Michigan Roadmap To Rural Prosperity
Michigan Roadmap To Rural Prosperity
Michigan Roadmap To Rural Prosperity
Roadmap to
Rural Prosperity
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR & ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY
Table of Contents
BACKGROUND 2
THE ROADMAP 20
CONCLUSION 68
REFERENCES 69
Background
In January 2022, Governor Gretchen Whitmer Rural prosperity means resilient, connected rural
established Michigan’s Office of Rural Development residents, businesses, communities, and natural
within the Michigan Department of Agriculture and environments. Ensuring prosperity for rural
Rural Development (MDARD) via Executive Directive Michigan requires a holistic vision that recognizes
2022-01. The creation of the Office was a direct how existing and historic workforce and population
response to concerns from rural community leaders trends, resource and capacity needs, and patterns
that existing policies, programs, and resources must of investment have impacted, and will continue to
account for the unique realities of Michigan’s rural impact, communities. The ORP led the development
areas. Governor Whitmer charged the Office with of this Roadmap to Rural Prosperity Report (the
strategically focusing on the needs of rural Michigan, Roadmap) with extensive engagement from rural
including but not limited to the areas of economic community leaders to illustrate the trends impacting
and workforce development, housing, infrastructure, rural Michigan and uplift the priorities of rural
energy, and sustainability. communities for achieving long-term prosperity.
• Review of existing state, regional, and The Roadmap is built upon the
organizational policy agendas and reports
highlighting key rural priorities.
input from rural stakeholders
• Policy and data analysis conducted by the ORP.
across the state.
The fact that these different images and experiences exist simultaneously in rural
Michigan can make it hard to understand exactly what its future holds. Is rural Michigan
thriving or struggling? How should decisionmakers plan for rural Michigan’s needs? What opportunities are there
for new residents, businesses, and workers?
The answers are nuanced, but consistent. While long-term trends have pointed towards declining populations
and economies across much of rural Michigan, more recent trends and successes – including expanded remote
work opportunities, outdoor recreation access, high-speed internet access, business growth, and changing
migration patterns – have positioned rural communities for new growth. What’s more, those working in rural
communities are optimistic about the community’s trajectory, and see the location and environment, outdoor
recreation, and strong social and community connections as key competitive strengths for retaining and
attracting rural Michigan residents.
While optimistic, feedback from residents and leaders in rural communities indicate that they also recognize their
communities face critical challenges – including housing shortages, limited workforce, poor public transportation,
lack of affordable childcare access, aging and deteriorating infrastructure, limited high-speed internet access,
and more – that must be addressed to successfully capitalize on emerging economic and demographic trends.
Across the state, local and regional leaders are working together with statewide partners to find solutions
to these challenges. And across the board, they are finding that consistent barriers stand in the way of
implementing effective solutions. Limited, and in some cases shrinking, budgets leave many communities unable
to fund or invest in solutions to these challenges, to provide adequate staffing or services, or to access grants or
other public programs due to a lack of staff or resources that will allow them to plan for and develop projects.
The Office of Rural Prosperity recognizes the complex and nuanced reality of rural Michigan: rural communities
are poised for unprecedented opportunity throughout the state but they must prepare for those opportunities
strategically and deliberately to be successful. To that end, the Office has worked closely with rural communities
to understand how best to position the state to plan for change and build future success. Data, strategies, and
best practices included in the Roadmap to Rural Prosperity are intended to account for the differing assets and
desires of rural communities and their common challenges around financial capacity, organizational capacity,
and planning to meet local goals. To leverage those assets and realize rural goals, coordinated, strategic action
is needed among all partners working towards rural prosperity in Michigan, and the Office is excited to offer a
vision for that action and collaboration with the Roadmap to Rural Prosperity.
Dear Friends,
Our recent bipartisan progress to expand high-speed internet access, create more
remote work opportunities, and support regional economic growth have positioned
Michigan's rural communities for a new era of strong growth. By listening to the
voices of folks in our rural communities and collaborating closely with state
agencies, we will build a brighter future where every county in Michigan thrives.
Sincerely,
Gretchen Whitmer
Governor of Michigan
Amy Berglund, Director of Business Initiatives, Invest UP Kati Mora, Vice President, Middle Michigan Development
Bonnie Gettys, President/CEO, Barry Community Corporation
Foundation and Board Chair, Rural Partners of Michigan Lenny Avery, Economic Development Coordinator, Target
Brigitte LaPointe, CEO, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Alpena Development Corporation
Council of Michigan Foundations Mackenzie Price, Executive Director, Huron County
Dan Petersen, Executive Director, The Pokagon Fund Community Foundation
David Arsen, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Education Policy Marcus Peccia, City Manager, City of Cadillac
and Educational Administration, College of Education, Marty Fittante, CEO, InvestUP
Michigan State University Mary Catherine Hannah, County Administrator, Alpena
Emilie LaGrow, Village Manager, Village of Cassopolis County
Gary Clemetson, Director, Entrepreneurial Services, Michigan Center for Rural Health
Lenawee Now Nikki Devitt, President, Petoskey Regional Chamber of
Jean Hardy, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Commerce and Vice Chair
Media and Information and Director, Rural Computing Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance
Research Consortium, College of Communication Arts & Sarah Mills Banas, Ph.D., Director, Center for EmPowering
Sciences, Michigan State University Communities, Graham Sustainability Institute and
Jeff Hagan, CEO, Eastern U.P. Regional Planning and Associate Professor of Practice, Urban & Regional
Development Commission (EUP Planning) Planning, University of Michigan
Jerry Wuorenmaa, Executive Director, Western Upper Tom Bergman, Community Development Director, City of
Peninsula Planning and Development Region Ironwood
Jessica AcMoody, Policy Director, CEDAM and Executive Travis Alden, Senior Director, Community Development,
Director, Rural Partners of Michigan The Right Place
Warren Call, President and CEO, Traverse Connect
“People care about each other and are willing to go the extra mile for their neighbors
when there is a need. We all treasure the peaceful, beautiful, natural setting.”
– 2023 Rural Priorities and Perspectives Survey respondent
exist for the U.S. Census and various state and federal • Being more geographically remote: Rural
programming. Because each definition comes with its communities and economies are more geographically
remote, resulting in weaker connections to
own implications for policy and funding, the answer
metropolitan economies and amenities like
to ‘what is rural?’ has very real impacts including
healthcare (especially specialty healthcare),
political representation, access to funding, services like
educational opportunities, large airports, and
transportation and healthcare, and opportunities for services. These long distances from amenities build
jobs and schools. The definition may determine whether reliance on smaller local assets that serve fewer
a community qualifies for an incentive program or tool people and therefore can be difficult to sustain
enabled by law or can apply for a grant or technical financially.
assistance program to address an urgent issue or • Smaller populations: Rural communities have smaller
leverage new investment. It can also skew the broader populations, meaning fewer people to draw from for
understanding of what is truly happening in rural the workforce, governance, volunteer positions, tax
Keweenaw
®
Houghton
Ontonagon Baraga
Luce
Gogebic Marquette
Alger
Chippewa
Iron Schoolcraft
Mackinac
Dickinson Delta
Menominee
Emmet
Cheboygan
Presque Isle
Charlevoix
Leelanau
Otsego Montmorency Alpena
Antrim
Huron
1.8% - 2.7%
0.8% - 1.7% Oceana Mecosta Isabella Midland Bay
Lapeer
Kent Genesee
Ottawa St. Clair
Ionia Clinton Shiawassee
Oakland Macomb
Allegan Barry Eaton Ingham Livingston
0 30 60 120 Miles
0 40 80 160 Kilometers
Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022 data
provided by the United States Census Bureau located at
census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html.
Map created by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, 5/17/2023
in northern Lower Michigan and parts of the Upper 25–34 13.7 | 10.3 14.8 | 10.7
Peninsula (see Figure 1 on page 12). This shift to
35–44 12.2 | 11.3 12.0 | 11.4
population growth in much of rural Michigan was not
45–54 13.6 | 14.8 12.2 | 13.0
unique to our state. Nonmetro areas nationally grew
at a faster rate than metro areas as net in-migration 55–64 13.1 | 15.4 13.2 | 15.6
Keweenaw
®
Houghton
Ontonagon
Baraga
Gogebic Luce
Marquette
Alger Chippewa
Iron Schoolcraft
Mackinac
Dickinson Delta
Emmet
Menominee
Cheboygan
Presque Isle
Charlevoix
Alpena
Antrim Otsego Montmorency
Leelanau
Arenac
Mason Lake Osceola Clare Gladwin
Huron
Montcalm Saginaw
33.2% - 39.7% Muskegon
Gratiot
Macomb
Oakland
Eaton Ingham Livingston
Allegan Barry
Wayne
Van Buren Calhoun Jackson Washtenaw
Kalamazoo
0 20 40 80 Miles
0 30 60 120 Kilometers
Sources: The Annie E. Casey Foundation, data accessed Oct 10, 2023 at
https://datacenter.aecf.org/data/map/10661-households-in-poverty-and-alice?
loc=24&loct=2#5/any/true/true/2048/any/20442/Orange/
Map created by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, 10/10/2023
new residents and tourists, and are home to GED 26.0 | 33.2 25.8 | 32.4
businesses that drive statewide economic growth. Some College 25.5 | 26.8 24.7 | 26.1
Working lands in rural Michigan play a critical role in
Associate 7.5 | 9.6 7.3 | 9.5
the state’s economy. Agriculture contributes $104.7
Bachelor 20.5 | 16.5 22.9 | 18.8
billion annually to Michigan’s economy, while the
forest product industry contributes another $22 Graduate 9.1 | 4.8 10.7 | 5.0
recreation industry accounts for $10.8 billion in Under 9th 2.0 | 1.8 1.8 | 1.4
14
value-add. w/o GED 7.0 | 5.1 5.1 | 4.2
It cannot be overstated that outdoor recreation GED 18.9 | 21.6 20.0 | 22.2
opportunities are a clear driver behind the desire Some College 27.4 | 27.9 24.1 | 26.4
to move to or stay in Michigan’s rural communities.
Associate 9.7 | 14.1 9.4 | 12.7
This was further amplified as part of a national trend
Bachelor 23.5 | 21.4 26.0 | 24.2
during the pandemic and a large shift to more
remote work. In the ORP’s 2023 Rural Priorities Graduate 11.4 | 8.1 13.6 | 9.0
and Perspectives Survey, respondents felt that Source: Public Sector Consultant analysis of American Community
Survey 5-Year Estimates (2016 through 2021) and Geocorr data
geographic location, natural environment, and (2018 and 2022).
outdoor recreation opportunities were their rural
community’s most significant competitive strengths.
employment shares in rural Michigan compared to
Education/healthcare and manufacturing
their non-rural counterparts (see Table 3 on page 17).
make up largest employment sectors in rural
The larger share of employment in retail trade in rural
Michigan.
areas could be reasonably associated with outdoor
The largest fields of employment in rural Michigan are recreation related employment, which accounts for a
in education services, healthcare, and social assistance large portion (38 percent) of retail trade in Michigan
(22.2 percent) followed by manufacturing (18.8 overall.15
percent). When comparing rural to non-rural areas,
Housing is the most cited critical issue facing rural
agriculture (including forestry, fishing and hunting,
communities statewide, now and into the future.
and mining), construction, public administration,
and retail trade make up larger employment shares Michigan needs conservatively more than 190,000
while arts, professional, and finance make up lower additional units of housing to address the state’s
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 0.4 | 2.6 0.4 | 2.2
Finance and insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing 5.5 | 4.8 5.9 | 4.9
Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services 10.7 | 7.4 10.9 | 7.8
Education services, healthcare, and social assistance 24.3 | 22.7 23.8 | 22.3
Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services 10.6 | 9.1 10.0 | 8.8
Source: Public Sector Consultant analysis of American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2016 through 2021) and Geocorr data (2018 and 2022). The
largest differences between urban and rural areas are found between age ranges 18-34 and 55-65 plus.
While tourism is a major source of tax base and economic strength for many
rural communities – particularly in northern Michigan, the Upper Peninsula,
and along the Great Lakes shorelines – being a tourist destination has complex
implications. As an example, a 2022 study from Networks Northwest shows
how populations in Northwest Lower Michigan, a popular tourist destination,
double in size during peak travel times.18 The population surge experienced
by many rural areas during peak tourism season puts additional strain on an
already-constrained workforce and services; and the desirability of tourist
destinations has significant impacts on real estate values and year-round
housing availability. Increased interest in outdoor recreation, largely driven by
the pandemic, has also increased traffic, and placed additional wear and tear
on trails, parks, and other natural spaces.
1 2
INCREASING ATTRACTING
HOUSING A LARGER
OPPORTUNITIES WORKING-AGE
POPULATION
3 4 5
larger geographic distances. As such, solutions • Build and maintain resilient infrastructure.
must account for those geographic, economic, • Enhance regionally driven and place-based economic
and demographic realities as well as the specific development efforts.
assets and resources available – or not available – to • Protect, conserve, and steward natural assets
different communities and regions. Solutions must
For each priority area, current rural realities including
be developed to meet the unique and diverse needs
those that hinder rural prosperity are identified,
of Michigan’s rural communities as they work to
along with preliminary strategies put forth by rural
address the demographic and economic realities
stakeholders to ensure rural residents, businesses,
that pose both immediate and long-term challenges
communities, and natural environments thrive. While
to their prosperity. What’s more, solutions must
each priority area is highlighted separately, it is
account for the cherished values and tremendous
important to acknowledge that they are inextricably
opportunities that exist in rural communities, and
linked. Success or failure in one will advance or
the desire for residents, employers, businesses, and
impede progress in another.
visitors to balance changing realities with the many
qualities they love about their communities. The work does not end with the Roadmap. Successfully
addressing these priorities across rural Michigan will
Fortunately, Michigan is famously resilient, and rural
require intentional cross-sector and multi-jurisdictional
communities throughout the state have risen to meet
collaboration. Strategies must be refined and tested
these challenges with innovation, creativity, and
through collective efforts between rural communities,
resourcefulness. More work, additional collaboration,
the private sector, and all levels of government.
and ‘rural-conscious’ investments are still needed to
achieve long-term prosperity in rural Michigan.
RESIDENTS
Residents are healthy, connected
to their community, have access to
opportunity, and can build wealth.
BUSINESSES
Businesses can succeed, grow,
and evolve.
NATURAL
ENVIRONMENTS
Natural environments are
COMMUNITIES healthy, sustainable, and
Communities are vibrant with the social integrated into rural lives
connections, amenities, and resources that and economies.
make them desirable and resilient.
solutions. Decisionmakers and leadership at all • Public Service, including full-time tribal, local, and
levels and across sectors should create meaningful county government staff and public defenders.
opportunities to engage younger populations and Results from the February 2023 Michigan Public Policy
open doors for leadership development to help retain Survey paint a troubling picture for local and county
and attract young talent in rural communities. This is government workforce retention and attraction,
particularly in small communities. Communities
needed now and for the future success of Michigan’s
between 5,001-10,000 residents saw recruitment
rural communities. As one effort to help identify and
challenges triple in five years, from 9 percent in 2017
refine solutions to attract and retain young talent in
to 28 percent in 2022. Reports of retention problems
rural communities, the ORP formed the Young Rural also tripled during that same timeframe from 12
Champions Insights Group, consisting of young rural percent to 37 percent. Those in the state’s smallest
leaders representing a diversity of educational and jurisdictions (1,500 residents or less) saw retention
professional backgrounds across rural Michigan. problems increase from 17 percent to 26 percent.26
Michigan’s Legal Tundras: Criminal Defense Attorney
Shortages in Rural Communities. A Report Prepared
for the Indigent Defense Council calls attention to
With our aging population, particularly in rural areas, critical shortages of those in the legal profession, and
the shortage of these positions will likely grow while particularly those willing to work in public defense,
demand simultaneously increases. across Michigan’s rural communities due to migration
and retirement trends. Some of rural Michigan’s most
• Construction trades, ranging from construction
populous counties report decreases in attorneys
laborers and managers to HVAC technicians.
joining the county.27
While rural Michigan has a larger percentage of its
population employed in the construction industry • Veterinarians, with more than 30 rural counties
than non-rural areas, shortages in this industry designated veterinarian shortage areas for 2023 by
are frequently cited by rural community leaders. the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.28
Community leaders have called attention to a Rural communities commonly lack emergency and
critical shortage of contractors, particularly HVAC specialty services, requiring residents to travel long
contractors trained in the installation of high-efficiency distances and often to Michigan’s major metropolitan
heat pumps, and contractors to support housing areas for services.
construction, as major impediments to achieving their
• Restaurant and other service workers, with thousands
local energy and housing goals.
of annual openings expected across rural regions of
• Education and childcare, including teachers, the state.29
school administrative staff, and childcare workers. A
report from Michigan State University, Educational
Support collaborative rural talent development Eliminate barriers to joining Michigan’s rural
planning and implementation workforce
1. Invest in flexible regional planning and 4. Focus on funding and policy solutions that will
programming that helps schools, employers, and accelerate the production of new housing units for
workforce development partners collaboratively the rural workforce. [Housing is discussed in greater
identify and implement well-coordinated programs detail beginning on page 44.]
and solutions (education, career tech, university
5. Focus on funding and policy solutions that will
programs, skilled trades schools, scholarships, etc.)
ensure rural K-12 education is adequately funded to
based on unique rural regional assets and needs.
meet educational needs and ensure a sustainable
2. Support curriculum collaboration between higher pipeline of skilled workforce. [Education is discussed
education institutions, including community colleges in greater detail on page 31.]
and universities, and employers and industry leaders
6. Continue expanding childcare opportunities
to ensure educational offerings are preparing
through innovative programs like tri-share or
students for available apprenticeships and jobs
duo-share partnerships and childcare provider
within the region and state. County and regional
training programs, while exploring policy solutions
economic development organizations can play a
that address licensing and workforce development
central role in facilitating and coordinating these
barriers. Limited access to affordable childcare
important collaborations.
opportunities prevents many from joining or
3. Invest in additional rural residency programs to rejoining the workforce.
increase recruitment and retention of primary care
7. Lower barriers for experienced in-demand
providers, as well as clinical rotations and internships
workforce (e.g., behavioral health and others
for other clinical providers, in rural Michigan.
discussed in this section) by assessing
Graduates from rural residency programs are five
opportunities to adjust Michigan’s licensing
times more likely than urban program graduates to
requirements and provide greater state licensing
serve in a rural practice.31
and qualification reciprocity.
9. Encourage “Grow Your Own” initiatives and 13. Expand partnerships between community
innovative solutions and partnerships to fill colleges and four-year degree programs in rural
training and education gaps in rural areas for a areas, including regions where four-year degree
variety of career paths (e.g., nursing, trades, etc.), opportunities are lacking, by intentionally connecting
along with the cross-community and cross-sector higher education with the workforce needs of rural
sharing of those solutions and partnerships. This communities, training students for the realities of
includes expanding online and on-the-job learning working in a rural setting, and providing a pipeline of
opportunities that allow more individuals to ‘earn as employment opportunities post-graduation.
they learn.’
14. Explore economic and workforce strategies in
10. Assess opportunities to increase the participation neighboring states to better understand why rural
rates and impact of existing state workforce communities in those states perform better than
development programs in rural communities rural Michigan and consider adopting tailored
like the Michigan Reconnect Program, which approaches to increase economic competitiveness
offers tuition reimbursement to students within and improve individual well-being.
community college districts. Program adjustments
Make moving to or staying in rural areas more
to Michigan Reconnect, such as offering full tuition
attractive to talent
reimbursement to students out-of-district, may
improve outcomes for rural communities, which are
15. Explore offering multi-year financial incentives
shown to have lower participation rates in the rural
to in-demand skilled talent to work in rural
areas with limited community college coverage.32
communities, such as tuition and student loan
11. Support continuation, expansion, and additional assistance (e.g., MiREACH discussed above), housing
funding to support rural-specific workforce subsidies (including for home construction), and
programs including but not limited to the Michigan childcare subsidies to help lower the recruitment
Rural Enhanced Access to Careers in Healthcare burden on Michigan’s rural employers.
(MiREACH), a program administered by the
16. Bolster rural Michigan community marketing
Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity
efforts outside of Michigan as great places to live
that provides some regional MichiganWorks!
and work, not just to visit, with a strategic focus
with funding to cover healthcare education costs.
on marketing to rural “boomerangs,” outdoor
Program participants must commit to working in rural
enthusiasts and industry professionals, rural areas in
communities to receive financial support.
other states, and other potential newcomers with
31
Improve individual health and economic
well-being
Improve individual health and economic well-being by overcoming rural-specific
barriers to accessing quality services including healthcare, education, childcare,
high-speed internet, and transportation to allow residents to reach their full potential.
Map created by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, 10/10/2023
38
Support local and regional capacity to deliver
services
Support local and regional capacity to deliver services by increasing resource supports,
building cross-sector and multi-jurisdictional partnerships, and developing capacity
to meet immediate demands and evolving future needs of residents, businesses,
communities, and natural environments.
• Expanded timelines to allow for planning and implementation with reduced staffing
resources.
Identify additional resource supports 7. Identify, support, and scale successful examples of
cross-sector and multi-jurisdictional partnerships that
1. Develop and implement program and grant facilitate innovative solutions, including models that
requirements that accommodate the realities of allow communities to deliver services more efficiently
managing projects in rural communities for both through shared staff or expansion of service provision
public and private funding opportunities. [See page into additional geographies.
41 for examples.]
Build sustainable staffing capacity and expertise
2. Advocate for more state, federal, and philanthropic
funding opportunities that offer technical assistance, 8. Build and expand multi-year fellowship
planning, and capacity building support for rural opportunities in rural communities to help fill
communities. immediate staffing capacity gaps and attract new
talent.
3. Create a statewide infrastructure to attract and
connect rural communities to greater state and 9. Invest in leadership and governance training and
national philanthropic funding and corporate donors continuing education for local, tribal, and county
to help scale local and regional solutions. government staff and nonprofit leaders to ensure that
communities are equipped with best practices and
4. Work with the private sector and philanthropy to
resources needed to implement effective solutions
create a rural financial match program that would
and are connected to peers in other communities to
allow underserved rural communities to identify and
share lessons learned and spark new ideas.
access financial match sources more easily for state
and federal programs that require it. 10. Support and provide leadership development
programs, especially for early career talent, to
5. Explore policy changes to increase and sustain
cultivate a pipeline of diverse leadership in local,
revenue and efficient distribution of resources for
county, and tribal governance, as well as the
local governments and counties.
nonprofit sector.
Encourage cross-sector and multi-jurisdictional
partnerships
The value of regional strategy, planning, and implementation is central to strategies throughout the Roadmap.
Regional coordination enables limited capacity communities to leverage more resources and partners, build
broader strategies to capitalize on shared assets like natural resources, and provide more capacity across the
region to meet local needs.
These kinds of regional benefits require organizational infrastructure that can facilitate coordination and deploy
resources, while also ensuring local priorities are represented and prioritized. Michigan’s regional planning
organizations (RPOs) and economic development organizations (EDOs) provide a structure for these activities.
Examples abound of local and regional solutions that were facilitated by these types of organizations: childcare
innovation, grant writing capacity for local governments, local planning and zoning ordinance development
and administration, regional economic development, parks and trail planning, and more. However, limited and
unpredictable funding of RPOs and EDOs threaten larger scale and sustainable impacts. Much of the revenue
available to these regional organizations is based on grants, donors, or programming that are episodic and do
not provide stable and ongoing support. Different initiatives have been successfully implemented in the past to
provide flexible funding to RPOs, enabling them to develop responsive programming and build stable capacity,
and new funds from Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) may help to build the capacity of
EDOs to better serve their regions; but there are currently limited opportunities or programs that enable these
critical regional organizations to scale their services and meet local demand. Roadmap recommendations include
consideration of funding and programming that will provide the consistent, predictable, flexible funding that will
allow these organizations to respond to local needs for planning, small business and entrepreneurial support,
and other locally identified priorities.
under-resourced communities. [See sidebar initiatives for housing partners, including housing and
Building Regional Capacity and Structures on economic developers and local, tribal, and county
4. Provide best practices, expertise, and investment to Small, local developers are often more likely to invest
support rural communities and organizations, at the in struggling rural communities and willing to accept
regional level, in establishing housing trust funds that lower rates of return because of their commitment to
5. Incentivize and support employer-led investments 11. Provide connections, resources, and support
through matching funds in housing production and to rural regions to cultivate and attract housing
housing subsidies for their workforce. developers to their area while facilitating partnerships
and programs that build a more robust construction
6. Identify opportunities for state agencies to workforce.
streamline processes and coordinate programs and
funding to serve projects that meet a variety of goals Create a policy environment to better facilitate
Provide technical support for rural housing 12. Incentivize and support local and county planning,
efforts zoning, and other local and county initiatives that
remove barriers to housing development, while
7. Support MSHDA RHPs with the tools, resources, providing additional tools to governments working to
and expertise to successfully implement RHP action expand housing opportunities.
plans, recognizing unique challenges faced in
rural areas.
Michigan’s Roadmap to Rural Prosperity 47
13. Identify opportunities to streamline state “There is a certain charm of
permitting processes that will expedite and lower the
small rural communities, each
cost of housing production.
community has its own flavor and
14. Explore state policy change to secure additional,
and ongoing, revenue for housing in Michigan.
character that makes it unique.
Rural communities offer slower
15. Address and mitigate the potential for negative
impacts of short-term rentals on communities, paced living with room to spread
including the strain placed on available housing out yet the intimacy of small knit
stock for year-round residency, through local and
community.”
state policy.
– 2023 Rural Priorities and Perspectives
Survey respondent
49
BUILD AND MAINTAIN RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE
Build and maintain resilient infrastructure by empowering effective planning and
multi-jurisdictional coordination with resources that address rural realities and meet
the evolving needs of residents, businesses, and communities.
“Many rural communities in “I think that Michigan’s rural communities have strong
Michigan have faced challenges bonds and the people strive for resilience. However, lack
such as economic shifts and of services and opportunities damages that resilience.”
changing industries. However,
their residents often demonstrate a
remarkable spirit of resilience and “The people! I’m proud to live in a community where
adaptability, working together to the public and private sector join forces with individuals
overcome obstacles and revitalize to improve the quality of life and vibrancy of our small
their areas.” town.”
also requires a workforce that currently does not can be taken for granted in many parts of the state,
exist in the numbers needed to complete projects. especially near larger metropolitan areas, and as
Meanwhile, even where service is available nearby, such, support for airports might not be recognized as
connection costs for residents can be prohibitive, an urgent economic development priority statewide.
and many households continue to struggle with Yet, large parts of Michigan are encountering
long-term affordability of internet service. And the significant challenges related to air service that are
underlying reality of sparsely populated rural areas impacting their ability to sustain and grow business,
providing low or zero market incentive for the private population, and tourism. Small regional airports are
sector to expand high-speed internet, continues to the first to feel changes in the airline industry, and
be a barrier. many have lost flights and connections that were and
are vital to ensuring access to other parts of the state
The Michigan High Speed Internet Office (MIHI),
or country.
created in 2022, has played a key coordinating
role for new federal funds that will support new
The importance of these airports to rural prosperity
internet infrastructure and connectivity. With billions
cannot be overstated; without regular and efficient
of dollars coming into the state from new federal
air connections, communities lose the connectivity
funding sources, MIHI has worked extensively with
to larger markets and opportunity that makes them
providers and communities to identify priority needs
viable destinations for relocation and growth. The
and gaps. The 2023 Broadband Equity, Access, and
factors driving these changes are tremendously
Deployment (BEAD) Program 5-Year Action Plan
complex, and despite close coordination between
includes specific strategies designed to address
regional airports and the business community,
a range of implementation needs and builds the
solutions are rarely clear or immediate. As these
groundwork needed for the state to deploy new
regional stakeholders and statewide partners work to
funding resources to expand the state’s high-speed
support and build access to airports and air service,
internet connectivity.51 Because the most significant
a coordinated, comprehensive response is needed
gaps in connectivity exist in rural areas, many of the
to elevate this issue, understand options, and
new state and federal resources will be deployed in
identify solutions and needed resources. Roadmap
rural areas to overcome the ‘digital divide.’
recommendations for a coordinated statewide
initiative may help to network rural and regional
airports to identify successful approaches, while also
clearly articulating trends, options, and resource or
policy needs to address this urgent rural priority.
Provide resources that recognize rural realities 5. Support comprehensive planning and
implementation of a variety of transportation options,
1. Develop funding and resources for infrastructure including regional transit services and improvements
and high-speed internet that not only support to non-motorized transportation infrastructure, to
project costs for new or enhanced development, ultimately reduce cost, build ridership, and provide
but also offer additional resources for associated travel options for those without a vehicle or transit.
costs, including planning and capacity
building, developing the workforce needed for 6. Build a focused statewide initiative, engaging
implementation, and funds to help offset individual rural stakeholders and air service providers/airports,
household hookup costs or long-term subscription to develop a comprehensive response to rural air
costs so its accessible for new users. service needs that will examine trends in regional
air service and their impacts on local businesses,
2. Support local and regional efforts to conduct economic development, and ability to serve existing
high-speed internet surveys or develop high-speed and attract new residents, and identify strategies and
internet plans to build readiness for projects that options at the state and regional levels, including
could be implemented as funding becomes available. expansion of public/private partnership models, to
Facilitate more efficient and effective respond to these impacts effectively and ensure that
infrastructure planning and development more remote communities can remain connected to
the state, national, and global economy.
3. Study the average costs for design and
7. Prioritize partnership and training opportunities
permitting of key infrastructure projects and identify
to develop the necessary workforce pipeline
opportunities to streamline permitting and approval
for expected expansion in high-speed internet
processes to lower cost and enable innovative local
infrastructure projects.
approaches to infrastructure, such as community
septic systems that allow for more dense housing
development.
55
ENHANCE REGIONALLY DRIVEN AND PLACE-BASED
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS
Enhance regionally driven and place-based economic development efforts by building
on uniquely rural attributes and resources, empowering regions through flexible funding,
and fostering a supportive rural business climate to ensure rural residents, businesses, and
communities thrive.
‘Place’ has always been rural Michigan’s competitive trends that are changing work, migration, and
advantage. The historic downtowns and residential business decisions that will have long-term social
outdoors found in rural communities are a primary Remote work has changed migration patterns and
factor in decisions that residents and employers business growth; with the freedom to work or do
make about where to live and invest. These business remotely, many people are choosing to live
place-based assets have become increasingly in areas with access to outdoor recreation and other
place-based amenities like vibrant downtowns or
quality schools, leading to national trends pointing to
Rural communities have a long history of recent population growth in many rural communities.
fostering economic strength and innovation At the same time, national and global workforce
to meet the needs of their communities, shortages are pushing more businesses to base their
the state, and even national and global location decisions on where they can find talent –
economies while staying uniquely meaning that communities who have invested in
rural. And as preferences, trends, and place-based amenities like their public spaces and
environments continue to change over time, housing stock to attract talent, also face growing
rural communities again are proving their opportunities to attract business.
ability to think innovatively and celebrate
These changing migration and economic patterns
what makes them unique. They are working
mean that, while sustained population loss in many
to ensure they are cultivating their unique
rural communities has threatened their economic
regional strengths and that the desired
stability over time, the unique features of rural
place-based amenities exist for larger
areas provide tremendous opportunity to retain
strategies to be successful. Supporting
and attract the talent and businesses needed for a
rural communities in this endeavor is key to
thriving economy – if they are properly managed and
Michigan’s overall economic strength and
leveraged at the local and regional level.
will be what sets it apart from other states.
Community leaders and residents in rural Michigan have been working for decades to reverse declining
population trends. Despite considerable barriers and setbacks like the Great Recession, historic housing
shortages, and limited high-speed internet connectivity, these communities have inspiring stories of success
that, with adequate resources and support, could be replicated, scaled, and enhanced statewide. Through
creative and innovative partnerships, rural communities have invested in place – enhancing parks, building
attainable housing, improving access to childcare – to make their communities desirable and sustainable places
to live and do business. At the same time, they are using place-based assets like agriculture and food, forestry,
freshwater, and other outdoor amenities, to build economic clusters and opportunities for innovation and
business growth. Their success can be seen as population trends in some rural counties begin to reverse, with
new growth occurring in some rural counties since 2020.
The ORP has worked extensively with rural communities to understand what resources and supports are needed
to replicate and expand these local successes. Overwhelmingly, rural communities point to their unique place-
based and regional assets, which have been activated and leveraged through strong community partnerships
and strategic plans that positioned them for increased investment. Yet, the ability to plan for and activate these
opportunities requires new investment in strategic regional economic development.
Investments in regional approaches to economic development activities, along with new resources to
implement place-based plans and projects, would allow rural areas and regions statewide to envision and
implement the kinds of projects that will attract new residents to Michigan. Strategic, regionally driven economic
programming would make Michigan competitive for new talent and economic growth by creating opportunity
based on the attributes, amenities, and resources unique to regions throughout the state. New resources to
support bold, strategic action, with a focus on cross-sector and multi-jurisdictional collaboration, would build
and sustain regionally identified industry clusters with place-based investment. Ultimately, these projects will
rebuild, grow, and diversify Michigan’s population and workforce while making Michigan a desirable and
competitive place for businesses to invest.
12. Examine trends in regional air service and 17. Build on the Make it in Michigan effort and
their impacts on local businesses, economic fund programs to encourage the purchase of
development, and ability to serve existing and Michigan grown and raised products, address food
attract new residents, as well as corresponding insecurity challenges, support agriculture and other
options at the state and regional levels, including Michigan-based businesses, and counter supply
expansion of public/private partnership models, chain issues.
to respond to these impacts effectively and
18. Explore opportunities for tax credits and incentives
ensure more remote communities are connected
that build competitiveness among rural businesses,
to the state, national, and global economy.
including research and development programs
13. Develop statewide planning, funding, and specific to rural communities and incentives for jobs
implementation support to grow Michigan’s and investments in emerging industries among small
outdoor recreation infrastructure and industries and medium-sized businesses.
in strategic locations that enhance economic
19. Invest in and provide additional supports to small
development opportunities, while ensuring
or emerging local developers through templates,
recreation assets are accessible and promoted to
flexible programming, streamlined processes for
diverse users.
developers with less experience, capital, and capacity.
Foster a supportive rural business climate Small, local developers are often more likely to invest
in struggling rural communities and willing to accept
14. Examine and respond to the heightened lower rates of return because of their commitment to
competition rural border counties face with the community.
neighboring states that offer both explicit
and indirect competitive incentives, including 20. Enhance outreach and education efforts to rural
regulatory environments that enable business lenders to help increase participation in available
location and growth. financing programs that support small business, like
the MEDC-led Small Business Credit Initiative.
15. Ensure economic development strategies
and funding programs account for changing
technology and infrastructure needs for small-
and medium-sized businesses, such as growing
needs for high-speed internet connectivity
to support agricultural technologies, artificial
intelligence, and increased automation.
63
Protect, conserve, and steward natural assets
Protect, conserve, and steward natural assets by carefully balancing development and
land preservation, offering resources and supports to preserve natural environments,
and encouraging environmentally conscious practices to support the health and
well-being of future generations.
The programs, resources, and strategies that will build rural prosperity all hinge on the ‘readiness’ of
rural communities, or their ability to plan and implement needed projects and solutions. As noted
throughout the Roadmap, many parts of the state are hindered by a lack of organizational capacity
to plan comprehensively and strategically for the investment and funding they need for solutions.
Because these capacity constraints have been such a persistent barrier to progress, many agencies
have responded with, and are continuing to develop, technical assistance programming, funding, and
support. These measures range from grant writing services to funds for planning and zoning. MEDC’s
Redevelopment Ready Communities program, for example, provides technical assistance to help
communities plan for and reach targeted goals that will result in new investment and redevelopment.
ORP’s Rural Readiness Grant program, a pilot launched in 2023, has provided funding to rural
communities to support a range of planning and capacity-building activities that build readiness for
housing, infrastructure, trails, economic development, and more.
Even with a growing commitment to capacity on the part of statewide partners, the need and
potential impact of these readiness- or capacity-related issues requires a system-wide approach
that can knit together resources, funds, and supports to build long-term, sustainable capacity and
help communities plan proactively. Because so many rural issues are intertwined, a comprehensive
approach to planning and implementation can also help the state build a more strategic approach to
larger issues like land use, climate change, and overall community and statewide resiliency. A number
of approaches have been discussed or explored over the years to elevate planning resources and
strategy, including the potential to organize resources through a planning-focused state office, deploy
field staff specifically to support planning and capacity needs of rural communities, and develop a
statewide strategy that addresses the complex relationships between shared priorities around natural
resources, agriculture, renewable energy, and residential, industrial, and commercial development.
These initiatives could fundamentally change the landscape for rural communities, building a
consistent level of readiness and enabling cohesive statewide action on key priorities. The Roadmap
recommends a focused statewide approach to explore and implement these and similar initiatives,
as part of a coordinated, cross-agency effort to comprehensively address the interconnected
opportunities and challenges facing rural communities and the state as a whole.
Support planning, technical assistance, and natural and working lands that offer critical carbon
funding to preserve natural and working lands sequestration opportunities and numerous
environmental, economic, and cultural benefits.
1. Explore the possibility of a statewide land use
planning initiative or advisory council to recommend 6. Support and raise awareness of programs that
strategies for managing and balancing development protect and preserve privately owned forests and
and conservation priorities throughout Michigan, farmland, through assistance and incentives for
with a special focus on rural areas and robust private property owners to participate in broader
representation from rural communities, including resiliency and environmental protection practices.
tribal nations. [See sidebar Statewide Planning and 7. Assist communities in preparing for renewable
Community Development Support on page 66.] energy generation by providing education and
2. Provide support and resources to natural resource support for planning, zoning, and identifying
agencies and partners to help prioritize protection of and developing “renewable ready sites” on sites
ecologically important areas. well situated for solar or wind development and
consistent with community and regional goals,
3. Provide best practice resources, funding, and including brownfields and vacant, underutilized land,
technical assistance to support local and regional and areas that do not negatively impact fisheries,
resiliency planning initiatives. wildlife, long-term food production, and recreational
technical assistance to support local and regional Protect Michigan’s freshwater, and fish, wildlife,
planning initiatives that facilitate community goals and plant habitats
related to growth while balancing the preservation
and enhancement of natural assets and working 8. Support efforts led by the Department of Natural
lands that make rural communities desirable places Resources to identify emerging threats to natural
to live and do business. resources due to climate change and determine the
appropriate strategy to address them.
5. Develop a statewide vacant site inventory and
redevelopment strategy to identify, prepare, and 9. Explore opportunities for public acquisition of land
prioritize large brownfields; vacant, previously or protection of privately held land for the purposes
developed properties; and marginal state lands for of preserving connected habitats for wildlife.
siting development, including for manufacturing
10. Provide education, tools, and resources to
and renewable energy infrastructure to support
mitigate the impacts of development along inland
broader energy production goals while preserving
water shorelines.
Conclusion
forward, but is also intended to help shape and drive
The Roadmap’s vision for rural prosperity collaborative and collective action across all actors in
centers on a future of resilient, connected rural achieving rural prosperity in Michigan.
residents, businesses, communities, and natural
environments. This vision hinges on the close and As the Roadmap strategies and other policies
continuous collaboration between state agencies, are explored and implemented, it will be critical
decisionmakers, and rural communities and leaders to ensure continued engagement with rural
to address the complex, structural, long-term stakeholders. Rural voices must be a regular part
challenges that our communities face. Too often, of policy and program discussions. Roundtables,
solutions to these challenges have been isolated and focus groups, townhalls, surveys, and other targeted
targeted towards symptoms, rather than underlying engagement, with an emphasis on reaching diverse
issues; as a result, local and statewide visions for voices – young people, working families, vulnerable
prosperity are often not realized. The strategies in populations, employers, community leaders, and
the Roadmap are focused on underlying shared more – can ensure that decisions reflect rural
challenges like resources, capacity, and policy that experiences and needs, and that implementation
cut across issues, agencies, and sectors, and when results in desired outcomes. Continued testing,
addressed, can create opportunities for a more refinement, and reassessment of strategies is needed
connected, coordinated approach towards long-term to successfully implement a vision where residents,
solutions. To that end, the Roadmap not only serves businesses, communities, and natural environments
as an evolving guidebook for the ORP’s work going in rural Michigan thrive.
16
2
Decennial data provided by the United States Census Bureau located Public Sector Consultants analysis of American Community Survey
at https://www.census.gov/library/stories/state-by-state/michigan- 5-Year Estimates (2016 through 2021) and Geocorr data (2018 and 2022).
population-change-between-census-decade.html September 27, 2023.
17
3
Public Sector Consultants analysis of American Community Survey Bartik, Timothy. “Testimony to the Select Committee on Economic
5-Year Estimates (2016 through 2021) and Geocorr data (2018 and 2022). Disparity and Fairness in Growth Hearing on “Bringing Prosperity to
September 27, 2023. Left Behind Communities: Using Targeted PlaceBased Development to
Expand Economic Opportunity.” May 11, 2022.
4
Ibid.
18
Seasonal Population Study for Northwest Lower Michigan (October
5 2022). Networks Northwest. networksnorthwest.org/userfiles/
Davis, James C., et al. Rural America at a Glance 2022 Edition.
filemanager/49nwypzbp28vz3voy6gk/
Economic Research Service USDA. https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/
publications/105155/eib-246.pdf?v=9371.4
19
Rural Capacity Index. Headwaters Economics. https://
6 headwaterseconomics.org/equity/rural-capacity-map/#:~:text=To%20
Public Sector Consultants analysis of American Community Survey
help%20identify%20communities%20with%20limited%20
5-Year Estimates (2016 through 2021) and Geocorr data (2018 and 2022).
capacity%2C%20Headwaters,that%20can%20function%20as%20
September 27, 2023.
proxies%20for%20community%20capacity; MPPS Policy Brief: Michigan
local governments’ ability to find, get, and manage state and federal
7
Ibid. grants (October 2023). University of Michigan. https://closup.umich.edu/
michigan-public-policy-survey/117/mpps-policy-brief-michigan-local-
8
Davis, James C., et al. Rural America at a Glance 2022 Edition. governments-ability-find-get-and-manage-state-federal-grants
Economic Research Service USDA. https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/
publications/105155/eib-246.pdf?v=9371.4 20
French, Ron (June 16, 2023). College grads: We left Michigan for jobs.
Moved here for family, nature. Bridge Michigan. https://www.bridgemi.
9
2020 Decennial Census. As determined by the Census Diversity com/michigan-government/college-grads-we-left-michigan-jobs-moved-
Index. https://www.census.gov/library/stories/state-by-state/michigan- here-family-nature
population-change-between-census-decade.html
21
https://milmi.org/_docs/publications/CareerOutlook_Statewide_2030.pdf
10
ALICE is a measure developed by United Ways of Michigan and stands
for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. For more information 22
Arsen, David, et al. Educational Opportunities and Community
regarding ALICE, visit: https://www.uwmich.org/alice-report Development In Rural Michigan: A Roadmap For State Policy (2022),
p. 43-44. Michigan State University College of Education. https://
11
Households in Poverty and ALICE 2021. Kids Count Data Center. education.msu.edu/k12/educational-opportunities-and-community-
Annie E. Casey Foundation. https://datacenter.aecf.org/data/map/10661- development-in-rural-michigan-a-roadmap-for-state-policy/. The report
households-in-poverty-and-alice?loc=24&loct=2#5/any/true/true/2048/ calls attention to severe shortages of behavioral and mental health
any/20442/Orange/ providers in rural communities to serve in schools: “According to Health
Resources and Service Administration data, every rural Michigan county
12
Arsen, David, et al. Educational Opportunities and Community has a countywide mental health–provider shortage, except for Emmet,
Development In Rural Michigan: A Roadmap For State Policy (2022), p. 5. Leelanau, and Oceana Counties where shortages exist in just parts of
Michigan State University College of Education. https://education.msu. the counties. Data from County Health Rankings also show a mental
edu/k12/educational-opportunities-and-community-development-in- health–provider shortage is concentrated in rural areas. There are simply
rural-michigan-a-roadmap-for-state-policy/; Public Sector Consultants not enough skilled mental health providers available in most rural areas.
analysis of American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2016 through Superintendents described job postings for school psychologists, social
2021) and Geocorr data (2018 and 2022). September 27, 2023. workers, and nurses that failed to draw a single applicant.”
13
Michigan’s Forest Economy. Michigan Department of Natural
Resources. https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/
forestry/products/econ?utm_campaign=frd&utm_medium=pr&utm_
source=govdelivery
Michigan’s Roadmap to Rural Prosperity 69
23 29
Who will answer the call? An Abstract of Challenges Facing Michigan’s Michigan Labor Market Information: Occupational Employment
Rural EMS Agencies (September 2021) commissioned by Michigan Projections 2020-2030. Department of Technology, Management, and
Rural EMS Network. Emergency Medical Solutions, LLC. The report calls Budget. https://milmi.org/datasearch/OCCPROJ
attention to one of the biggest threats to equitable emergency services
in rural communities, the EMS workforce shortage: “Reported shortages 30
Housing Needs Assessment: Northern Michigan (2023). Conducted by
of EMS providers in Michigan’s rural EMS agencies have recently made Bowen National Research for Housing North. https://static1.squarespace.
the headlines highlighting operational challenges as a result of not being com/static/61768dc8a236c639b8fe44ec/t/649c3611a9ae9c791c30a1
able to recruit more qualified providers to serve within their region. These 6a/1687959077783/RS+Northern%2C+MI+22-463+%28Housing+Needs
accounts are backed by data abstracted from a 2019 First Responder +Assessment%29.pdf
Needs Assessment, conducted in concert between the Michigan Rural
EMS Network and the Northern Michigan Fire Chiefs Association, which 31
Patterson DG, Shipman SA, Pollack SW, Andrilla CHA, Schmitz D,
highlights that 91% of managers identified recruitment of new personnel
Evans DV, Peterson LE, Longenecker R. Growing a rural family physician
or volunteers as a major or moderate challenge facing Michigan’s rural
workforce: The contributions of rural background and rural place of
fire/EMS agencies.”
residency training. Health Serv Res. May 9, 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.
nlm.nih.gov/37161614/
24
While the overall statewide projection of dentists is expected to
exceed demand, the location of dentists is not distributed according 32
Michigan Reconnect: Total Applicants by County.
to need across the state: “In 21 counties in Michigan, there are fewer
https://milmi.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.
than 3.5 dentists per 10,000 people, and in another 20 counties there
html?appid=a161a5259fdf45359417d3de1e31b93c
are between 3.6 and 4.9 dentists for 10,000 people. This means that
although Michigan’s overall ratio of dentists per 10,000 people is
33
at the national average, people living in about half the counties in Arsen, David, et al. Educational Opportunities and Community
this state have far fewer dentists available. Furthermore, Northern Development In Rural Michigan: A Roadmap For State Policy (2022), p.
Michigan is without a dental hygiene program, which has exacerbated 43-44. Michigan State University College of Education. https://education.
the impact of the overall oral health labor distribution in a more rural msu.edu/k12/educational-opportunities-and-community-development-
part of the state.” pp. 10 https://www.mhc.org/_files/ugd/24abcc_ in-rural-michigan-a-roadmap-for-state-policy/. Emmet, Leelanau, and
a0533324cfc74652b23900ab774c24f6.pdf Oceana Counties have shortages in just parts of the counties.
34
25
Arsen, David, et al. Educational Opportunities and Community Households in Poverty and ALICE 2021. Kids Count Data Center. Annie
Development In Rural Michigan: A Roadmap For State Policy (2022), p. 40. E. Casey Foundation. https://datacenter.aecf.org/data/map/10661-
Michigan State University College of Education. https://education.msu. households-in-poverty-and-alice?loc=24&loct=2#5/any/true/true/2048/
edu/k12/educational-opportunities-and-community-development-in- any/20442/Orange/
rural-michigan-a-roadmap-for-state-policy/. The report calls attention to
35
severe shortages: “Over 80 percent of the superintendents reported that 2022 Michigan Poverty Task Force Report.
teacher recruitment and retention is “very” or “extremely” difficult for their
districts,” pp. 37 and “A recent study found that while the statewide supply 36
Student experiencing homelessness by school district, K-12. Kids
of active teachers in Michigan public schools will meet demand through County Data Center. Annie E. Casey Foundation. https://datacenter.aecf.
the 2022–2023 school year, teacher shortages will persist in the state’s org/data/map/10673-students-experiencing-homelessness-by-school-
northern rural regions.” district-k-12?loc=24&loct=2#5/any/false/false/2048/any/20467/Orange/
26
Michigan Public Policy Survey (2023). University of Michigan: The 37
Students receiving free or reduced-priced lunch. Kids County
Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy. https://closup.umich.edu/ Data Center. Annie E. Casey Foundation. https://datacenter.aecf.
michigan-public-policy-survey/110/michigan-local-government-leaders- org/data/map/1672-students-receiving-free-or-reduced-priced-
report-increased-problems-workforce-recruitment#embed lunch?loc=24&loct=2#5/any/false/false/1095/any/13159/Orange/
27
A Report Prepared for the Indigent Defense Council: Michigan’s Legal 38
Arsen, David, et al. Educational Opportunities and Community
Tundras: Criminal Defense Attorney Shortages in Rural Communities Development In Rural Michigan: A Roadmap For State Policy (2022), p.
(2022). https://michiganidc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/M.- 47-49. Michigan State University College of Education. https://education.
Naughton-Report-Attorney-Shortages.pdf msu.edu/k12/educational-opportunities-and-community-development-in-
rural-michigan-a-roadmap-for-state-policy/
28
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (2023).
https://www.nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp-map?state=467&field_type_ 39
Ibid., 45.
of_shortage_value=1&field_status_value=All&field_vsgp_status_
value=All&fiscal_year=2023-01-01&antibot_key=QGSmSoh0e7n-Uc7AvB 40
Rural Michigan counties are education deserts, trap people in
1x2DgBlTFDoHZCd2DyBlYYjvE&year=2023
poverty. Detroit Free Press. https://www.freep.com/in-depth/news/
education/2019/10/16/college-rural-michigan-poverty/3836576002/
53
42
In rural Michigan, need is great, but summer food programs are scarce. American Farmland Trust (September 2023) https://farmland.org/
Bridge Michigan. https://www.bridgemi.com/children-families/rural- project/farms-under-threat/
michigan-need-great-summer-food-programs-are-scarce
54
Farmland includes cropland, pasture, and woodland. USDA National
43
State Rural Health Inequity Dashboard and Rural Health Mapping Tool. Agricultural Statistics Service.
NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis. https://ruralhealthmap.norc.org/
55
American Farmland Trust (September 2023) https://farmland.org/
44
Who will answer the call? An Abstract of Challenges Facing Michigan’s project/farms-under-threat/
Rural EMS Agencies (September 2021) commissioned by Michigan Rural
EMS Network. Emergency Medical Solutions, LLC. p 7.
45
Ibid., 2-4.
46
Match requirements prevent rural and low-capacity communities
from accessing climate resilience funding (January 2023). Headwaters
Economics. https://headwaterseconomics.org/equity/match-
requirements/
47
Michigan Statewide Housing Plan. Household sizes in rural
communities are also less than urban communities, and the
statewide average. https://www.michigan.gov/mshda/-/media/
Project/Websites/mshda/developers/housing-plan/MI-Statewide-
Housing-Plan_Final.pdf?rev=628daf570cfe4af19b0a169d6069ea2d-
&hash=682A186BA3A4686A9BB6961BF96F1A2Cpdf?rev=628daf570c-
fe4af19b0a169d6069ea2d&hash=682A186BA3A4686A9BB6961BF-
96F1A2C
48
Seasonal Population Study for Northwest Lower Michigan (October
2022). Networks Northwest. networksnorthwest.org/userfiles/
filemanager/49nwypzbp28vz3voy6gk/
49
2021 Michigan SCORP Survey: Total Net Economic Value from
Michiganders’ Outdoor Recreation Participation. Report (March
2022). https://www.michigan.gov/oac/-/media/Project/Websites/
dnr/Documents/managing/SCORP2023/SCORP-Appendix_C.
pdf?rev=5eecbfe259244fb79869bc9c50d1f446
50
Michigan State Maps. Connected Nation. https://connectednation.org/
statewide-impacts/connected-nation-michigan/michigan-state-maps
51
2023 Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program
Five-Year Action Plan. https://www.michigan.gov/leo/-/media/Project/
Websites/leo/Documents/MIHI/BEAD/MIHI-BEAD-Five-Year-Plan.pd-
f?rev=e917202c68cb4bbf8b2437c524d53345&hash=C17537D47EBA-
25B80E6C32C1EA0CC774
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