Breadcrumb
Economic Development, Resilience, and Wealth Building
Why This Matters
Rural communities face persistent economic challenges that limit opportunities and perpetuate cycles of poverty. From job scarcity and wage gaps to limited access to capital and infrastructure, rural Californians often lack pathways to economic stability and wealth building that are available in urban areas.
CCRP recognizes that sustainable economic development must be inclusive, environmentally responsible, and rooted in community assets. Our work focuses on creating pathways to prosperity that build on rural strengths while addressing structural barriers to economic opportunity.
Growth That Stays Rooted
How We Approach Economic Development Work
At CCRP, our economic development work is rural-rooted and equity-driven. We understand that effective economic strategies must account for rural contexts, including geographic isolation, resource limitations, and unique community assets like natural resources, cultural heritage, and social networks.
Rather than imposing outside economic models, we work alongside communities to identify locally-relevant opportunities and develop strategies that create quality jobs while preserving environmental and cultural values. Our approach emphasizes building wealth within communities, supporting local entrepreneurship, and ensuring that economic benefits reach historically underserved populations.
Regional Economic Development
Take a look at the video below — produced through CCRP's Redwood Region RISE initiative — to see how CCRP is collaborating with regional partners to build inclusive, sustainable economies in rural California, creating quality jobs and pathways to prosperity while honoring local assets, community priorities, and environmental values.
Watch the Video
Featured Economic Development, Resilience, and Wealth Building Projects
CCRP research to document economic disconnection among young people ages 16-24 in Del Norte and Tribal Lands, identifying barriers to employment and pathways to economic opportunity for youth who are neither in school nor working. Download Opportunity Youth Report
Learn more about the Aspen Forum for Community Solutions - Regional Work
CCRP convenes this coalition of 150+ member organizations engaging over a thousand residents across Tribal Lands, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, and Mendocino Counties. RRRISE has created a 10-year Regional Economic Roadmap focused on sustainable, quality job creation while advancing environmental stewardship and inclusivity through California's Jobs First initiative.
Key sectors: Arts, Culture, and Tourism; Health and Caregiving; Renewable and Resilient Energy; Working Lands and Blue Economy.
Analysis of wealth-building strategies and asset development approaches relevant to rural communities, focusing on community-controlled economic development and cooperative models that keep resources local.
Ready to put rural Economic Development, Resilience, and Wealth Building research to work for your community?
Explore how we can support your goals:
Discover CCRP's Other Research & Policy Work
Community Health and Wellness
Youth, Education, and Child Well-being
