, as well as introductory material and a concluding commentary that looks at each case study in context of the core principles of…


Learn More

Plastics from Plants: A Case Study of NatureWorks LLC, Blair, Nebraska

This is a case study of NatureWorks, a bio-based products company in Nebraska that transforms a renewable crop into a value-added plastic resin that can be used to make low carbon footprint and/or biodegradable products.
Learn More

Transitioning to a Restoration Economy: A Case Study of Oregon's Forestry Sector

This case study explores a developing restoration forest economy and its positive impacts along the forest products value chain; these impacts can be seen both in terms of wealth retention and creation and of forging linkages between rural and urban…


Learn More

Wind Energy and Rural Development: A Case Study of West Texas

This case study looks at the extent to which wealth generated by wind energy development in West Texas has remained in and benefited rural communities.
Learn More