WeTeach_Cyber is offering two specialized workshops to support educators teaching College Board’s Career Kickstart: Cyber Networking course.

Communities Unlimited connects rural Americans to solutions that sustain healthy businesses, healthy communities, and healthy lives. This feature on Linden, Texas, details their efforts to revitalize downtown, fix infrastructure, and plan for future growth.

Stand Up Rural America Summit will feature more than 20 nationally renowned subject matter experts and successful economic development practitioners.

The CDFI Market Map shows CDFIs, local officials, and investors where many opportunities are for CDFI expansion and growth. This map identifies 1,292 places, 714 counties, 255 metro areas, and 9 states that are CDFI deserts.

In a newly released report, Action Over Dialogue: A Case for Prioritizing Local Civic Engagement, the Trust for Civic Life shares the result of its rural community survey and looks at how engagement, agency, belonging, trust, and democratic norms are manifesting at the community level.

Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) help provide people referrals and access to long-term services and supports.

Area agencies on aging (AAA) provide older adults, their families and caregivers with nutrition services, including home and congregate meals and evidence-based fitness programs.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) assists people with buying the food they need for good health.

Texercise provides free physical activity and nutrition resources to educate, motivate and engage adults 45 and older.

Age Well Live Well is a statewide campaign that promotes easy pathways to resources and emphasizes how to make healthy changes using three core message areas: be healthy, be connected, and be informed.

The termination of Digital Equity Act grant programs will have an adverse impact on county plans to achieve increased broadband adoption across communities.

On Friday, May 9, the Trump Administration began notifying states that their Digital Equity Act Capacity Grant funds were terminated.

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.

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.

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.

Texas must increase its investment in water, wastewater and transit systems infrastructure, the country's foremost society of civil engineers urged state lawmakers Tuesday when it announced Texas received a "C" grade on its 2025 report card.

The Crabapple Fire Relief Fund was established by the Rebuild Texas Fund on March 16, 2025, in response to the devastating Crabapple wildfire that scorched more than 9,800 acres in Gillespie County.

While many Opportunity Youth and Young Adults have experienced systems involvement, unstable living conditions, and trauma, their experiences with disconnection are far from uniform. View their stories.

This blog post condenses community conversations on narrowing the digital divide into five essentials for running successful digital navigator programs.

As states begin rolling out the federal program to expand high-speed broadband access, national policymakers need to keep the momentum going after three years of state-led outreach and planning with internet service providers (ISPs) and communities.

Aging in Texas Conference is a pivotal yearly event with educational programming crucial for anyone caring for older adults and other Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) populations in Texas, from administrators to service providers.

When disaster strikes, knowing what to do--and who to call--can make all the difference. This informative session will help community leaders, nonprofits, and funders get ready before the next emergency.

“Children will go hungry. And they don’t have to,” says Dr. Jeremy Everett, Executive Director of the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger & Poverty.

Find a literacy provider in your city or country using these maps, searchable by county or Workforce Board Area.

The Digital Access and Resilience in Texas (DART) curriculum integrates beginning English language learning with foundational digital skills.

The Federal Communications Commission’s updated broadband location dataset, known as the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric, will now serve as the official reference point for verifying deployment obligations under various programs.

Closing the Digital Skill Divide finds strong demand for digital skills across every industry (dispelling misconceptions that demand exists primarily in the tech sector) and in almost every occupation, including entry-level and frontline positions.

Fiber-optic cables may just be glass in the ground if people cannot subscribe to and use high-speed internet access. The human infrastructure of broadband is the necessary social and relational complement to the work of building physical infrastructure.

Smarthistory’s free, award-winning digital content unlocks the expertise of hundreds of leading scholars, making the history of art accessible and engaging to more people, in more places, than any other publisher.

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 Amarillo Area Foundation's grant cycle deadlines for 2025 have been scheduled. Funds must be used for the benefit of residents within the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle.

The Texas Comptroller is moving its eGrants site to a special grants subsection of the Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD's) new Grants Subsection.

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.

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.

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.

As 2025 is beginning, take a final look at some of last year’s best rural movies, music, and TV shows.

Sometimes officials ask, “What should we do first?” or “What are the 10 things we should do?” Becky McCray offers ten steps.

The state’s 988 suicide had the nation’s fifth highest rate of abandoned calls in August, the latest data available, amid a multi-million funding deficit that could worsen as federal dollars expire this year.

Founded in 1974, cdcb has been providing safe, sanitary affordable housing to the citizens of South Texas, and is now one of the largest non‐profit producers of single‐family housing for homeownership in Texas.

Substituting a pickup for a pack horse, one woman is carrying on a tradition of delivering books to out-of-the-way places, this time in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Community colleges are an important part of the higher education landscape, offering unique educational and training opportunities to workers at all stages of their careers. This article tells the story.

From mountains and canyons to forests and swamps, the vast scale of Texas provides so many natural wonders. Across the Lone Star State, there are 85 state parks, natural areas and historic sites currently operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Check out an interactive table to find out which are the least visited, and plan a trip!

Whether a community is designated as “rural” could mean the difference between access to grant funding and lack of it. Unfortunately, many definitions of rural currently used by different federal agencies only add to the confusion.

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)

Texas Mutual, the newest member of Texas Rural Funders, has awarded more than $4.5 million to 66 nonprofit organizations across the state to help fortify businesses and strengthen the state’s economy.

Community Foundation of Abilene has partnered with Angela Seaworth to present the Nonprofit Leadership Academy of West-Central Texas (NLA). NLA provides participants with expanded tools, knowledge, and connections to enhance their organization’s impact and sustainability.

Texas Rural Funders and Texas Water Foundation commissioned Jobs for the Future to conduct a landscape analysis across the state of Texas. This new report analyzes data on the existing workforce, projected workforce needs, and state and regional education and training efforts that can support the development of a skilled broadband and water workforce.

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.

Texas Rural Funders presented as part of this series of lightning talks at the Future of Texas Rural Symposium, where speakers discussed how rural Texas towns can seek out grants and philanthropy to improve their communities.

The biggest pharmacy benefit managers are profiting by systematically underpaying independent drugstores, creating “pharmacy deserts” across the country.

A public library in Ohio is making waves by supporting local entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits through free resources and services, fostering innovation and economic growth in the community

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

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).

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 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.

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.

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!

The Texas Association of Counties hosts a podcast for Texas Counties that's full of news, information, and resources. The wide variety of topics is both useful and interesting. A few recent examples explore: Youth Leadership, Elections, Urban-Rural Partnership, and more

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.

The Rio Grande Valley Broadband Coalition is a group of organizers and partners whose mission is to build digital equity and access in the region and close the gap on the digital divide. The coalition met on December 3 in San Juan, Texas, to discuss the Texas Broadband Development Office’s quick turnaround challenge through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program.

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.

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.

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

Residents of Texoma will soon have access to more mental health programs.

The St. David’s Neal Kocurek Scholarship is the largest healthcare scholarship program in the state of Texas. High school seniors from Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties who want to pursue careers in healthcare and plan to attend college in Texas are eligible to apply for up to $60,000 in financial aid over the course of their higher education.

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.

A budding success story in East Texas offers lessons for other underserved rural regions, philanthropies interested in rural revitalization, and CDFIs pursuing pathways to better engage and serve rural communities.

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.

With growing reliance and investment in broadband, the industry has become the latest skilled trade providing crucial support for our societies.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

Texas embraced a new, performance-based funding model for community colleges. A year later, campus leaders believe they are starting to see the rewards.

Crescent Regional has installed its first "Holobox," a 3D, life-sized, holographic display that allows doctors to teleport to the hospital for real-time consults.

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.

To understand where we are and what it will take to achieve true digital equity for rural communities and Native nations, the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group spoke with some of the practitioners working on the ground to deploy broadband and make sure communities can use it to advance equitable rural prosperity.

This new resource from Texas Rural Funders offers an introduction to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI). It includes an overview of how they care serve as a financial tool, examples of how TX Rural Funders members are collaborating with them and a directory of CDFIs in Texas.

When disaster strikes, Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy takes command of her county’s emergency communication channels, including a text service and Facebook page.

Broadband providers and banking groups are continuing to ask that the Federal Communications Commission ditch the bank rating system it has relied on for its subsidy program’s financing requirements.

A national study found young children are faring worse academically than their peers before the pandemic. The problem’s scope in Texas is unclear.

A new traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian, "Crossroads: Change in Rural America," will soon roll through seven rural Lone Star communities starting in August.

Texas announced a $3.03 billion investment in water and wastewater projects located throughout the state. The projects are being funded through the Texas Water Development Board’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund and State Water Implementation Fund for Texas.

Broadband provider FiberLight announced high speed internet for 59 school districts in the Texas Panhandle funded by the Federal Communications Commission’s E-Rate program, which provides affordable internet access to school districts and libraries.

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.

The Texas Power Podcast aims to serve an audience of energy professionals, policymakers, and academics, but will also be accessible to a general audience by explaining key topics and acronyms

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

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

The gap is widening between real-estate appraisals and construction costs, holding entreprenuers back.

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

The USDA estimates the families of 3.8 million children could have received $120 per child to cover summer lunches if the state participated in the new $2.5 billion program launching this summer. Texas is one of 15 states opting out.

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.

This resource outlines libary locations by district, county, and education service center.

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.

A collection of case studies from across the U.S. focused on how communities are adapting to energy and climate challenges.

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

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

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

The Congregational Collective exists to equip congregations to become community leaders in mental health and wellness by partnering to build support systems, networks and ministry tools that include educational resources, training, and a network of relationships.

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.

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.

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.

News and reports about clean energy, land conservation, subsurface energy, sustainability education, water, and the Mitchell Foundation's programmatic partnerships in Galveston.

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.

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.

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

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.

While rural areas do better at training and retaining a primary care workforce, the growing demand for healthcare still outpaces the supply of doctors.

Bringing fiber infrastructure to rural areas is expensive and time consuming. Wise County, Texas, found a way to deliver high-speed Internet access without wires.

Many states, including Texas, have recently created initiatives that prioritize short-term credentials—postsecondary programs that take fewer than two years to complete. These initiatives are often designed as an alternative to college and targeted to students who do not have a four-year degree.

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.

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

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.

Teens Teach Tech, powered by AT&T, provides a platform for tech-savvy teenagers to offer digital skills training in their communities as a service project or to earn financial incentives. By forming a team with two or more teens, you as a mentor, are pivotal in facilitating valuable digital skills, training sessions, and fostering a culture of continuous learning in your community.

This resource shares success stories from eight Texas Rural Funders working in libraries.

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

Rising temperatures intensify drought and increase costs for the heavily subsidized crop insurance program.

The narrative of US climate impact and action often focuses on the nation’s cities and crowded coasts. However, in the vast expanse of rural and small-town America, there is a story that has been largely untold, one of significant emissions reduction potential shadowed by systematic underinvestment.

Learn about the work of HUD in the rural context, including the programming and funds helping to ensure that housing and community development needs are met.

This report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce demonstrates that in half of the nation’s labor markets, at least 50% of all middle-skills credentials would need to be granted in different fields of study to meet projected labor demand through 2031.

The Texas Demographic Conference is an annual meeting providing updates of demographic and socioeconomic data available for Texans. Watch the highlights!

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.

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.

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.

Texas Rural Funders spoke with the Public News Service Radio about our Grants Hub, which offers federal and state grant opportunities, along with grant writers who can be hired to assist rural governments or organizations with applications.

Kelty Garbee, Executive Director of Texas Rural Funders, spoke with The Texas Tribune about the Affordable Connectivity Program.

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.

E-Rate helps schools and libraries boost their technology investment, and Boosting Broadband with E-Rate explains the program and shares inspiring examples of how E-Rate is used to help children and community members have more access to the latest technology with limited local investment.

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

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

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

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 new board features openings across the Texas Association of Museums.

The American Climate Corps has jobs across the country.

USDA Rural Development has paid internships available in Abilene, Edinburg, Lufkin and Nacogdoches for Pathways Student Trainee - Loan Assistant/Specialist.

This new hub from the BDO provides in-depth information about the digital divide and digital opportunity in Texas.

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. 

The Trellis Foundation's third biennial postsecondary policy summit in Austin, TX, on April 19, 2024, delved into mental health and wellbeing as a strategy for student success.

Funding Rural is a podcast about how philanthropy can better serve rural communities and spark systemic change.

This resource from Texas Rural Funders offers a non-exhaustive survey of funding and technical assistance for broadband projects in 2024.

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.

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

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.

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) has announced its inaugural cohort of 65 fellows and host communities, including two in East Texas. 

This new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas examines how the Texas economy is changing and, with it, the state’s need for education and training.

Marfa students are immersing themselves in the world of vertical farming, blending classroom instruction with firsthand experiences on village farms.

 Wildfires are perhaps the most dreaded natural disaster in the Panhandle. Since 2006, when Amarillo Area Foundation opened the Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund (PDRF), residents have experienced the accumulated loss of millions of dollars in homes, businesses, out-buildings, vehicles, livestock, grazing land, and fencing.

As states get closer to accepting applications for $42.5 billion in BEAD rural broadband funding, more defaults in the previous RDOF rural broadband funding program could be coming.

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.

Libraries for Health, an initiative designed and funded by Texas Rural Funder St. David's Foundation and in partnership with Via Hope and RAND, seeks to reimagine the delivery of mental health services by building upon a community anchor - a local public library - that is already in place.

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.”

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.

Rural recreation counties added to their pre-pandemic employment numbers, but other rural economies struggled to recover.

More than 90% of Texas’ 32 border counties don’t have enough primary care services, sites or providers to meet local medical needs, according to federal data.

The East Texas town has maintained a reliable bus route since 2016, providing a model for rural areas with limited transportation.

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.

This initiative aims to address the critical One Health Crisis in rural areas of Texas and create a sustainable solution through education and community development.

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.

For decades, millions of Americans have been forced to go without internet or pay for subpar service, which thwarts opportunities to participate and thrive in today’s society, especially for Black communities in the rural South.

Dedicated to serving the health needs of rural Texas, the State Office of Rural Health (SORH) staff work with local health care providers and other partners to support access to quality health care for rural Texans.

TORCH is an organization of rural and community hospitals, corporations and interested individuals working together to address the special needs and issues of rural and community hospitals, staff and patients they serve.

Steady State Impact Strategies can help any organization find critical leverage points, advise senior leaders, and build strategies and infrastructure leading to improved organizational effectiveness.

Empower Schools is a nonprofit that partners with communities to develop sustainable solutions that improve student success at school and in life.

The Texas Association of Counties (TAC) is the representative voice for all Texas counties and county officials and, through TAC, counties communicate the county perspective to state officials and the general public.

Texans for the Arts is a highly effective, non-partisan statewide arts advocacy organization that provides coordinated information about legislative activity related to arts issues and organizes advocacy efforts in order to protect and increase public funding for the arts at the state, national and local levels.

Watch an ever-growing archive of Texas film and videos through the decades. Discover the experience of Texans, explore education and preservation resources.

BookSpring builds literacy skills and the motivation to read through increasing home libraries and reading aloud activities for children.

National Civilian Community Corps, or AmeriCorps NCCC is an AmeriCorps program that engages 18- to 24-year-olds in team-based national and community service in the United States.

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.

Find current grants and our grant writer list here.

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

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

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.

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.

This article highlights 5 questions for family foundations to consider while crafting a strategic plan, and features TRF Member, Hogg Foundation.

The legislation behind the historic investment directs state agencies to send money to the state’s smaller, cash-strapped towns that have difficulty paying for upgrades. Federal money is also expected to flow to regions that need broadband.

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

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

Thrive, not just survive, animates development work in East Texas, where a local family foundation, T.L.L. Temple, and a community development financial institution, Communities Unlimited, are teaming to develop bottom-up structural solutions to building rural capacity.

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.

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.

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

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.

More than ever, people are visiting and moving to places with inspiring natural amenities. Yet rapidly growing outdoor recreation economies can also come with serious drawbacks.

Uvalde CISD enters the final stretch of the Uvalde Moving Forward campaign to fund the design and construction of Uvalde's new elementary school, with updates to share.

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

As part of the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program, the NTIA announced Texas’ $3.3 billion allocation.

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

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 San Miguel coal mine and power plant operation in South Texas has the dirtiest groundwater in the entire U.S., according to research. Now this company wants to expand the mine even more, and this time they want to drive ash across an essential source of drinking water for many South Texans – the San Miguel Creek, which is one of just two tributaries to Choke Canyon Reservoir.

Texas Rural Funders invited rural communities to attend this session showcasing free resources that promote cultural and economic development

The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute is leading a 12-month learning experience that equips districts to effectively develop and implement evidence-based school mental health programs. This opportunity is free of cost thanks to the support of the Texas Pioneer Foundation.

The Pottsboro Library and TekWav are pleased to announce a partnership to bring internet service to the patrons of the library through the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) program.

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.

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.

Access to broadband has transformed our economy and our society. This document from Texas Rural Funders helps demystify funding and clarify the vocabulary of broadband development.

Diminishing springs and aquifers due to heat, drought and high for demand water highlight the urgency for Central Texas conservation districts to prioritize climate-focused management, potentially involving reduced pumping for sustainability.

The rural/urban divide is too simplistic to apply to real lives, says a researcher who studies political and social divisions.

This amateur documentary from the Texas Archive of the Moving Image, made by Ouida Whitaker Dean in 1976, focuses on women in agriculture in the rural East Texas town of Timpson, as well as in America at large.

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.

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

Freshwater resources in Texas are facing unprecedented pressures. Increasing competition between water users, coupled with increasingly variable supplies, is giving rise to water scarcity across the state.

An estimated 500,000 people live in thousands of colonias along the Texas-Mexico border. Largely built between the 1950s and 1980s, these communities have been promised water — but it has never come.

A partnership between the Center Economic Development Corporation and Etex Telephone Cooperative has resulted in multiyear project to build a new state-of-the-art network to develop critical connections to the City of Center in Shelby County.

Governor Greg Abbott has named Richard “Rick” Rhodes, TRF's Rural Engagement Coordinator chair of the Texas Workforce Investment Council.

SA Digital Connects is a broad coalition of public, private, and community partners are working together to reduce the digital divide.

LIFE works to economically mobilize its community by teaching financial literacy, creating economic stability, and building generational wealth.

Borderplex Connect is a regional coalition of public, private, and nonprofit partners dedicated to promoting digital inclusion in the Borderplex region.

The Texas Border Small Business Broadband Fund will invest in high-speed connectivity, digital transformation, and skills development for businesses in Hidalgo and Cameron counties

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.

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

Episcopal Health Foundation partnered with the Texas Association of Health Plans and the Texas Association of Community Health Plans to conduct the first ever Texas survey to capture Medicaid health plans activities to address non-medical drivers of health care.

Thousands of low-income, Latino residents in Texas still do not have safe drinking water. In one El Paso colonia, some residents are using solar distillation to generate water from the air.

On the eve of a historic investment in connecting the Lone Star State, advocates worry maps that will help establish which communities get funding have bad information.

It remains a priority to strengthen the capacity of rural communities to compete for federal funds and build the mechanisms and technical expertise they require to secure and manage federal awards.

For community colleges to reach their full potential as drivers of prosperity and equity, states must create strong, stable, coherent finance systems that enable and incentivize colleges to better meet pressing state interests and student needs.

Episcopal Health Foundation, examines hospital responses of a national survey from the American Hospital Association.

Community devel­opment financial institutions, or CDFIs, are mission-driven nonprof­its and for-profits that deliver a range of financial products, services, and education to underserved individuals and communities.

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

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission is a state agency that assists the people of Texas to effectively use information, archival resources, public records and library materials to improve their lives, the lives of their families, and their communities

TORCH is an organization of rural and community hospitals, corporations and interested individuals working together to address the special needs and issues of rural and community hospitals, staff and patients they serve.

ARCIT serves small cities and counties in Texas. It offers a strong voice and resource to state and federal government to promote the best practices, policies and programs for rural and small communities, while enhancing the quality of life for all Texans.

Texas Association of Regional Councils (TARC) is the statewide association of regional councils, whose members are focused on enhancing quality of life through regional strategies, partnerships and solutions.

Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) is an Austin-based professional association for economic developers across the state of Texas.

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.

Founded in 1948, The Pew Charitable Trusts uses data to make a difference. Pew addresses the challenges of a changing world by illuminating issues, creating common ground, and advancing ambitious strategies that lead to tangible progress.

The Deep East Texas Council of Governments and Economic Development District is a voluntary association of local governments in an 11 county region in East Texas.

A national organization focused on bringing open, affordable, high-performance broadband to all people in the U.S. to ensure a thriving democracy.

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.

Texas Electric Cooperatives represents the interests of 76 electric cooperatives with more than 3 million members throughout the state.

Find free wifi in Texas using this map.

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

Through a Listening Tour and Focus Group meetings, this 2018 report examines broadband access identified in rural Texas and prioritizes recomendations to empower Rural Texas.

This report from Texas Rural Funders tells broadband stories across Texas counties, identifies key broadband stakeholders, offers policy recommendations.

Book examining how large corporations that control cable and internet access in the United States use their tremendous lobbying power to tilt the playing field against competition, holding back the infrastructure improvements necessary for the country to move forward.

Book analyzing the promise and the failure of national rural broadband policy in the United States and proposes a new national broadband plan.

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 Texas Broadband Development Office provides a variety of tools and resources supporting the expansion of broadband access across Texas.

The Texas Department of Agriculture is a state agency responsible for matters pertaining to agriculture, rural community affairs, and related matters.

Marathon Health is a leading clinic provider offering onsite, network, and virtual models, leading to better outcomes and employee health.

The Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty employs strategies to end hunger that take into account proximity, the dignity of all people, and the need to test new strategies for old problems.

TexProtects advocates for policy that protects children from abuse and empowers families to thrive.

Lead For America exists to ensure that our nation's most dynamic and diverse talent is working on their communities' toughest challenges.

The Immunization Partnership (TIP) leverages a collective knowledge and an unmatched expertise that puts us in the unique position to not only be an effective voice at the Texas Legislature, but to show how others can use their voice, too.

The American Heart Association mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.

Just Transition Fund is on a mission to create opportunity for the communities hardest hit by coal’s decline.

Connect Humanity is a non-profit impact fund working to change that, combining tailored investments, strategic advice, and technical guidance so that everyone can connect to fast, affordable, reliable internet access.

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance is a national research and advocacy organization that partners with allies across the country to build an American economy driven by local priorities, accountable to people and the planet.

Rebuild Texas Fund connects your helping hand to Texan communities in need.

WESTAF weaves technology, diverse thought leadership, and innovation to energize, network, and fund public sector arts agencies and communities.

The Texas Partnership for Out of School Time is a statewide intermediary whose mission is to convene, educate, and advocate to improve the quality and increase the availability of out of school time opportunities for Texas youth.

With residents and partners, Rural LISC supports resilient and inclusive rural communities as great places to live, work, and innovate.

Digital media organization that covers politics and a range of policy issues that affect all Texans.

United Ways in Texas fight for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community.

Statewide non-profit that seeks to support all Texans in accessing and leveraging broadband.

Coalition co-founded by Texas Rural Funders which seeks to ensure all Texans have equitable access to reliable and affordable digital connectivity.

Texas 2036 is a non-profit dedicated to enabling Texans to make policy decisions through accessible data, long-term planning and statewide engagement.

Mission Capital is advancing race equity and opportunity in the Central Texas nonprofit sector through collaboration, leadership development, customized trainings, strategic consulting, and pushing the boundaries of our sector’s culture.

TEPRI brings together diverse stakeholders from across the state and country to spearhead impactful research initiatives, build solutions-oriented coalitions, pilot innovative energy solutions, and champion lasting change for Texas energy.

The Dallas Fed works with other regional Federal Reserve Banks and the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, D.C. to drive monetary policy that is attentive to the diverse needs of communities all across the nation.

The Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA) is a coalition of stakeholders from the City of Dallas, corporations, Civic and NGO organizations, academia and private individuals who are invested in Dallas’ continued evolution as a forward‐thinking, innovative, ‘smart’ city.

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.

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.

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

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.

Economic Mobility Systems makes economic mobility possible by developing new technology platforms that drive more equitable college and workforce outcomes.

The Texas Demographic Center (TDC) functions as a focal point for the distribution of Census Bureau information for Texas.

The Texas Nonprofit Council is comprised of up to twelve leaders from the nonprofit sector who provide front-line perspective and insight to state agencies, as authorized by the Texas Legislature in Senate Bill 993 (2013 R).

The Center for Applied Research and Rural Innovation brings faculty and students together with business, industry, education and community partners in dynamic environments.

Texan by Nature (TxN) exists to advance conservation that is beneficial to people, prosperity, and natural resources. TxN partners deeply with conservation groups and business, acting as an accelerator for conservation groups and a strategic partner for business.

The mission of the American Cancer Society is to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support, to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.

Texas Water Trade’s mission is to catalyze sustainable water transactions in Texas to ensure clean, flowing water for people and nature.

Home to Texas is a scholarship-funded summer program that connects first-year students with internship and research opportunities in their hometown communities.

The Commit Partnership is a collective impact organization composed of backbone staff and hundreds of partners across Dallas County and the state of Texas.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Video featuring rural teachers talking about what being a rural teaching means to them. Created by the National Rural Education Association and Rural Schools Collaborative.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

This guide from Texas Rural Funders offers a step-by-step approach to securing fast, reliable, affordable broadband internet service in communities. 

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

News story about the Rural Economic Assistance League providing free transportation for rural communities to and from college campuses in the Coastal Bend region.

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

Podcast about rural education, business, and health with a mission to increase awareness and expand dialogue on the most important issues facing rural stakeholders.

Opening remarks from the 2022 Investing in Rural America Conference highlighting important ways to build rural capacity, including: helping communities write grants, creating pools of match funding, and building local capacity.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.