For decades, rural communities across America faced severe economic disruption as global trade shifts, NAFTA, and agricultural mechanization led industries to exit small towns between the 1980s and early 2000s. As corporate investment and venture capital concentrated heavily inside metropolitan tech corridors, rural communities were systematically left out of national workforce development initiatives, higher education pipelines, and modern career-readiness infrastructure.

Today, HR leaders face unprecedented talent shortages, while significant percentages of rural youth and young adults remain disconnected from postsecondary education or formal employment.

This panel addresses how employers, two-year community colleges, and four-year universities can intentionally re-engage rural communities.

Panelists will examine the historical factors behind rural economic departure, outline actionable options available today, and identify high-growth industries such as advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, supply chain logistics, and clean energy that can successfully locate in or near rural regions.