Rural America has long been at the center of political debates—often reduced to voting patterns and cultural divides. But what if we looked at it differently? What if, instead of viewing rural areas through a lens of decline or nostalgia, we recognized them as engines of economic transformation, hubs of innovation, and key players in America’s future?
Tony Pipa has been reshaping rural narratives and shifting the focus from politics to policy. As a senior fellow at the Brookings Center for Sustainable Development and a leading voice on rural development, he joins Junjie Ren, a senior communications manager, for a deep-dive conversation on why rural America matters now more than ever.
From political representation to economic opportunity, from federal investment to the evolving role of local communities, Pipa dismantles myths and charts a forward-looking path. He also shares his personal history: How growing up in a small town shaped his values, the beauty and resilience of rural communities, and what fuels his passion for driving the rural conversation forward—with a mic for his podcast, a GoPro in hand, and a story worth telling.
Why rural matters?
Junjie Ren (JR): Tony, thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. To kick things off, why is rural America important? Could you share your perspective on this, both personally and from a policy standpoint?
Tony Pipa (TP): I’m a small-town boy from Pennsylvania. The community and the environment in which I grew up shaped who I am, my values, and how I view opportunity and the ideals of the United States. It also shaped my idea of what community is. All of this provides personal motivation for why what happens in rural America matters to me.
After the 2016 election, I saw a lot of attention paid to rural politics—who is voting for whom in rural America, and the motivations we ascribe to those voters. I found much less attention directed toward rural policy—how national policy decisions effectively support or potentially undermine rural America’s ability to thrive, especially given changes in the economy and social structures over the past several decades. I feel that it’s important to have a serious policy discourse on what’s necessary for rural America to thrive in the 21st century, and why that’s important for the country as a whole.
Rural America isn’t just a collection of communities—it’s a vital part of who we are as a nation.
JR: Can you dive deeper into why rural America matters from a governance perspective?
TP: Even before I talk about governance, I’ll just touch on who we are as a country economically. Rural America disproportionately provides us with food, energy, fiber, and recreation. It’s where we feel more closely connected to nature and leverage the country’s natural resources. Rural America historically has been crucial to the economic growth and economic prowess that America enjoys globally—because its resources and its people provide fuel for the creativity and economic activity of our cities and suburbs, in addition to its own communities. It has helped make America one of the leading economies of the world.
From a governance perspective, our constitutional structures try to balance majority rule while giving voice to less densely populated places. The structure of the Electoral College and Congress ensures that rural places have the ability to influence political outcomes that some criticize as disproportionate to their number.
Having said that, polling consistently shows that rural Americans perceive that policymakers aren’t representing or protecting their interests very well, and there are many instances where it’s clear that they’ve been left out or left behind by major policy decisions. That’s a factor in the populism and political polarization we experience now as a nation.
Debunking myths and misconceptions about rural America
JR: Walk us through the most persistent myths about rural America and why they’re problematic. What misconceptions or assumptions might policymakers hold that could hinder progress for rural places?
TP: First, we don’t have a standard definition of what we even mean by “rural” from a policy perspective. Nor do we proactively define “rural.” What we really define from a policy perspective is larger places—cities, urban areas, metropolitan areas—and then the rest of the country becomes rural-by-default. This means that some places may be rural for some federal programs, while they may not be eligible or seen as rural for other federal programs.
Another assumption is equating rural with agriculture. Agriculture is culturally important and extremely crucial for some local economies. But nationally, it accounts for only about 7% of rural jobs. You know, we stopped being primarily an agrarian society long ago. Yet, those ideas still persist in our policymaking. Federal policy that affects rural communities and economic development goes through every part of the federal government, but many policymakers look to the agricultural committees in Congress when they think of rural issues. This limits the scope of policies that address rural economic diversity.
The final thing is that most people don’t understand the degree of diversity in rural America. It’s diverse geographically—from the public lands and great vistas out West, to the small towns in New England, to primarily African American-led towns in the Southeast, to Native and Latino communities in the Southwest and the Plains. It’s also diverse economically—you have outdoor recreation economies, service industries, manufacturing, and agriculture. And it is racially diverse and growing more so. Policymakers often overlook this diversity, and this undermines effective, tailored policy solutions.
The Reimagining Rural Policy initiative
JR: Let’s talk about the Reimagining Rural Policy initiative. How did this agenda come to life, and where does it sit within the broader rural development and policy ecosystem?
TP: There’s not much of a rural development and policy ecosystem within the think tank community, so we were interested in bringing more attention to policy issues that are important for improving economic opportunity, security, and fairness in rural communities
I came to Brookings after serving in the Obama administration, where I worked on international development at USAID and the State Department. My time in government taught me a lot about how reforming and updating policies could result in greater impact to catalyze economic growth, reduce poverty, and strengthen resilience in developing countries. Growing up in a small town and spending years working in philanthropy focused on rural areas, I saw firsthand the challenges these communities face. My earlier work at Brookings highlighted the significant impact that cities and local governance play globally in advancing sustainable development. I wanted to bring the lessons I’d learned internationally to examine whether domestic policy was serving rural communities effectively.
We started by analyzing federal resources for rural community and economic development. We looked at how accessible these resources were for rural communities and whether they aligned with the challenges rural America faces today. That was the foundation for the Reimagining Rural Policy initiative, and it remains central to the work we’re doing now.
Policy evolution since Reimagining Rural
JR: Since the initiative started in 2020, how has the field evolved?
TP: Over the last four+ years, we’ve seen a growing recognition of the unique capacity challenges that rural communities face. At the state level, some states have created offices of rural prosperity to elevate rural perspectives in policymaking. At the federal level, the former Biden administration appointed, for the first time ever, a position on the Domestic Policy Council focused on rural affairs and agriculture. They also launched the Rural Partners Network, a pilot program placing federal staff in rural areas to help communities navigate the complex federal funding landscape. This program is limited to 10 states, but it’s a significant step forward. Additionally, an interagency policy committee now works to ensure federal agencies are more accessible and responsive to rural needs.
On the legislative side, the Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act, a bipartisan effort led by Senators Casey (D-Penn.) and Fischer (R-Neb.) in the previous Congress, proposed a rural partnership program. This program would provide flexible funding directly to local rural partnerships for whatever they define as their needs—whether it’s staffing, planning, or unlocking other investments. This reflects an important shift toward supporting locally led development. The proposal was integrated in the frameworks for the Farm Bill proposed by the former Senate leadership, and as Farm Bill negotiations continue in this new Congress, rural stakeholders are likely to continue to emphasize its importance.
New place-based policies in the CHIPS Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act created unprecedented opportunities for rural areas. These laws make resources available that rural communities are using to strengthen infrastructure, invest in clean energy, and foster economic resilience—as long as they can access and manage the funds. Programs like the Recompete Pilot and other initiatives offer significant public investments to help rural areas thrive in the 21st century.
As the new Trump administration takes office, there will likely be many changes in policy priorities. The administration has an opportunity to continue building momentum and driving investment to rural places, and it could be an important priority. To be successful in advancing rural priorities, it will be important for any new policies to remain sensitive to impacts on rural places.
Thoughts on rural future
JR: There’s been debate about whether the revival of manufacturing, industrial policies, and the clean energy transition can transform rural America. What’s your take on this?
TP: Some may argue that manufacturing has left for good, but there’s a strong national security argument for keeping certain types of manufacturing in the U.S. through public investment and policy. Early evidence suggests that rural areas are already benefiting from investments spurred by the CHIPS Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. For example, rural Georgia has become a hub for battery manufacturing, and has earned the nickname “the battery belt.”
Rural America powered the country’s fossil fuel energy economy. It’s now poised to power the clean energy transition. Nearly all wind farms and a significant majority of solar farms are located in rural areas. Mining, battery manufacturing, and other clean energy industries also present enormous opportunities for rural communities.
However, these opportunities shouldn’t be limited to job creation. It’s critical to ensure local governments and institutions also benefit financially and receive the resources to sustain themselves. This calls for a policy discourse that goes beyond jobs to focus on building local capacity and generating sustained revenue for rural areas.
Policymakers need a shared sense of the role rural America will play in the country’s future. Some see rural areas as obsolete in an information-driven, agglomeration economy, but history has repeatedly shown that rural America remains central to the nation’s identity and success. We need a coherent national rural strategy that integrates these opportunities into a broader vision for the 21st century.
In a polarized political environment, I wanted to focus on the common ground people find at the local level.
The Reimagine Rural podcast
JR: Turning to the Reimagine Rural podcast—Brookings’ first narrative podcast—what drove you to tell rural stories this way?
TP: I wanted policymakers to better understand the constraints rural communities face and how change actually happens in these places. Instead of writing the typical 15-to-20-page case study, I thought, “What if we let rural people tell their own stories?” Their voices carry an authenticity and credibility that no written report could capture.
The podcast aimed to give people—particularly those who don’t spend much time in rural America—a window into what it’s like to live in and lead a rural community. I hoped it would help debunk stereotypes and highlight the innovation, collaboration, and resilience found in these places.
At its heart, the podcast is about showing that rural communities are solving problems and working together across divides. In a polarized political environment, I wanted to focus on the common ground people find at the local level.
And, honestly, I just love a good story.
JR: What are the biggest lessons you’ve learned from working on this award-winning podcast?
TP: One lesson is just how innovative and resilient rural people are. They’re doing a lot with very little, often coming up with creative solutions to complex challenges. I’ve met some truly remarkable local leaders who are innovative and deeply invested in their communities. Their stories are inspiring, and I’m grateful the podcast has given them a platform.
Another major takeaway is that local collaboration and civic engagement may be key to finding our way out of our polarized national politics. While national politics are polarized, local collaboration is thriving. Through the podcast, I consistently encounter people from different political, racial, and economic backgrounds coming together to solve problems because they share a commitment to their local communities.
I was also struck by how central beauty is to rural development. The idea of creating and preserving beauty—whether through public spaces, natural resources, or local culture—is a powerful motivator for people working to make their communities better.
Rural and SDGs intersection
JR: Your work on American leadership in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has become an attraction on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. How does this work intersect with the challenges and opportunities for rural America?
TP: One of the exciting things about the partnership with the U.N. Foundation and our project on American Leadership on the SDGs is showcasing the importance of sustainable development and how progress on interconnected issues can happen even in a high-income country like the United States. The SDGs ask all countries to achieve them because no country in the world has fulfilled all the aspirations reflected in the SDGs. Development is a continuum, and countries are at different places along it.
Rural communities are part of this. At our most recent event, we showcased clean energy transitions in Humboldt County, California, and rural Minnesota, as well as efforts to address fairness and economic opportunity. These holistic approaches align with the SDG framework, and they address interdependent issues in meaningful ways.
JR: You represented the United States in the final intergovernmental negotiations that created the SDGs. How did the discussions address local engagement then?
TP: At the time, we focused very little on the role of local governments in contributing to progress. Our focus was on global and national measurement and implementation. In fact, the resolution to create and launch the SDGs includes only about three mentions of local stakeholders and local governments in the sections on implementation, and follow-up and review.
Since then, there’s been enormous growth in recognizing the critical role local leaders, institutions, and communities play in driving progress on the SDGs. There’s now a global movement around localizing the SDGs that highlights how essential local action is for achieving global aspirations.
JR: And from that negotiation table to our current moment—where do you find yourself personally?
TP: My concern is that a transactional approach to global development investments and engagement with low- and middle-income countries won’t get us far enough or fast enough. We need multilateral engagement—working as peers to learn from, support, and hold each other accountable for the critical challenges we face. And to do that from the local to the national level with peers and counterparts from around the world.
What’s next for the Reimagine Rural initiative?
JR: What’s next for the Reimagining Rural Policy initiative?
TP: We’ll continue analyzing how federal investments from recent legislation—the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS Act—are reaching rural areas. We will also engage with the new administration and new Congress to explore how their priorities can continue to build on positive momentum happening in rural communities—a thriving rural America is a bipartisan agenda and core to American competitiveness and our future as a country. We are in the planning stages of a major initiative with a partner think tank that will convene former elected officials and national leaders from key sectors, have them engage with rural stakeholders across the country, assess the impact of federal policy on rural communities, and recommend ways to modernize and improve its impact.
I’m also interested in elevating the lessons of place-based philanthropic foundations that are at the cutting edge of investing in rural communities, as I think those could inform better policy.
The podcast will also continue, and we’re exploring ways to expand it to showcase even more voices from diverse rural communities. The goal is to capture the richness and complexity of rural America while informing national policy.
Final thoughts
JR: You travel extensively. What keeps you energized? What inspires you to push this work forward?
TP: What inspires me is where I started. Rural communities shaped who I am. It’s given me the values that form the bedrock of even my own family and professional life.
That’s what I see when I travel to rural places. I see people who love their community and know its history. They are looking for a new future and are willing to roll up their sleeves and work hard to ensure that their communities are thriving in the 21st century. They’re innovative, collaborative, and deeply committed to their neighbors.
My role is to elevate their stories, reveal the incredible work they’re doing, and ensure that national policy reflects their strengths and needs.
Ultimately, rural America isn’t just a collection of communities—it’s a vital part of who we are as a nation. And I want to make sure that’s recognized and celebrated.
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