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Spotlight on Rural Workforce and Education

Vibrant local economies depend heavily on a well-trained workforce with the skills and knowledge employers need. Major educational and employment opportunities are generally located in more urban areas, while many rural communities across the Fifth District experience lower rates of educational attainment and workforce participation, lower wages, and declining populations. These challenges can exacerbate barriers to employment; without enough trained and educated workers, the people calling these communities home may have reduced access to necessary services and infrastructure.

But creative and dedicated community leaders are working with state and federal governments, local community colleges, businesses, and private philanthropy to develop strategies to overcome these challenges. Some examples include:

  • An initiative in eastern North Carolina to make STEM workforce development a centerpiece of economic development.
  • The creation of programs that provide education and supports for key sectors such as health care, like the GoodCare Program in the New River Valley and surrounding areas of Virginia.
  • Encouraging small businesses through access to business incubators and a support ecosystem for entrepreneurs, all of which will help grow the next generation of employers.
  • Creating educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals to earn associate degrees and certifications, better preparing them for future success.

The Richmond Fed also recognizes the unique role community colleges play in these workforce development and education efforts. Our Community College Initiative highlights that work and provides local stakeholders with a more holistic way to measure these institutions' contributions to local economies and beyond.

If you have ideas, share them with us!

Featured Content


Sept. 30, 2024

Just 75 minutes from Richmond, Farmville and its surrounding counties are an idyllic setting for bargain hunters and outdoor adventurers alike. Recently, our Community Conversations Team made a visit to the area to learn more about their economic strengths and opportunities.

May 16, 2024

In April, President Tom Barkin, Regional Executive Matt Martin and Regional Economist Laura Ullrich met with local community and business leaders in North Carolina's Surry and Yadkin counties to gain a fuller understanding of the economic strengths and opportunities facing the region as part of the Bank's Community Conversations program.

March 11, 2024

As our Community Conversations team learned on a recent trip to Southeastern Virginia, the pull between maintaining a rural, small town feel and embracing the potential benefits of urbanization hangs in the balance.