Everyone on the Headwaters Economics team was able to come together yesterday for our end-of-year celebration. Custom fanny packs (some of us called them “hip packs”) were gifted to all, but the real perk was reviewing all the research, briefings and outcomes for communities we were able to deliver this year. A great team = great results. We are ready to keep it up in 2026!

Curious how your state’s rural and metropolitan areas compare? The Economic Profile System makes it easy. Search for your state, click “add more places” on the map, then choose “metro/rural portion.” You’ll get the latest data for both metropolitan and nonmetropolitan parts of your state. Visit EPS.

Megan is just back from Bend, Oregon where she presented at the High Desert Museum on how outdoor recreation opportunities can bring great benefits to communities, but can also pose great challenges for growth and affordability. It’s a paradox we call the Amenity Trap, and we have ideas about how to solve it.

We have updated our webpage that tracks public land ownership in the United States with the latest available federal data. View interactive maps and charts for all 828 million acres of federal, state, and municipal land in the U.S., including breakdowns by state and county.

Kauaʻi county in Hawaiʻi is taking community wildfire risk reduction seriously, adopting one of the most forward-looking approaches that will embed home hardening and defensible-space standards into local codes. Headwaters Economics is honored to continue this partnership to reduce wildfire risks before a disaster happens.

Watch Ryan Handy from our Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire program discuss how our recent analysis of the wildfires risk facing thousands of historic buildings in the U.S. came together.

Watch how Custer, SD is making plans to better handle the next flood, with help from Headwaters Economics’ FloodWise Community Assistance program. 

We have a long-standing commitment to rebuilding after disaster. But why? Listen to Ryan, Doug, and Kris dive into why we rebuild after disasters.

This video of Patty’s presentation at the “Rebuilding with Resilience in L.A.” conference details how rebuilding homes to be wildfire resistant can save billions in the long run. The stage is at SnapChat’s headquarters in Los Angeles.

The latest Resources Radio podcast features Megan Lawson discussing how outdoor recreation has become a vital driver of many local economies, but sometimes also presents challenges for housing affordability, infrastructure, wildfire risk, and more. Learn how communities can balance the amenity trap.

Kris’ presentation at the Resilient Energy Economies conference last week focused on how federal mineral royalties flow from public lands to state and local governments. Deep discussions on managing energy revenues with attendees from tribes, local governments, and others were lightened up with a few frames at the bowling alley.

Are urban conflagrations wildfire? Ryan and Doug are back to discuss this issue in episode two of the Burning Questions podcast.