rural economy

A national coalition says despite progress, more moves are needed to help small towns thrive

About seven months ago the USDA expanded its Rural Partners Network to Wisconsin.It’s a group of five community networks across the state.Locally it includes Forest County and the Northern Wisconsin community which includes Ashland, Iron, and Price counties.

Rural Wisconsin county’s populations are growing faster than much of the midwest.That’s according to a new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum.

The federal infrastructure law is helping states around the country address a variety of needs, including road repairs. That's welcome news for some rural Wisconsin communities, where local governments are having a hard time keeping up with deteriorating streets and county highways.

Gov. Tony Evers says his two-year state budget will include $43 million in spending designed to help the state’s rural economy. The Democratic Evers will…