The new power of regions : a policy focus for rural America : a conference summary

Rural policy should encourage more regional partnering among rural firms, communities, and governments. That was the conclusion reached by a dozen policy experts and 200 rural leaders from throughout the nation who gathered at the Center?s third annual rural policy conference, The New Power of Regions: A Policy Focus for Rural America. The conference was also sponsored by the bank?s Community Affairs Department.> Drabenstott and Sheaff summarize the conference, which began by exploring why regional synergies are important in seizing a new frontier of rural opportunities. Participants were quite upbeat about that frontier, with considerable discussion of pharmaceuticals grown in fields, advanced manufacturing, and e-commerce.> But participants were even more convinced that such opportunities will develop only with new models of partnering?across firms and across governments. Case studies of pharmaceutical farming in Iowa and new business initiatives in the Four Corners region underscored the point. In the final session, policy experts and conference participants agreed that building new regional partnerships needs new policy directions. This will require new efforts by leading federal agencies like the U.S. Department of Agriculture, by state and local governments, and by public institutions, such as land grant universities and community colleges.