University-anchored Partnerships That Reimagine the Urban–Rural Divide

• DOI: 10.1177/0160323X20928125
• Author: Anne Khademian,Scott Tate
• Published date: 01 December 2019
• Date: 01 December 2019
• Subject Matter: Articles

Article
State and Local Government Review
2019, Vol. 51(4) 301-309
University-anchored
ª The Author(s) 2020
Article reuse guidelines:
Partnerships That Reimagine
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/0160323X20928125
the Urban–Rural Divide
journals.sagepub.com/home/slg
Scott Tate1 and Anne Khademian2
Keywords
university partnerships, urban–rural divide, economic development, community engagement,
urban–rural
The missions of land-grant and urban universi-
are the challenges, both internal and external
ties, as well as many other institutions of higher
to the university, that they will need to over-
learning, have historically included service to
come if these efforts and others like them are
the community as a key component (Associa-
to become a permanent feature of college and
tion of Public & Land-Grant Universities).
university work.
Although some have observed a decline in this
commitment in recent years (McDowell 2003),
Three Partnerships
the need for colleges and universities to engage
with their communities and regions through
ReCONNECT NC (North Carolina):
thought leadership and applied research and
Public–Private Partnership
policy innovation is as great as ever (Boyer
Premise and origin. An article in The Charlotte
1996; Harkavy 2006; Rothwell 2015).
Observer described “Two North Carolinas,”
This article discusses the role of colleges
one rural and one urban. While fifteen of the
and universities in calling statewide attention
state’s hundred counties experienced popula-
to issues of urban–rural disparity and in bring-
tion growth greater than 10 percent from 2010
ing urban and rural areas together around com-
to 2018, 43 counties had a net loss of people
mon challenges and innovative solutions. As
(Henderson and Chemtob 2019). The article
discussed elsewhere in this special issue, there
highlighted a rural county planner who
exist economic, social, and cultural linkages
described
her
greatest
challenge
as
between urban and rural areas that are often
“counteracting the pervasive narrative that here
ignored in current debates about rural and
in Rutherford County we don’t have good
urban challenges. Universities and colleges
have unique capacities to help communities
1
reimagine “urban” and “rural” in ways that
Office of Economic Development, Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
strengthen these linkages to establish robust
2 Office of the President, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
regions where all areas can prosper.
State University, Arlington, VA, USA
We describe three nascent partnerships all
anchored by universities that have been called
Corresponding Author:
upon to play this geographic bridging role with
Anne Khademian, Office of the President, Virginia Poly-
technic Institute and State University, 900 North Glebe
intentionality. The factors that brought the
Road, Arlington, VA 22203, USA.
initiatives into being are identified, and so too
Email: akhademi@vt.edu

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302
State and Local Government Review 51(4)
things, we don’t have assets, there is no oppor-
to job opportunities, to technological opportu-
tunity, that if young adults want opportunities
nity, and to well-being and productivity. Each
they have to go elsewhere in order to find it.
forum highlighted five communities—spot-
And I just don’t think that’s necessarily true”
lighting projects or organizations that are
(Henderson and Chemtob 2019).
adopting creative approaches to local chal-
In 2017, North Carolina State’s Institute for
lenges related to the forum theme. For instance,
Emerging Issues (IEI) employed a “crowd-
the “reconnect to job opportunities” forum
sourcing” effort to ask residents about the big-
spotlighted a Mecklenburg County project that
gest issues facing the state. The findings are
provides classroom and field training for unem-
summarized in the report:
ployed or underemployed veterans to become
full-time building code inspector with the
Declining social trust, eroding faith in public
County.
institutions, and a rise in out-of-work and isolated
The Governor of North Carolina issued a
North Carolinians all speak to a profound chal-
proclamation declaring August 14, 2019, as
lenge holding our state back. . . . This disconnec-
ReCONNECT NC Day. The project sought to
tion has measurable social, health and economic
engage people from different backgrounds and
consequences. Reconnection is vital to our state’s
perspectives to spend time together discussing
overall prosperity. (IEI 2019)
a topic of interest to them as well as to their
IEI developed the reCONNECT NC initiative
community. Support was provided by national
and advanced a novel reframing of the urban-
partners and funders as well as those within the
rural divide: “the divide that mostly isn’t.” (IEI
state.
2019)
IEI also identified a select number of
“pioneering communities” with a pilot project
aimed at fostering connections. These included
Key actors and partnerships. North Carolina State
the following:
established the IEI in 2002 as a nonpartisan
public policy organization to enhance the
Project Empathy—led by community
state’s long-term prosperity. The Institute
volunteers, the project focuses civic con-
sought to find new ways to educate and engage
versations to increase empathy and
citizens around key statewide issues of com-
understanding between rural and urban
mon concern. The Institute developed an
residents and address dissatisfaction
annual Emerging Issues Forum that became a
with levels of service in rural areas.
high-profile, signature event.
Growing Outdoors Partnership Western
The Institute enjoys support for ReCON-
North Carolina (WNC)—works to grow
NECT NC from the governor and state leaders,
the outdoor/tourism industry across
including the private sector and foundations.
seven counties to benefit both rural and
The regional forums generate a myriad of state
urban/suburban communities.
and local partnerships with nonprofits, local
Carolina Core—unites seventeen coun-
governments, foundations, and other educa-
ties in a cooperative regional economic
tional institutions. By highlighting disparate
development initiative centered on four
communities around the state, the project has
major job development opportunities to
secured widespread support and buy-in at the
identify joint development strategies.
community level.
Project 40—five counties are part of a
new regional food system planning proj-
Activities. ReCONNECT NC encompassed a
ect with a clear aspiration: 40 percent of
three-year focus on reengaging the state around
the Triangle’s food will come from
shared connections and needs. The initiative
urban and rural sources by the year 2040.
included six regional “reconnection” forums
STEM SENC (Southeastern NC)—jump-
on community, between rural and urban areas,
started by twenty-seven organizations,

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Tate and Khademian
303
schools, institutions, and businesses
the forum offered data, information, and policy
across the region who identified a shared
possibilities. The forum highlighted a recent
goal of providing access to science, tech-
Chamber of Commerce study estimating that
nology, engineering, and math (STEM)
rural businesses in North Carolina could add
opportunities for all students regardless
an additional US$1.9 billion to their local
of geographic isolation, socioeconomic
economies if they could better access and uti-
status, culture, or ability.
lize broadband. The event...