Date of Award

Fall 2006

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Abstract

Rural areas across the United States are struggling to keep their economies viable. Often children must leave their rural homes to find employment. This is not only symptomatic of the problem, but is also leads to further decline. This paper looks at what strategies have been used in rural areas to revitalize the local economies, particularly as it relates to the areas of tourism and historic resources.

The goal is to review the operational methods and funding sources for these revitalization projects. The methodology will be case studies of three rural California cities that have utilized Main Street Programs in their downtown areas. An attempt will be made to determine what strategies lead to long-term, sustainable success for rural revitalization projects. From these case studies, there will be a search for best practices, an analysis of whether long-term sustainable vitality is possible, and what funding sources have proven most effective to achieve success.

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