A new organization is working to ensure rural Wisconsin thrives. The Rural Policy Institute (RPI) was formed in July 2024 as a nonprofit, non-partisan coalition of agricultural and rural organizations. Its goal is to research and develop policies that promote generational prosperity in rural communities.
“Rural Wisconsin has unique challenges, and we’re here to help policymakers understand those,” said Bob Welch, RPI’s executive director. “We’re not an advocacy group, but we provide valuable research so informed decisions can be made.”
RPI’s recent study revealed new insights about rural areas. Traditionally, the U.S. Census Bureau classified rural communities by population size. However, RPI uses population density to better define rural, suburban, and urban areas.
“This method shows that many small towns once seen as rural are actually suburban,” Welch explained. “Meanwhile, larger communities surrounded by farmland remain rural in culture and lifestyle.”
For example, the study classified Rhinelander as “rural adjacent,” even though its population density closely matches New Berlin’s. While similar in density, Rhinelander is surrounded by rural townships, unlike New Berlin, which sits within a metro area.
“Our findings show Wisconsin is still a strong rural state,” Welch added. “Contrary to common belief, people are not leaving rural areas. In fact, rural growth has accelerated since the pandemic.”
Welch emphasized that rural leaders have welcomed the study. “Many legislators realized their districts were more rural than they thought,” he said. “That knowledge helps them understand their constituents better.”
The Rural Policy Institute has already drawn interest from a variety of groups. Welch shared that county associations, educators, and community leaders have all expressed their desire to get involved.
