The small rural community of Lakeview, OR, has been facing a financial crisis that's threatened community services, resulting in rising costs for residents. Rather than raising taxes to clear the roads, local leaders recruited local volunteers to pose for a 2026 Outback Naked calendar, raising more than $13,000 to help the town pay for winter snow removal. Click here to read the full story in the Oregonian. | | Celebrate and Support Small Businesses and Downtowns This February | The Rural Visibility Project is a policy advocacy campaign designed to center rural priorities through community-driven dialogue and elevate rural voices in state-level policy conversations. Our focus is on priority topics to impact specific policies and legislation that will move through the Oregon State Capitol during the short session in 2026, with the hopes of creating our own rurally inclusive policies for the 2027 session. This February, we’re focusing on the topic of small businesses and downtowns, and you can get involved by helping spread the word. Click here to register for a virtual information session on January 27 to find out how you can help champion the campaign to uplift small businesses and downtowns this February, and discover ways you can engage with the Rural Visibility Project to move rural-oriented solutions across the Pacific Northwest forward. | | |
Monthly topics include:
February: Small Business and Downtowns
May: Local Capacity for Local Priorities
July: Building Rural Sector Economies
September: Childcare and Early Learning
November: Healthcare Access and Affordability
| | Register Now for R2R - The Premier Rural Conference | Early Bird registration is now open! Join more than 300 rural changemakers, decision-makers, and entrepreneurs at Regards to Rural (R2R), the Pacific Northwest's premier rural development conference. Presented by RDI, the 14th Regards to Rural conference will be held April 16 and 17 in Bend, OR, featuring two days of networking opportunities, keynotes, and breakout sessions interpreted or offered in English and Spanish. Breakout session topics include community leadership and engagement, economic vitality and wealth building, policy and influence, and access to resources. New in 2026, you won't want to miss the Rural Visibility Project Live and the Rural Action Lab during the conference, plus mobile workshops on April 15. Tickets are selling fast. Register today to secure your spot. | | |
Huge thanks to our R2R conference sponsors for their generous support!
The Ford Family Foundation; Business Oregon; Energy Trust of Oregon; Community Heart & Soul; Oregon Multifamily Energy Program; Pacific Power; Benton Community Foundation; Oregon State University Extension and Engagement; Women’s Foundation of Oregon; Innovia Foundation; League of Oregon Cities; The Partners Group; Rural Assembly; Sustainable Northwest
| | ¿Trabajas en el sector forestal y estás pensando en iniciar o hacer crecer tu propio negocio? | Regístrese en nuestro curso, "Oportunidades en el Bosque: Capacitación para emprendedores forestales," para aprender cómo hacerlo. Este curso se ofrecerá completamente en español para cualquier persona interesada en iniciar o hacer crecer un negocio en la industria forestal. Proporcionaremos comida, cuidado de niños y una beca para cada participante que pueda asistir a las cuatro sesiones. Esta oportunidad se ofrece en colaboración con Lomakatsi Restoration Project, Oregon State University Extension Service, Unite Oregon, y Rural Development Initiatives. | | |
21, 22 y 28 de Febrero y 1 de Marzo
9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Talent, OR
| | Idaho Rural Success Summit - Providing Tools for Flourishing Rural Communities | The Idaho Rural Success Summit is a dedicated day-and-a-half event designed by and for the thriving rural communities of Idaho. The 2026 summit will be held May 13-14 in Pocatello, ID. Through engaging presentations, insightful panels, and valuable networking sessions, the summit aims to empower participants with the knowledge and tools necessary for success. This event serves as a platform to exchange success stories and share essential resources, fostering an environment where Idaho's rural communities and businesses can not only survive but truly flourish. Save the dates - registration is opening soon. | | | |
Pacific Northwest Rural Action Network Resource Roundup
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Apply by 2/12 - Washington State Department of Commerce Capital Project Capacity Grants: The Washington State Department of Commerce is soliciting applications from non-profit organizations to support planning and readiness activities for capital projects expected to be completed or shovel-ready within the next five years. Learn More
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Apply by 2/22 - Washington Trust for Historic Preservation Grant Funding to Combat Coastal Flooding: The new Coastal Preservation & Adaptation for Rural Communities Program is a one-time grant program that supports historic buildings and districts in rural communities looking to conduct renovations to combat coastal flooding. Learn More
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Apply by 3/31 for T-Mobile Hometown Grants: Main Street America is partnering with T‑Mobile to help build stronger, more prosperous small towns and rural communities. Through T-Mobile Hometown Grants, towns with a population of 50,000 or less can get up to $50,000 to bring your community project ideas to life. Learn More
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Pride in Numbers Project: Pride in Numbers is a community-led, statewide research project by and for Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ people across Oregon. Through an online survey, storytelling sessions and a community art project, Pride in Numbers is creating a powerful portrait of Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ life in Oregon. The information and stories will be shared back with the community, so advocates, community organizations, and organizers can build programs, services, mutual aid networks, and policies. Learn More
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4/16-4/17 Register Now for Regards to Rural - The Pacific Northwest's Premier Rural Development Conference: R2R will be held April 16-17 in Bend, OR, featuring networking opportunities, keynotes, breakout sessions interpreted or offered in English and Spanish, the Rural Visibility Project Live, and the Rural Action Lab, plus mobile workshops on April 15. Learn More
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You can help strengthen Pacific Northwest rural communities.
Your support helps keep much-needed resources within reach for rural communities. Community-based organizations of all types continue to navigate ongoing change and urgent needs. At RDI, we are responding to funding challenges by ramping up our efforts to build rural leaders, grow small businesses, and engage community members in the issues that matter most to them. Your support is more important than ever to help strengthen communities across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Donate today and know your gift will make lasting change for rural people and places in the Pacific Northwest.
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