Rural Health and
Economic Development
Alison Reum
Assistant Extension Professor
University of Kentucky
What I do
Sustainable economic development in rural
communities
Entrepreneurship
Business Retention
Small Business Recruitment
Rural health care
My extension program has both short term
and long term goals.
Entrepreneurship
Goal 1(Short-term)
Secure funding for “Supercoaching Workshop”,
a component of the Kentucky Entrepreneur
Coaches Institute
Goal 2 (Long-term)
Help provide networks for both the coaches and
entrepreneurs.
Business Retention
Focus on the existing “goods”
Work with current small businesses to ensure
they can continue to be successful.
Enhance the opportunities for employees
Business Recruitment
Business recruitment should be a secondary
goal behind retention
Recruit the “right” business
Stop chasing the big fish who is only passing
through
Find the businesses that will promote
sustainable economic growth and enhance
the lifestyle of all members of the
community.
What firms look for
Ranking Attribute
1 High speed internet accessibility
2 Availability of quality health care
3 Favorable local tax rate and workers compensation rate
4 Quality education system
5 Ease of attracting skilled workers
Rural Health Scenario
The key to the quality of life in any area relies on quality
and affordable health care.
Two benefits from quality local health care
a) The health sector itself is a large driver for economic development.
Typically is the largest employer in a rural area.
b) Healthy workers are more productive
Troubling statistics
18.1% population no insurance (14% Nationwide Median)
Median BMI 24.5 (22.0 Nationwide Median)
Percent of overweight children
2-5 years old, by county, 2002
0 - < 12
12 - < 17
17 - < 22
22+
No Data
Rural Health Works Program
The purpose of Rural Health Works is to provide a process by which
community residents can evaluate their health system.
What is Rural Health Works?
Rural Health Works started in 1998 and is a partnership among the
involved states, the federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Dept. of Health
and Human Services, USDA Cooperative Extension Service, and Rural
Policy Research Institute. Five pilot states led the initial start-up of the
program: Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. A
steering committee consisting of professionals from the five pilot states and
associated national organizations direct the project.
RHW responsibilities
Rural Health Works:
Teaches state professionals how to conduct
and present economic impact studies,
Demonstrates how the impact studies can be
used in a community assessment process,
and
Provides budget tools which can be used to
access and expand health services.
Some RHW projects
Value of health care sector to the economy
Economic impact of a proposed hospital, clinic,
physician
Feasibility study to determine the success of new
infrastructure
Market demand reports
Community surveys and directories
My plan…
Immediately address health care needs, work with health
care networks and extension agents to determine priority
areas
Work with local leaders to recruit small businesses, not
necessarily the next Toyota
Work with local leaders to make good objective decisions
given the community’s tangibles and intangibles.
Thinking more long term…
Housing issues (mobile homes, lack of quality and affordable
housing)
Human capital (education, job training, etc.)