Community Vitality and Rural Healthcare – Resources

Rural Active Living Measurement Tools
Provides information on and access to the Rural Active Living Assessment (RALA) Tools and the Rural Active Living Perceived Environmental Support Scale (RALPESS) which are designed to collect data on physical environment features and amenities, town characteristics, community programs, and policies that impact wellness and physical activity of rural citizens.
Type: Website
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Capital Absorption Framework
Aims to help communities prepare for capital investment by outlining shared priorities, developing deals and projects that achieve the shared priorities, and developing platforms and relationships to get the deals and projects accomplished.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Center for Community Investment
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Rural Data Gateway
An information and data portal supporting USDA Rural Development (RD) partnerships with rural communities, entrepreneurs, and government by providing access to RD's financial support in rural America. Offers Rural Investment Dashboards highlighting RD programs and investments to help people in vulnerable rural communities access needed resources for housing, infrastructure, local business, and community development. Data also assists users when analyzing RD investment trends in states, counties, and congressional districts.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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Integrated Rural Strategies Group
Project that offers resources and opportunities to bring funders together to address rural community needs, particularly related to rural organizing and justice-advancing efforts. Offers information resources, dialogues, and blog posts related to rural initiatives and partnerships.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Neighborhood Funders Group
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Assessment for Advancing Community Transformation Tool
Provides guidance and resources to help community-based teams and individuals identify focal areas for health transformation based on 6 key themes and 22 subthemes using a score-based assessment method.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Policy Center
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Recreation Economy for Rural Communities
Offers information and resources related to the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities program, which supports rural community efforts to develop outdoor recreation economies. Discusses revitalization projects through the program, including investment in broadband service and spaces for outdoor activities. Offers examples of funded projects.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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The National Risk Index for Natural Hazards
Dataset and online tool to help illustrate the communities most at risk for 18 natural hazards. Designed and built by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in collaboration with stakeholders and partners in academia; local, state and federal government; and private industry. Uses source data for natural hazard and community risk factors to develop a baseline relative risk measurement for each United States county and census tract.
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Rural America Placemaking Toolkit
Provides information and strategies for rural community placemaking through public spaces, community arts, downtown revitalization, and design. Discusses processes for community and cultural assessments, and covers food access initiatives and healthcare in the Cross-Sector Partnerships module. Includes directories of organizations offering technical assistance and financial assistance.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organizations: Community & Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky, USDA Rural Development
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Thrive Rural Framework
Provides information resources to support rural community prosperity through asset-based approaches and collaboration. Publications cover strategies to empower rural communities and facilitate economic development, support community equity, and rural development and health.
Additional links: Assessment Worksheet, Thrive Rural Framework Foundational Element, Thrive Rural Framework Overview, Thrive Rural Framework: Local-Level Building Blocks, Thrive Rural Framework: Systems-Level Building Blocks
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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Fixed Broadband Deployment
Mapping tool offering a visualization of fixed broadband deployment based on FCC Form 477 data collected in June and December each year. Provides census-block level estimates, county-level data, and is searchable by address or location. Offers service provider details and area comparisons.
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
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