Why National Rural Policy Conversations Matter to York County

When people think about economic development in rural communities, they often think first about local projects; housing developments, business expansion, workforce initiatives, infrastructure improvements, or entrepreneurship programs.

Those projects are critical. They are also deeply connected to broader state and federal policies that influence how rural communities grow, compete, and access resources.

That is why the York County Development Corporation (YCDC) continues to stay engaged not only locally and regionally, but nationally as well.

Recently, YCDC participated in the development of the National Rural Economic Development Association (NREDA) Rural Issues White Paper and joined rural economic developers from across the country in Washington, D.C. for a federal advocacy fly-in focused on rural policy and economic competitiveness.

As part of those conversations, meetings were held with:

• Congressional offices and committee leadership 
• USDA Rural Development leadership 
• USDA Rural Business Cooperative Services 
• The National Association of Counties (NACo) 
• The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) 
• The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) 
• The Small Business Administration (SBA) 
• White House policy staff 
• Senate and House agriculture leadership offices 

The discussions focused on issues that are highly familiar to York County and rural Nebraska communities, including:

• Workforce shortages 
• Housing affordability and supply 
• Infrastructure readiness 
• Healthcare sustainability 
• Broadband and utility infrastructure 
• Access to federal funding 
• Capital access for businesses and entrepreneurs 
• Long-term rural competitiveness 

One important takeaway became very clear:
The challenges York County is facing are not unique.

Rural communities across the country are working through many of the same issues related to workforce, housing, infrastructure, healthcare access, and economic competitiveness. At the same time, York County is also viewed as a strong example of how rural communities can respond through collaboration, partnerships, and long-term strategic planning.

YCDC Executive Director Lisa Hurley also joined Jeff Hofaker, Executive Director of the Phelps County Development Corporation, in meetings with members of Nebraska’s federal delegation to discuss how the priorities identified in the NREDA White Paper directly impact Nebraska communities.

Particular focus was placed on:

• Rural workforce shortages 
• Housing and infrastructure limitations 
• Access to federal development tools 
• Rural competitiveness 
• Opportunity Zone eligibility concerns impacting communities like York and Holdrege 

One issue discussed was how some rural communities may lose eligibility for important federal development tools, such as Opportunity Zones, despite still facing significant workforce, infrastructure, housing, and capital access challenges.

These conversations matter because federal policies and funding structures directly impact the tools available to rural communities working to grow responsibly and remain competitive.

To help connect those national conversations back to local realities, YCDC developed a companion document titled:

From National Policy to Local Impact: York County’s Rural Development Reality

The document highlights how national rural policy discussions align directly with the work already happening across York County in areas such as:

• Workforce development 
• Housing 
• Infrastructure modernization 
• Energy capacity 
• Healthcare 
• Entrepreneurship 
• Business growth 
• Regional partnerships 

It also highlights many of the local initiatives currently being advanced in York County, including:

• The York Regional Workforce Development Center/Learning Center 
• Countryside Estates workforce housing 
• York Creekside housing development 
• Northwest York Industrial Park 
• Entrepreneurship and small business support initiatives  
• Infrastructure and utility planning efforts 

Economic development does not happen in isolation. Rural communities must continue building partnerships locally while also ensuring rural voices are represented in state and national conversations that shape funding, policy, and long-term competitiveness.

York County’s experience reinforces a simple but important message:

Rural America is not asking to be rescued. Rural communities are asking for the tools, flexibility, and partnerships necessary to compete and succeed.

The full document, From National Policy to Local Impact: York County’s Rural Development Reality.