Americans everywhere yearn for practical solutions, and our rural communities deserve no less.Â
America’s Rural Future, the Brookings-AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity, is a bipartisan undertaking convened by leading experts at Brookings and AEI, co-chaired by former Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and former Governor Chris Sununu (R-NH). In a time of gridlock and polarization, this diverse group is united by a shared mission: working to ensure a thriving rural America in the 21st century.
Drawing on rigorous analysis and informed by a series of research symposia led by Brent Orrell (AEI) and Tony Pipa (Brookings), America’s Rural Future will share regular insights through policy briefs, public events, and narrative storytelling, informed by site visits and conversations with rural leaders across the country.
In the fall of 2027, the Commission intends to produce a national rural strategy with recommendations for policymakers, with the goal of informing national debate, legislative priorities, and community investment for years to come.
For decades Washington has lacked a coherent strategy for tackling the myriad changes and challenges that rural places face. ... We need to think bigger and more inclusively to chart a different path.
Chris Sununu and Heidi Heitkamp, Commission Co-Chairs
An agenda for America's rural future
The commission is focused on pragmatic, long-term solutions that can deliver a fair shot—no matter the zip code. Our work will tackle the following issues:
- Workforce and economy
- Demographics and physical and social connectivity
- Health finance, systems, and outcomes
- Natural resources, climate, and resilience
- Policy and governance
How we work
Learning from rural communities
Through visits across rural America, listening sessions, and interviews with local residents, business owners, elected officials, and community leaders, we gather insights directly from those shaping rural life.
Analyzing the issues
Behind the commission is a working group of scholars analyzing relevant trends, programs, and funding flows. To deepen our understanding, we bring together leading experts on issues core to rural prosperity.
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Acknowledgements
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit organization devoted to independent research and policy solutions. Its mission is to conduct high-quality, independent research and based on that research, to provide innovative, practical recommendations for policymakers and the public.
The Brookings-AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity and associated work is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Ascendium Education Group, CoBank, and The SCAN Foundation.
The conclusions and recommendations of the commission are solely those of its members(s), and do not reflect the views or policies of Brookings or AEI, their management teams, other scholars, or the funders acknowledged above.