Nearly one-quarter of our District’s population lives in small towns and rural areas — and many more of us are connected to small towns through our family and friends. Some of these communities are thriving. But others are struggling, held back by issues such as population and job loss, lack of child care and limited educational opportunities.

As a regional Reserve Bank, the Richmond Fed has a mission to strengthen the economy and our communities. That’s why we’re committed to understanding the challenges facing our smaller towns and sharing what works to address these challenges.

Learn more about our research, our engagement and our team.