Jeff is a clinical professor at the UW-Madison Law School and supervising attorney with the law school’s Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic. For the past several years, his focus has been on the rural economy.

For a mental health professional, the issues that emerge in counseling sessions in farm country are not miles apart from those in urban areas, Susan notes—but farmers can be reluctant to seek counseling.

From the shores of Lake Superior to the Driftless area in southwest Wisconsin, rural communities are creating opportunities that promote the well-being of their residents and visitors alike.

As a member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe, David has always experienced nature as a dominant force in his life. The reservation lies in the center of Sawyer County, which is known for its abundance of lakes, hardwood forests and wildlife, and roads dotted with signs that caution motorists to watch for “elk crossing” or “Bigfoot crossing.”

Along the way to her job at the Office of Rural Prosperity, Beth picked up a wealth of experience working with people and advocating for community development—in Wisconsin, around the U.S. and overseas.

Danielle is completely enamored with Wisconsin’s small towns—a revelation that has come about as she has traveled around rural Wisconsin for her job with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

The costs involved with decarbonization upgrades in homes challenge homeowners, program managers, and policy leaders alike. An inclusive model would allow homeowners to install energy upgrades without taking on consumer debt.

Kietra Olson hopes to help rural communities define what makes them special and come up with ways to display those traits, to give residents a sense of pride and to provide reasons for tourists to visit.

We know child care access and affordability are critical for Wisconsin’s workforce productivity and growth, particularly in rural Wisconsin.

MADISON, WI. JUN. 21, 2022 - One of the most common myths about rural education is that rural schools are not diverse. Despite numerous studies showing evidence to the contrary, many Americans have a stereotypical view of rural America, envisioning it as a monolith and imagining it to be populated by predominantly white, lower-income people employed in agriculture.