Economy Articles

Each May, National Small Business Week and Economic Development Week shine a spotlight on the people, partnerships and ideas that power local economies. We spoke with members of our Community Economic Development team about what it takes to support long-term economic vitality in rural communities and help families thrive.

Launched in 2021, GRO currently supports a small cohort of rural communities to build a network — a community ecosystem — that wraps around in support of local entrepreneurs. Find inspiration for ways to support small business in your community from these standout examples.

Research from Oregon Voices elevates perspectives from across the state on how the lack of living wage jobs and economic opportunity impacts Oregonians’ financial well-being. These concerns came charged with solutions to address the state’s growing wealth inequality.

The first research brief from the Oregon Voices survey highlights the housing issue in the words of the people who are living through it.

Almost two years ago, the Almeda Fire engulfed over 2,500 homes in a community already struggling with a dire shortage of affordable housing units.

New funding opportunities from the federal government are adding urgency to an old concern — that rural Oregon continues to leave dollars on the table through unclaimed federal grant program funding.

An innovative partnership between agriculture and economic development in the mid-Willamette Valley is promising to flip the script on traditional startup and entrepreneurship activities.

Welcome to the issue archive for Community Vitality, a storytelling publication published by The Ford Family Foundation from 2000 through 2021.