Northwest Rural Investment Strategy
Coordinated Projects. Partnership Solutions.
Hosted by Partners for Rural Washington and The Oregon iSector
The opportunities and challenges of rural life don’t necessarily begin and end at the state line. That’s why private and public groups in Oregon and Washington are joining forces to help small rural communities in both states achieve lasting independence.
Formed in 2023 by U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development officials in both states, the Northwest Rural Investment Strategy (NWRIS) works to ensure that rural communities are as prepared as possible to tap into state and federal infrastructure funding. And for those cases where government grants aren’t the best option for small communities, NWRIS brings private and philanthropic organizations to the table to develop new funding solutions.
Our shared vision is becoming a reality with assistance from a wide variety of government, foundation, non-profit and university partners.
In the interest of “meeting adds meaning,” NWRIS sponsored summits in 2023 and 2024. Hundreds of representatives from state and federal government, private foundations, Community Development Financial Institutions, community-based non profits, economic development districts and rural communities across Washington and Oregon put their heads together to outline critical needs and set priorities. The result? Creation of a “hub and spoke” model to link, leverage and align local governments, community-based organizations, technical assistance providers, and private and public funders to advance projects in rural areas and foster statewide AND interstate cooperation. That model will be put to the test in six pilot communities in 2025.
NWRIS partners already are making a difference for rural communities in Oregon and Washington in terms of unlocking funds for rural investment and capacity building. More work remains, and the federal funding landscape is shifting dramatically. Fortunately, the connections formed at NWRIS summits provide a jump start as we continue to develop, refine and follow a shared roadmap for rural progress.
More information about NWRIS and its work for rural communities is available by contacting:
Greg Wolf, Executive Director
Oregon i-Sector
(503) 931-9536
gregwolfpdx@gmail.com
Jody Opheim, Executive Director
Partners for Rural Washington
(509) 432-6504
jopheim@partnersruralwa.org