Washington Business Spring 2021 | Page 35

business backgrounder | industry

Rural Communities Must Take Risks to Find New Opportunities

AWB ’ s Rural Vitality Summit brought together experts in broadband , telemedicine and child care to spark new ideas to help rural Washington succeed .
Andrew Lenderman
Advocates for rural Washington encourage communities to take risks and embrace the entrepreneurial spirit to find new opportunities . AWB ’ s two-day event featured 26 policymakers and experts dedicated to making sure that rural communities have the same opportunities for jobs , health care , child care and broadband connectivity as their urban peers . These resources can help rural Washington move forward with new job creation and economic prosperity .
At A Glance
Telecommuting presents new opportunities for rural communities . Child care and early learning need attention from policymakers , and investments in broadband are significant , but pay long-term dividends .
Taking risks and aiming for big improvements are key to saving rural America . This message from Mary Doyle , an advocate for rural communities and founder of Rural on Purpose , was shared with urgency at AWB ’ s 2020 Rural Vitality Summit in November .
“ The reality is that without new opportunities our rural communities are going to stagnate and many of them are going to die ,” Doyle said . “ And standing still is not an option for any of us . Small improvements are also not going to save us . Like successful entrepreneurs , successful communities take smart risks .”
The good news is that Doyle and other advocates for rural Washington see new opportunities , even with the Covid-19 pandemic . AWB ’ s two-day event featured 26 policymakers and experts dedicated to making sure that rural communities have the same opportunities for jobs , health care , child care and broadband connectivity as their urban peers . These resources can help rural Washington move forward with new job creation and economic prosperity . spring 2021 35