Episode 234

Why Rural Communities Need More Than Grant Money with Amy Renner

August 31st, 2026

28 mins 51 secs

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outdoor recreation community partnerships infrastructure grant readiness community development rural communities rcap capacity building technical assistance rural economic development economic development econdev eco devo

About this Episode

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Dane Carlson talks with Amy Renner, Community Development Senior Program Manager for the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), about what rural communities really need to move economic development projects forward.

Drawing on her experience as the former mayor of a 1,000-person Appalachian community and her current work providing technical assistance across rural America, Amy explains why limited staff capacity can be a bigger obstacle than limited funding, how relationships can unlock resources that communities cannot provide for themselves, and why grants work best when paired with planning and technical expertise.

They explore RCAP’s work through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Thriving Communities program, examples involving outdoor recreation, infrastructure, mixed-use development, transportation, and entrepreneurship, and the importance of community-led planning that produces action instead of another report sitting on a shelf.

The conversation ultimately makes the case that transformative rural development starts by building the relationships and capacity necessary to turn good ideas into projects that are actually ready to fund and implement.

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