Rural communities across America are working to strengthen their economies, provide better quality of life, and build on assets such as traditional main streets, agricultural and working lands, and natural resources. The HUD-DOT-EPA Partnership for Sustainable Communities, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, established a Rural Work Group to reinforce these initiatives and ensure that the four agencies' spending, policies, and programs support rural communities' efforts to be economically vibrant and environmentally sustainable.

Supporting Sustainable Rural Communities (2011), summarizes the Rural Work Group's findings and creates a framework for the Partnership's future work with rural communities.

See more resources for rural communities from the Partnership for Sustainable Communities.

Learn more about smart growth in small towns and rural communities.

• Supporting Sustainable Rural Communities (PDF)(52 pp, 3 MB)