Our Rural Capacity Index (RCI) just got a significant update. The tool measures how well communities are equipped to compete for funding and manage long-term infrastructure projects. New features include refined data, a search bar to find any community in the country, and state-level capacity ratings. The RCI is used by agencies, funders, and local leaders as they work to distribute resources and other assistance to places that need it most.

We have just updated our webpage that tracks the number of structures lost to wildfire in the United States. The latest figures show that wildfires have destroyed more than 132,400 homes, businesses, and other structures since 2005. Explore the data by state, most destructive fires, and more.

We have updated our webpage that tracks the size and growth of the outdoor recreation economy in every state with the latest data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Explore charts and interactive graphics that show how much this $1.3 trillion sector contributes to each state’s GDP, job growth, and more.

Last week, Headwaters Economics Executive Director Patty Hernandez moderated the plenary panel at The State of Disaster Recovery in Rural America: A Candid Expert Conversation, a convening hosted by Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, and Headwaters Economics.

Headwaters Economics’ FloodWise program has been a partner with the City of Glendive since 2021. This great coverage of the West Glendive levee project highlights the potentials and challenges for rural communities as they look to reduce flood risks:

Glendive considers $4.9 million levee bond to reduce flood risk and revive economy
KTVQ-TV (Billings, MT), March 10, 2026

Patty was at the Association of Montana Floodplain Managers annual meeting yesterday in Great Falls where she accepted the Floodplain Program Ambassador award in recognition of the work Kris, Bridget, and the rest of the FloodWise team have done supporting Glendive and Dawson County, Three Forks, Musselshell County, Livingston, Petroleum County, and Montana DNRC. Thanks to Tracy Sears, the State Community Assistance Program Coordinator, for her heartfelt words about what the partnership has meant to Montana communities. We’re proud of this program! 

Our CPAW team has been busy working across Colorado, Hawaii and other states refining their approaches to wildfire, but this month they were closer to home. Ryan Handy briefed the Montana Legislature’s Environmental Quality Council on wildfire risks. And just days later, Kimi Barrett shared insights on wildfire and insurance challenges with the Economic Affairs Committee. Smarter wildfire policy is taking shape. 

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.

Ryan, Doug and Kimi are back from meeting with city planning and fire department officials in Santa Fe, NM to discuss how to best protect neighborhoods from wildfire threats. The city is the latest to join our CPAW program that is helping communities across the U.S. reduce wildfire risk and protect homes. 

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.