“In late 2014, a working group formed to focus on partnerships to tackle persistent rural poverty, including the four authors of this paper. Together, the members of the working group represent the hardest-hit rural areas of the country. The goal of the Persistent Poverty Working Group and its partners is to improve conditions in areas with persistent poverty across America by: 1) Increasing and leveraging federal investment. 2) Channeling those funds to high-capacity, regional development organizations. 3) Fostering job creation, affordable housing development, access to financial services and other activities that create ladders of opportunity. This white paper is intended to stimulate thinking in advance of a national forum sponsored by NeighborWorks America on April 20, 2017, in Memphis, titled ‘Hope in the Delta-Turning the Tide on Persistent Rural Poverty.’ To provide context, we first take a look at previous efforts, such as the Johnson administration’s War on Poverty, and acknowledge current policy frameworks under consideration. However, unlike most previous initiatives aimed at rural poverty, this paper invites a bottom-up approach in which those living in and working with the affected communities directly identify the remaining challenges and the most effective solutions.”

This report is included in our list of TEN NOTABLE RESOURCES FOR CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION IN RURAL AREAS.