The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond's fourth annual Investing in Rural America Conference, held in Roanoke, focused on collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen small towns and rural communities. Over 230 attendees joined the event, themed "Partnering for Success," to address the unique challenges faced by these communities.
In his opening remarks, Bank President Tom Barkin emphasized the Richmond Fed's commitment to understanding and addressing these challenges. U.S. Senator Mark Warner applauded the conference, urging community leaders to get creative in seeking and leveraging capital, including support from corporate entities.
Keynote speaker Dr. Anita Brown-Graham challenged rural stakeholders to examine their strengths and weaknesses and emphasized success would depend on bridge-building and cross-sector collaborations. Carolyn Fryberger, assistant director of Economic Development for the NCGrowth initiative, echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of communities focusing on their assets instead of deficits.
Conference sessions covered various topics, including equitable development, leveraging assets for community development, and attracting and retaining skilled workers. Workshops on community development finance and rural development strategies through research were also featured.
Richmond Fed Community Affairs Officer Carrie Cook highlighted the conference as a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences about rural economic conditions. Bank President Tom Barkin concluded that small-town economic development is witnessing a shift as communities grow savvier in telling their stories and attracting industries and workers.