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Economic Development

  • Montana Community Foundation leverages data to reach more rural and Tribal communities

    Montana Community Foundation leverages data to reach more rural and Tribal communities

    Kris Smith, Ph.D.

    Using resources such as the Rural Capacity Index, the Montana Community Foundation was able to direct more grant dollars to rural, disadvantaged communities. Read more

  • The Outdoor Recreation Economy by State

    The Outdoor Recreation Economy by State

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    The outdoor recreation economy is large, growing faster than the overall economy, and consists of jobs in many industries. Explore data by state. Read more

  • Reinvesting in rural America

    Reinvesting in rural America

    Patricia Hernandez

    Reversing the legacy of rural disinvestment—and deliberately designing solutions for rural America—is a down payment on our shared future. Read more

  • Economic Impact of National Parks

    Economic Impact of National Parks

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    Millions of national park visitors generate economic opportunities for gateway communities, spending money that creates jobs and income. See the trends for every national park service unit. Read more

  • Federal climate vulnerability maps overlook low-capacity communities

    Federal climate vulnerability maps overlook low-capacity communities

    Patricia Hernandez

    Federal maps designed to identify “at-risk and in-need” communities have failed to identify those at the lower end of the capacity spectrum. Read more

  • Trails Research and Searchable Benefits Library

    Trails Research and Searchable Benefits Library

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    Headwaters Economics has created a free, curated collection of nearly 200 high-quality studies that measure the wide-ranging benefits that trails bring to communities. Read more

  • The American Community Survey in our data tools

    The American Community Survey in our data tools

    Tara Preston

    Find the latest American Community Survey data in all of our tools, including the Economic Profile System and Neighborhoods at Risk. Read more

  • Montana Losing Open Space

    Montana Losing Open Space

    Patricia Hernandez

    From 2000 to 2021, the number of single-family homes in Montana grew by more than 42 percent, and the popularity of large lots converted 1 million acres of undeveloped land to housing. Read more

  • Conservation leaders have a role in building equitable communities

    Conservation leaders have a role in building equitable communities

    Patricia Hernandez

    How we manage population centers is intertwined with our conservation of wild areas. The more we create equitable population centers in places people want to live, the more we can create durable, landscape-scale conservation outcomes outside of towns. Read more

  • The Amenity Trap: How high-amenity communities can avoid being loved to death

    The Amenity Trap: How high-amenity communities can avoid being loved to death

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    Amenity communities face unique challenges from waves of tourists and new residents. Proactive planning can help avoid being loved to death. Read more

  • Housing costs broke records across the U.S.

    Housing costs broke records across the U.S.

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    Unaffordable housing came to a head during the pandemic as communities across the country saw unprecedented rises in housing costs. Read more

  • Unaffordability for renters made worse during the pandemic

    Unaffordability for renters made worse during the pandemic

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    The unprecedented rise in housing prices since 2020 has affected renters more than homeowners—especially in places that were already unaffordable. Read more

  • Is rural America really doing so badly?

    Is rural America really doing so badly?

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    Nearly half of rural communities have grown so much since the 1970s they are now classified as “urban.” Those that remain are diverse, but often have more specialized economies. Read more

  • Fiscal policy is failing rural America

    Fiscal policy is failing rural America

    Mark Haggerty

    State and federal fiscal policies hurt rural communities by limiting how local governments can grow, diversify, and invest revenue. Read more

  • Montana wildfire risk is widespread and growing

    Montana wildfire risk is widespread and growing

    Kimiko Barrett, Ph.D.

    The number of western Montana homes in areas with high wildfire hazard has doubled, outpacing development rates in areas with low wildfire hazard. Read more

  • Census response rates in Native American Communities

    Census response rates in Native American Communities

    Patricia Hernandez

    American Indian and Alaska Native communities are at a high risk of being undercounted in the 2020 Census, jeopardizing federal funding, social services, and government representation. Read more

  • Explore COVID-19 unemployment by county

    Explore COVID-19 unemployment by county

    Ray Rasker, Ph.D.

    As U.S. jobless claims reach historic levels from the coronavirus pandemic, find the latest county-level unemployment numbers. Read more

  • The Changing Geography of U.S. Electricity Generation

    The Changing Geography of U.S. Electricity Generation

    Mark Haggerty

    Most U.S. states are adding electricity generation capacity faster than capacity is being retired. Renewable energy adds the most capacity in 18 states. Read more

  • The Evolution of U.S. Electricity Generation Capacity

    The Evolution of U.S. Electricity Generation Capacity

    Mark Haggerty

    The capacity to generate electricity has transitioned from coal to natural gas to renewable energy, a trend projected to continue. Read more

  • The health and fiscal vulnerability of rural recreation counties

    The health and fiscal vulnerability of rural recreation counties

    Mark Haggerty

    Where rural recreation counties rely on public funding for health care, fiscal solutions should diversify the ways local governments can save and spend. Read more

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