Post-2020 narratives about young people as a “lost generation,” crisis framing around youth mental health and social media, and often-misleading media coverage about crime make it clear that changing the narrative is as urgent as ever.

There's an exciting new network powered by MindPOP, that allows rural arts and culture organizations to: connect with colleagues across the state, increase their visibility to funders, and share between organizations.

This new tool from the National Digital Inclusion Alliance makes it easier to connect with affiliates.

To help policymakers understand the economic value of CDFIs in their area, the Urban Institute has calculated the total CDFI investment for each congressional district and state in the country.

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance, in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Broadband Program (Smart Island), has translated six Digital Navigator forms into Spanish.

With Partners for Rural Impact, your local library can host summer reading through Reader Zone at no cost. Reader Zone allows libraries to easily create reading programs with any set of parameters. Patrons can log reading entries for programs using the Reader Zone mobile app (or website)

Children at Risk has created state legislative district one pagers, where you can explore the data on Opportunity Youth & Young Adults for each Texas House and Senate district.

A new, permanent broadband affordability benefit focused on unconnected households - and funded by the Universal Service Fund - can close America’s broadband affordability gap

Working with the Office of Connected Care in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society examined how states understand and address the needs of Veterans.

Effectively leveraging broadband infrastructure as a transformative tool for rural economic development and resilience requires a collaborative effort between local broadband service providers and communities.

Find child nutrition statistics by Texas county through the Hunger Data Lab Data Dashboards, which exist to make data accessible and understandable for use by communities, practitioners, advocates, policy makers, and researchers.

Looking for evidence-based recommendations to improve student outcomes? Trellis Strategies has added new student success toolkits in their Research Hub. The toolkits summarize the latest research on student success and provide practical steps for administrators and practitioners.

The Rural Texas Maternal Health Assembly respectfully urges the 89th Legislature to enact a modern rural maternal health rescue initiative, centered on consensus-driven reforms that will promote a high-quality, enduring rural maternal health care system that fosters healthy families, sustains strong communities, and promotes economic prosperity today and for future generations.

WeTeach_CS is an organization that educates, empowers, and inspires K-12 and higher education teachers, administrators, and professional development providers to realize the vision of computer science for all. Sign up for their newsletter to stay updated.

A coalition of water and wastewater leaders has launched the “No Community Left Behind” (NCLB) initiative to support solutions for the mounting challenges in the sector, including significant infrastructure needs, workforce challenges, regulatory demands, and the increasing costs of water services, which disproportionately affect communities that have been disadvantaged.

The Texas Electric Transportation Resources Alliance (TxETRA) family has rebranded to reflect their mission of advancing electric mobility in Texas! They are now the Texas EV Alliance and the Texas EV Education Project.

Recently released data on suicide rates by sector in Texas revealed a deeply concerning trend: the trucking sector has experienced the most dramatic rise, and highest suicide rates per capita. Texoma Health Foundation wants your help spreading the word about this campaign and the important resources.

The Rural Emergency Preparedness and Response Toolkit compiles evidence-based and promising models and resources to support organizations implementing emergency planning, response, and recovery efforts in rural communities across the United States.

These national and state maps on rural healthcare facilities show the locations of hospitals, clinics, and other types of healthcare facilities in rural areas, including Rural Emergency Hospitals.

The ABLE Act recognizes the extra and significant costs of living with a disability. ABLE accounts allow eligible individuals the opportunity to save and fund a variety of Qualified Disability Expenses without endangering eligibility for certain benefits that are critical to their health and well-being, such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

This report offers actionable strategies for strengthening economic opportunity, quality of life, and quality of place.

Connected Nation's digital skills training is for everyone, and includes computer, internet, and email basics and more! Have one of their team members come out and help your community or organization enhance their technology skills.

To help identify USDA programs and resources can help improve a rural community’s health, check out the new USDA Rural Health Program Index tool. Rural health programs are the emphasis, but this library is inclusive of all health programs!

This toolkit from Rural Health Information Hub provides evidence-based examples, promising models, program best practices, and resources that can be used by your organization to implement substance use disorder prevention and treatment programs.

The Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty's free online Technical Assistance Handbook and companion training video series will guide you through the planning stages all the way to implementing and operating your mailed meal box program.

The American Association for Public Broadband’s newly launched handbook will guide communities in building their own broadband networks, bringing local control and choice to cities and towns across America.

As part of the Rural East Texas Economic Opportunity Analysis series, the T.L.L. Temple Foundation has released updated reports for the Northeast, Deep East, and Southeast regions of Texas.

Data and resources to help learn more about Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) populations in Texas.

Data dashboard compiling high-level, summary information about calls made to Texas 2-1-1, a statewide resource hotline that connects Texans to critical, community-based services like housing, healthcare, mental health support, food assistance, and more.

The Community Water System Service Area Boundaries Map is a new data visualization tool from the Environmental Protection Agency . The dataset covers all 50 states and Tribal systems and boundaries for 99% of all public water consumers in the United States.

Toolkits from Texas Nonprofits Strong highlight Built for Texas reports for community leaders, helping shape productive conversations about the vital role nonprofits play and making the case for including nonprofits at relevant decision-making tables.`

The Texas College and Career Readiness School Models (CCRSM) Network supports more than 400 high school campuses across the state plan and implement unique pathway programs to postsecondary education. Use their online School Locator to find participating school models in your region.

Searchable library of actionable research by scholars and practitioners that can inform systems change in Texas education. The Greater Texas Foundation also writes its own research briefs to provide timely and succinct information on topics relevant to postsecondary access and student success in our state.

Publications to promote awareness, encourage dialogue and learning, and share a greater understanding of what creates, influences and protects mental health.

Feeding America has produces Map the Meal Gap and provides estimates of local food insecurity and food costs to improve the understanding of people and places facing hunger and inform decisions that will help ensure equitable access to nutritious food for all.

Online library of how-to guides for organizational capacity building, public policy briefs, commissioned research on health in South Texas, and more.

The Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty is excited to offer multiple partnership opportunities to foundation partners.

Searchable and sortable library of research and articles aimed at deeping our our collective understanding of health inequities.

First year results from the Texas Rural College Promise were released, showing significant progress on undergraduate enrollment rates across rural North and East Texas.

Resource hub sharing literature and program scans, case studies, practical tools and other resources that Trellis Foundation staff and its grant partners have produced about postsecondary education attainment.

View this interactive map of clean energy jobs and investment by county or legislative district. 

This integrated platform for healthcare data and engagement tools contains interactive dashboards, maps, storyboards, infographics, reports, data sets and other resources to help you utilize data for strategic growth and collaboration.

High-level data on the state of education, healthcare, and economic opportunity in the Texas Panhandle.

Online library of educational resources from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's partners and initiatives. Includes reports, infographics, videos, and case studies related to promising programs and strategies education (early learning, K-12, higher education, and teaching), workforce development, and economic mobility.

The Texas College Access Network (TxCAN) is an initiative of Educate Texas that connects and supports college access initiatives, with the goal of increasing students’ access to college and certificate programs. Their online tools can help you compare FAFSA submission rates and direct-to-college enrollment rates to other Educational Service Center regions, counties, school districts, and campuses in Texas.

Nearly half of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in Texas say they skipped or postponed medical care in the past year because of cost. This is just one of the findings of EHF's first-ever statewide survey of AAPI health experiences in Texas.

This comprehensive survey of over 6,500 Texas households with low to moderate incomes (LMI) illuminates some of the critical challenges LMI households face regarding energy affordability, reliability, and resilience.

This regional report speaks to the lived energy experiences of nearly 7,000 respondents who contend with low incomes across Texas.

The Texas Comptroller's Regional Reports provide an overview of population, income, jobs, wages and education trends in each of Texas' 12 economic regions including a statewide overview.

The Mary E. Bivins Foundation created this resource on hunger and food insecurity among older adults living in the Texas Panhandle to find resources by county, including congregate meals, food pantries, and home-delivered meals.

The PAYA Resource Library is a searchable database of the best youth apprenticeship resources from PAYA's nationwide network of partners.

This resource center from Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group brings together rural experts, advocates, and residents to tell a comprehensive story of what it takes for rural America to thrive today and into the future.

This toolkit from Rural Health Information Hub compiles evidence-based and promising models and resources to support organizations implementing mental health programs in rural communities across the United States.

These self-paced online courses from Community Tech Network prepare organizations for tackling the digital divide. These courses include options for trainers who are looking to understand adult learning principles and instructional methods, managers who are looking to manage digital navigators, and more.

This series from Fed Communities discusses the work of organizations and people who are passionate about rural: from developing high quality, affordable housing; bringing reliable internet services to remote areas; to building systems to help communities create lasting change.

Raise Your Hand Texas supports public policy solutions that invest in Texas’ 5.4 million public school students. This bilingual toolkit includes videos on school financing that answers questions about Texas school funding, how Texas schools spend their money, and more.

This resource from the U.S. Drought Monitor reveals the extent of water scarcity gripping parts of Texas, with vast swathes of the state facing a severe shortage, raising concerns about the future of water access and sustainability in the region.

The rootED Alliance is working to counteract the lack of counselors in rural schools nationwide: forty-eight states are above the recommended ratio of having one for every 250 students, according to the American School Counselor Association. 

This Dashboard presents Texas Census estimates of undercounting-related variables for Texas and its counties.

In November 2023, the Mitchell Foundation, the Environmental Policy Innovation Center, and the T.L.L. Temple Foundation began a collaborative effort to help prioritize investments and policies for improving drinking water equity in East Texas.

The Benton Institute on Broadband & Society released an updated Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Performance Tool. It has a new feature -- the ACP Risk Score, in which we identify ZIP code areas where loss of service is likely to be most severe when the ACP subsidy goes away.

LISC invites applications to the Broadband Help Hub, part of the National Broadband Technical Assistance Marketplace. This rapid-response program provides communities with high-quality, targeted technical assistance to produce investment-ready broadband plans.

Library Freedom Institute is a privacy-focused 6-month virtual training for librarians. This curriculum gives librarians the tools they need to become privacy champions in their libraries. Once-a-month, LFI will provide a 2-hour training that covers a variety of topics.

Hot off the presses! The latest draft of the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan (TDOP) was submitted to NTIA on February 28, 2024. 

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance hosted a webinar with the FCC on the ongoing ACP wind-down. View a timeline here.

Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce's report counters to some degree the popular narrative that rural America has been “left behind.”

Kevin Lambing of T.L.L. Temple Founation collaborated with colleagues Carrie Shaver, DHA, FACHE and Lisa Rantz to write a policy paper for the National Rural Health Association. This informative brief highlights the impact of Medicare Advantage (MA) on rural communities

According to a new report from Episcopal Health Foundation there is an opportunity for pharmacists to increase access to healthcare in Texas.

A new brief from the Benton Institute analyzes the economic impact of ACP through the lens of financial benefits for subscribers.

This analysis identifies programs specifically relevant to rural community and economic development, based on three key classifications: rural exclusive, rural stipulated, and rural relevant.

Jim Reiff completed the Federal Reserve’s Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Survey this summer. The survey results show that his experiences mirror what other CDFIs across the country have faced.

This toolkit is designed to assist practitioners working in agriculture and economic development in learning more about the range of finance tools available to assist underserved farmers and ranchers with obtaining capital to start and grow their businesses.

Greenlights Grant Initiative provides tailored and free resources to assist nationwide school districts access school safety grants.

STARS College Network provides resources for students to understand college costs, guides to admissions processes, and offers a community platform.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has announced the launched a dashboard showing the progress of states and territories as they plan to implement the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.

The 2023 edition of Rural America at a Glance examines rural population and migration trends, poverty, housing insecurity, unemployment, and clean energy jobs. It finds that rural employment levels and annual growth rates have nearly returned to levels seen prior to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Policy engagement — fundamental to improving the social and structural determinants of mental health — has always been a strategic priority for the foundation, which has become a trusted resource for mental health and substance use policy issues in Texas. Yet, the state’s mental health and substance use policy community is limited in size, capacity, and training.

ECMC Foundation’s Basic Needs Initiative addresses basic needs insecurity among postsecondary students.

This dashboard visualizes the data released on Affordable Connectivity Program utilization by the Universal Service Administrative Company.

This Dashboard provides actionable measures of health and its drivers calculated at the congressional district level, showing users how their district is doing on health outcomes, social and economic factors, and more.

PeopleFund creates economic opportunity and financial stability for underserved people and communities by providing access to capital, education, and resources to build healthy small businesses. Read their annual report.

The guide draws from several sources: data analyses of student outcomes, interviews with college leaders, virtual site visits to high-performing rural colleges, in-person site visits to rural colleges as part of the Aspen Prize process, and convenings of leaders of rural colleges.

This resource from Postsecondary National Policy Institute offers data on rural student enrollment in higher education.

Books Beginning at Birth is a statewide program that provides young children and their families with free to books and resources to support the development of early literacy skills and foster a love of reading.

The Texas Film Round-Up provides FREE digitization for Texas-related films and videotapes in exchange for the donation of a digital copy of the materials to TexasArchive.org.

This case study examines how three rural schools in Texas addressed three challenges rural schools face.

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.

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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

Find free wifi in Texas using this map.

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

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.

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.

The Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions promotes collaborative, community-based efforts that build the power and influence of those with the least access to opportunity.

Aim Hire Texas is a statewide consortium of advocates, employers, non-profit organizations, and education and training providers working to improve the Texas workforce system for the benefit of all Texans and their employers.

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

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

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.

Annual data on Texas public librarians, including statistics, trends, and more.

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.

Overview of a regional partnership created by the Coastal Bend Council of Governments and the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi that builds capacity of communities to strengthen resilience and mitigate disaster risk.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Guidebook that helps communities evaluate and meet specific connectivity needs. It outlines community needs and how philanthropy can help.

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

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

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.

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 identifying communities where investments in staffing and expertise are needed to support infrastructure and climate resilience projects.

Map from the US Census Bureau highlighting population change by counties, including rural population gains and losses.

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.

Annual report examining transportation issues and highlighting examples of solutions being implemented across the United States.

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

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

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

Report summarizing findings from a 2021 survey on how urban Texans perceive rural people and places.

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.

Report from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture identifying solutions for rural community resilience and environmental sustainability.

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.

Action-oriented guide for healthcare organizations pursuing rural partnerships - with communities, economic development and other sectors - to support improved community health.

Tool created through a partnership between Rural LISC and Heartland Forward, showing where households have enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

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.

Article detailing the role of public libraries in expanding digital equity through partnerships with government entities and other efforts.

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

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.

Playbook from America Achieves and Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc. with recommendations on growing the nation's broadband workforce.

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.

The Public Library Association announced digital literacy courses and training materials developed in collaboration with AT&T. 

Information to help rural communities understand the available resources under the infrastructure law, where to apply, and how find more information.

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.