Rural and Non-Rural Tech Funding Gaps

Uneven Ground: Local Public Funding Gaps Between Rural and

Non-Rural America

Center on Rural Innovation | June 11, 2026

Rural communities are not under-taxed. They are under-resourced.

Public investment shapes whether communities can build infrastructure, grow local businesses, train workers, and create the conditions for long-term local economic opportunity.

But across rural America, many governments face a structural disadvantage: smaller tax bases, higher per-capita costs, limited staffing, and less access to flexible public funding. The result is an uneven playing field that makes it harder for rural communities to invest in their own futures.

Download the comprehensive report below:

CORI-Uneven-Ground-Public-Capital-Report-2026.pdf

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