2025 Investing in Rural America: Elevating What Works
May 20 @ 9:00 am – May 21 @ 4:00 pm EDT
Join the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond for the sixth annual Investing in Rural America Conference on May 20‒21, 2025. One of our two mandates from Congress is maximum employment, and we are committed to understanding the factors that impact labor force participation and economic growth. This is especially important in small towns and rural communities, which make up nearly a quarter of the Fifth District and often lag in these economic outcomes. By engaging with these communities, we can better understand their unique challenges and identify ways to support them.
This year’s conference theme is Elevating What Works, during which we will spotlight the strategies and solutions that bolster economic and social vitality in rural communities — embracing empowerment, working together and leveraging assets.
Breakout sessions will be organized into two tracks:
- Building Skills for Rural Success: This conference track will focus on empowering rural communities through skill development and resource sharing. Participants will explore innovative strategies and best practices for meeting community needs and leveraging local assets.
- Tackling Big Barriers to Labor Force Participation: This conference track addresses critical barriers to labor force participation, exploring solutions to enhance inclusivity and accessibility in the workforce. Sessions will focus on key challenges, such as childcare, transportation and skills gaps, including pandemic learning loss. Attendees will gain insights into effective strategies for removing obstacles and fostering an environment where all individuals can contribute to the labor market.
We anticipate this event will sell out, so make sure to secure your spot today! Register by May 5, 2025.
Interested in learning more about this conference series? Check out our conference content from previous years and learn more about our work focused on helping small towns and rural communities thrive.
Who should attend
Policymakers, community representatives, business executives, nonprofit leaders, investors, workforce development professionals.
Registration Fees:
General Admission $150
Non-Profit / Government $95
Student $50
We look forward to seeing you at the conference as we come together to elevate what works and inspire meaningful change in small towns and rural communities