
Rural Resources
Search & Find Rural Resources

Resource: Texas CDFI Coalition Interest Form
The Texas CDFI coalition's mission is to engage and strengthen the Texas CDFI sector, and promote comprehensive community development that produces financially sustainable & equitable results.

Broadband Climate Risk Mitigation Tool
This web application is designed to help communities and organizations make informed decisions about broadband deployment while considering natural hazard risks.

Hotel Occupancy Tax Toolkit
Texans for the Arts Foundation launched the Municipal Hotel Occupancy Tax Toolkit, an online resource for arts, municipal, hotel, and tourism leaders sharing what you need to know about Texas’ Municipal Hotel Occupancy Tax.

PLACES: Local Data for Better Health
PLACES reports county, place, census tract, and ZIP Code Tabulation Areas data and uses small area estimation methods to obtain chronic disease measures for the entire United States.

Report: Collaborative Best Practices in Advancing Educational and Workforce Outcomes
In late 2022, Ascendium launched an effort to better understand the landscape and best practices of funder collaboration in advancing educational and workforce outcomes for low-income rural populations.

A Library of Things in Pottsboro
This library in Pottsboro, Texas reinvents the traditional library by offering a "library of things."

Operation Connectivity
Operation Connectivity formed to connect Texas's 5.5 million public scchool students with an e-learning device and reliable internet sufficient for learning.

State Office of Rural Health Rural Hospital Funding Resource Guide
The State Office of Rural Health created this funding resource guide for rural health facilities in order to help them more easily find resources relevant to their needs and geographic area.

Scaling Dual Enrollment in Rural Communities
This case study examines how three rural schools in Texas addressed three challenges rural schools face.

Tools for Managing Groundwater in the Texas Hill Country
This resource is meant to demystify the available tools for groundwater management and make groundwater planning and management more accessible across the Hill Country.

Leading by Example: Ordinances and Tools for Growing Hill Country Communities
This guidebook is focused on different local policies that can guide development that is protective of Texas' Hill Country. Each guide includes links to example ordinances from around our region, as well as links to more in-depth information on the subject.

Mapping A New Terrain: Five Principles for Equitable Rural Outdoor Recreation Economies
As new rural outdoor recreation economies take root, this report from Aspen Institute created this call to action to ensure sustainable and equitable economic systems to support rural life.

Broadband Recommendations to Connect All Texans
Based on best practices and tailored to Texas, this report works through strategies that serve Texas households, local communities, and private internet service providers.

Broadband Financing Series
This unique series focuses on broadband development finance with an emphasis on the legal, technical, and financial challenges facing communities working to develop broadband.

National Broadband Resource Hub
The National Broadband Resource Hub is a philanthropic initiative empowering government and community leaders to build a better broadband future.

Texas Connectivity Maps
Broadband maps showing availability of broadband at various speeds in all 254 Texas counties.

Texas Free Wifi Map
Find free wifi in Texas using this map.

Finding Funding for Nature-Based Projects
Website from the National Wildlife Federation that aims to connect stakeholders (including community planners) with sources of federal funding for infrastructure projects that incorporate natural elements.

Texas Local Public Library Statistics
Annual data on Texas public librarians, including statistics, trends, and more.

A Winning Trade: How Water Markets Can Benefit Texans & the Environment
Water markets can be an important tool for ensuring efficient use of available water, including ensuring adequate water for the environment. Read the first statewide analysis of historic water market trends.

Federal Support for Rural Communities
Overview of new federal initiative, Rural Partners Network, that seeks to help rural areas maximize the benefits available from the federal government.

Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Interim Report
The Committee on Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Interim Report covers a wide range of topics and recommendations that address water issues the state faces. Interim charges 1-4 and 9 are focused on water.

Rural Data Gateway
Tool from the U.S. Department of Agriculture features Rural Investment Dashboards to expand access to Rural Development financial data, highlighting Rural Development investments for people in rural America.

County-Level Population Change Map
Map from the US Census Bureau highlighting population change by counties, including rural population gains and losses.

National Aging and Disability Transporation Center
Annual report examining transportation issues and highlighting examples of solutions being implemented across the United States.

Reenvisioning Rural America
Tool for rural residents, policymakers, and investors to see the diversity of rural America and to better invest in its full potential.

Texas OnCourse
Texas OnCourse Academy offers webinars, tools, and resources to encourage family engagement in schools.

Charging Forward
Toolkit to help rural communities take full advantage of federal funding for electric vehicle charging stations.

Water Database
The Texas Water Infrastructure and Funding Guide helps Texas utilities, municipalities, and decision makers navigate the resources available for water infrastructure.

Water System Map
The first comprehensive system map of the Texas water sector which captures how various water entities interact and connect.

Rural Collaboration Toolkit
Toolkit from Empower Schools offering in-depth resources to ensure rural student and community success.

Rural Emergency Medical Services and Trauma
Access to Emergency Medical Services is critical for rural residents, but providing pre-hospital services in rural areas is challenging. This resource answers frequently asked questions about rural emergency medical services.

Farm State of Mind Resource Directory
The Farm State of Mind Resource Directory provides dozens of tools and resources to help farmers and their families address stress and mental health concerns.

Rural Capacity Map
Rural capacity map identifying communities where investments in staffing and expertise are needed to support infrastructure and climate resilience projects.

Rent Out of Reach
How much does it cost to afford a modest apartment in your state? Tool from National Low Income Housing Coalition, documenting gaps between renters' wages and the cost of rental housing across the United States.

Rural Health Literacy Toolkit
Toolkit of evidence-based resources for organizations working to improve health literacy in rural communities across the United States.

Federal Broadband Funding Guide
Updated Federal Broadband Funding Guide to provide a one-stop-shop of resources for applicants.

Rural Recovery Ecosystem Index
Interactive map identifying funding (philanthropic and opioid settlement funds) available by state. Also provides detailed information about resources available for substance recovery on a county level. Created by the Fletcher Group.

Exploring Rural Health Podcast
Monthly podcast from Rural Health Information Hub focused on current issues in rural healthcare and population health.

Pathways to Digital Equity: How Communities Can Reach Their Broadband Goals–and Philathropy Can Help
Guidebook that helps communities evaluate and meet specific connectivity needs. It outlines community needs and how philanthropy can help.

Urban Texans’ Perceptions of Rural People
Report summarizing findings from a 2021 survey on how urban Texans perceive rural people and places.

A Closer Look at Rural Populations: Multistate Research Monitors Changes and Issues Affecting Rural Areas
Report from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture identifying solutions for rural community resilience and environmental sustainability.

A Playbook for New Rural Healthcare Partnership Models of Investment
Action-oriented guide for healthcare organizations pursuing rural partnerships - with communities, economic development and other sectors - to support improved community health.

Thrive Rural Framework
Thrive Rural Framework tool designed to spark new ways of thinking and acting to move communities, regions, and systems toward producing more widespread and equitable rural prosperity, health, and well-being.

Worried how climate change will affect water in Texas? These researchers want to help you find out
Researchers at Texas State University's Meadows Center are working on a new public dashboard to answer questions about water flow in Texas for communities statewide

Creating and Expanding a Diverse Broadband Workforce with Good Jobs and Career Pathways
Playbook from America Achieves and Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc. with recommendations on growing the nation's broadband workforce.

Digital Literacy Training from the Public Library Association
The Public Library Association announced digital literacy courses and training materials developed in collaboration with AT&T.

Building a Better America: Commerce Department Fact Sheet for Rural Communities
Information to help rural communities understand the available resources under the infrastructure law, where to apply, and how find more information.

Get Connected Y’all: A Guide for Texas Communities on Securing Broadband
Guide from Texas Rural Funders with a step-by-step approach to securing fast, reliable, affordable broadband internet service in communities.

Federal Resources for Rural America
The American Rescue Plan provides new and expanded opportunities for rural America. Aspen CSG is collecting links and resources explaining federal opportunities for rural people and places.

Texas Broadband Plan 2022
The Texas Broadband Development Office gathered input from the Texas Broadband Listening Tour and survey responses to create the first Texas Broadband Plan

Rural America Placemaking Toolkit
The Rural America Placemaking Toolkit includes a variety of resources, including placemaking activities, projects, and success stories across rural America

Opportunity Broadband
Pew Charitable Trusts has launched Opportunity Broadband, an alliance of partners committed to helping communities across the country use the nation's investment in universal, affordable broadband.

Lone Star Stock
Lone Star Stock provides stock photos, videos, and music representing the state of Texas at an affordable price. The site is also seeking creators to continue building the assets available through the site.

Where Are Families Taking Advantage of the Home Broadband Discount
Tool created through a partnership between Rural LISC and Heartland Forward, showing where households have enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Public Libraries Essential to Closing Digital Divide
Article detailing the role of public libraries in expanding digital equity through partnerships with government entities and other efforts.

How Localities Can Better Promote Internet Subsidies
The Federal Emergency Broadband Benefit (the Affordable Connectivity Program's predecessor) was intended to connect the unconnected. A recent study shows that the program did not achieve this goal, but local areas can increase program participation.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Rural Playbook
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is investing billions of dollars in rural communities across the country. This playbook can help rural communities understand the available funding.