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The Ready.gov website has a number of resources to help your community conduct disaster and emergency planning. A variety of handouts, guides, public service announcements, and a link to the FEMA app are all available through the website. Even if you are not in the midst of an emergency, having these helpful items downloaded, customized, and stored in an easily accessible location will save time in the event of a disaster.

Each year, Rural Resurrection typically provides at least a post or two related to preparing for disasters during the month of September. Here are a few links to previous National Preparedness Month posts:

• Nine Meals from Anarchy
• Remembering the Great Peshtigo Fire
• Emergency Action Plans for Community Events
• Get Ready to Apply for Disaster Assistance
• Tabletop Exercises Help with Disaster Preparedness
• Do you have an Emergency Archive?
• Communication is Key When Preparing for Disasters

Read up on disaster preparedness now so that you’ll be prepared for when disaster strikes. There’s a saying, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.” Preparing now will help your community take that punch and recover.

The post National Preparedness Month 2026 appeared first on Rural Resurrection.

Over those 400 posts we have talked about a wide range of subjects from housing to the impact of RAGBRAI. We’ve started National Implementation Month, a month solely dedicated to implementing plans to make your community better. We’ve also talked about Star Communities and Destination Towns.

What Happened in the Past 100 Posts?

The past 100 posts were impactful and some of the best articles yet. We were able to check out the Star Communities of Chillicothe, Missouri, and Glencoe, Minnesota. The Destination Towns category really took off as well with the Missouri towns of Blackwater, Augusta, Arrow Rock, and Rocheport. There was also a post that game some clarification of the intent of Destination Towns.

Adaptive reuse continued to be a popular subject with a post about the creative reuse of a former Shopko in Wisconsin. There were also posts about Carnegie Libraries, stoic ageless structures that still have a prominent place in many rural communities. We also stumbled across the Summit Center in Bancroft, Iowa, while on RAGBRAI. This former school is finding new life and shows great potential for the future.

Over the past 100 posts we also added to a community’s tool kit through posts about Tax Increment Financing (TIF), small business incubators, strategic planning, crowdfunding, being “shovel ready”, and creating a National Register Historic District.

The Next 400 Posts?

What do you want to see in the next 400 posts? Do you want to see more of certain types of posts? Is there something new that can or has affected rural communities that should be addressed here?

Recently I’ve been trying out a new venture with this blog. I’m been dabbling in YouTube. As I’ve said, I have a face for radio and a voice for blogging. There’s also quite a bit of editing involved that I’m not that efficient at yet. It does bring an additional visual element and an additional possible viewer base. So let me know what you think about what’s been created so far and if you want to see more YouTube videos.

If you like this blog please share it with others. Join the Facebook page or follow me on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Like and subscribe to my YouTube channel as well.

So here’s to the first 400 posts and hopes many more. As always, when it comes to your community, don’t work to just survive, thrive!

The post 400 Posts! appeared first on Rural Resurrection.

Provided below is a list of the postings on Rural Resurrection about Branding. When new posts on this subject are added to the blog, this post will be updated and re-published later in the week.

Why Branding?

Communities are quickly realizing the importance of branding. Does your community need to go through a re-branding?

Branding for Communities: Signage

For many communities, signage is a point of frustration. But that shouldn’t keep your community from using it to express your brand.

Branding for Communities: Affordable Implementation

Implementation is a key step to any branding process. But it doesn’t have to be costly to have an impact on your residents and visitors.

Branded Trucks

Branding for Communities: Flags

Flags can be very polarizing pieces of fabric. But they are an important part of your community’s branding.

The Importance of an Effective Wayfinding System

An effective wayfinding system is much more than directions to a defined location. It helps to develop a sense of community.

Hiring a Branding Consultant for Your City

Spending the time and effort to create the right brand is so necessary. So is picking the right branding consultant. Here’s how to do it.

Book Review: The Civic Brand by Ryan Short

A book review of “The Civic Brand by Ryan Short” by John C. Shepard, the Vice-Chair of Communications for APA’s STaR Division.

Better Application Forms

Governments need to make our application forms better. Not just for our city’s residents, but for the staff’s use as well.

Sister Cities, It’s for Small Towns Too

Some may believe that having a sister cities program is something regulated to larger communities. But smaller towns can benefit from having a sister city as well.

Once again, keep an eye out for more articles in this series as there are a number of other posts in the hopper like these.

The post Branding for Communities: Links to Stories appeared first on Rural Resurrection.

Sister cities are often thought of as ceremonial gestures, a handshake and a signpost. But for communities clawing for relevance, growth, or just a simple understanding of their community’s heritage, these partnerships can be powerful tools. They are an invitation to share ideas, expand opportunities, and remind ourselves that rural innovation doesn’t happen in isolation.

What is a Sister City?

Many of us have heard of a “sister city”, but what is it really?

Generally, a sister city is a formalized partnership between two cities that promotes the cultural, diplomatic, or other ties the two communities have in common. Although not always true, sister cities are typically from different countries, providing a bond between communities that are geographically far apart but have many similarities. The agreements between the cities involved help the exchange of people, ideas, and resources that help to foster cultural and economic growth for both communities.

Benefits of Having a Sister City

Having a sister city relationship gives a community a front-row seat to another community’s past. You have a direct connection to that community’s experiences and what they have learned. Many of your questions can be answered:

• How did they revitalize downtown?
• What worked for their tourism strategy?
• How did they revitalize their downtown?
• How did they attract new families or support local entrepreneurs?

Your exchanges between you and your sister community can be mutually beneficial. Together, you can share the pitfalls and what has worked on a variety of topics like:

• Cultural exchange and community pride
• Educational opportunities
• Economic development and business opportunities
• Tourism promotion
• Sharing solutions to common problems
• Building future leaders
• Grant and funding opportunities
• Strengthening a community’s global network

Challenges facing rural communities are often shared. Through your connection with your sister community, potential solutions to the problems of aging populations, talent drain, disinvestment in the downtown, and housing can be conceived. Sometimes the most transformative idea comes from a town several states away, or halfway around the world.

Some Examples of Communities with Sister Cities

Cole Camp, Missouri

One of the first communities that I visited on my annual road trip this past summer was Cole Camp, Missouri. This small community of just 1,172 residents had a clear German feel as you walked though the community’s downtown. Places like Handel Haus and the German Table are obvious reminders of the community’s heritage.

However, what really tells the story is the Immigrant Memorial just east of downtown. Not your typical veteran’s memorial, the Immigrant Memorial celebrates those first settlers to the area with German roots. Many of the migrants to this area came from the northern German province of Lower Saxony (Hanover). Yet, that’s not the part of Germany that Cole Camp’s sister city comes from. Elmsdorf rests roughly 38km west of Cologne, near the border with Belgium.

Cole Camp’s sister city, Elmsdorf, Germany is celebrating its 1,000th birthday in 2024

Washington, MO

Another community that I visited on that road trip was Washington. Though Washington will forever be known in my head as the community where I was stranded when my truck broke down, it’s a great town along the banks of the Missouri River.

Washington’s sister city is Marbach am Neckar, a city of about 16,000 residents north of Stuttgart, Germany. The city is situated along the Neckar River, a major tributary of the Rhine, one of the commonalities between these two communities. Washington’s website has a wealth of images and links to more information about its sister city. It is one of the better sister city pages I have seen for a small town.

Lindsborg, KS

Looking back to my 2024 road trip, one of my main targets was Lindsborg, Kansas. Widely known in Kansas as “Little Sweden USA”, Lindsborg emanates the Swedish heritage of its founders in nearly every aspect of the community.

In addition to the word “Valkommen” and the Dala Horse on the community’s entrance sign, Lindsborg proudly displays the name of its sister city as well. Munkfors is a town of just over 3,000 just north of Karlstad in southern Sweden. Like Washington, Lindsborg has committed a page on its tourism page to the sister city partnership with Munkfors.

Steps to Obtain a Sister City

For communities interested in taking those first steps toward creating a sister city partnership, the process isn’t as daunting as it may seem. It doesn’t require a massive budget or someone in your community with existing connections to the motherland. It just requires leadership, dedication, and a desire to build relationships with others…nearby or across the world.

Here are some simplified steps toward creating a kinship with a sister community. It is not a definitive path. But it provides a rough path to look down as you start the journey:

1. Create a Team

Creating a successful partnership with a community halfway across the world is no simple task. It depends on many people carrying the load. Hence, it is important to form a committee to take a deeper look into the work necessary and decide who shoulders each task along the way. Typically made up of a wide cross-section of civic leaders, educators, business owners, and residents who care about the community’s future, they need to meet on a regular basis throughout the process.

2. Set Your Goals

Just acquiring a sister city should not be your goal. A sister city program will not survive if you don’t have goals related to that objective. Do you want to expand on the cultural heritage of your community? How about learning from another town’s economic development strategies? Maybe the goal is to strengthen tourism. Clear goals help you find the right partner, in the U.S. or across the world.

3. Connect with Sister Cities International or other Regional Networks

Next, immerse yourself in Sister Cities International. This organization helps match towns with potential partners that share similarities in size, industries, heritage and/or aspirations. They aren’t the only resource though. Some regions also create local or state-level sister city networks to help rural towns find the right fit.

4. Start the Discussion

Once you find a community that is the right fit, start the conversation. Through emails, phone conversations, or virtual meetings you can get a better feeling for the community you are connecting to. This is a great time to share basic information about your community, including community profiles, photo galleries, videos, and more. But don’t overwhelm your potential sister city, build the relationship at a pace that works for both communities.

5. Formalize the Relationship and Make Future Plans

Once both communities decide they are a good match for each other, it is good to formalize the relationship with a simple agreement or memorandum. An agreement makes the partnership official and opens up the possibility for joint projects, exchanges or funding opportunities. With an agreement in place, you can start conceiving the next steps. Relatively simple activities can build momentum. These can include:

• Passing a proclamation proclaiming the relationship
• Creating student pen-pal program
• Developing a cultural exchange exhibit
• Conducting a virtual town hall meeting
• Sharing economic development ideas
• Co-hosting a community event online

Celebrate Your Connection

Once you have a sister city connection, it is important to celebrate that relationship. Cultural exchange programs, student visits, and cross-community events allow towns to stand a little taller and say, “This is who we are.”

Having a sister city is something to be proud of. Celebrate it and learn from each other. It is a beneficial connection that can have a positive impact on both communities!

The post Sister Cities, It’s for Small Towns Too appeared first on Rural Resurrection.

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Application forms are typically the first step in government actions initiated by residents or businesses. Platting, zoning, vendors, and licenses are all examples of actions for which cities accept application forms. Yet many of these applications are archaic at best. Many applications are simply scans of forms created long ago using a typewriter. Eventually, the scans become scans of scans as the original copy gets used or lost. They become blurry and hard to read.

Additionally, they become static based on a moment in time from long ago. Often, they were once effective for the regulations in place at the time they were created, but are no longer effective for the regulations or processes you have in place today.

Make it Fillable

Your community can utilize a variety of software packages to develop the form. I’ve seen them drafted with word processing platforms, spreadsheets, or even publisher programs. But it isn’t the software that is important in creating the right application form, it is the final format that is key. Having a fillable PDF is a game-changer. By now, most of us have utilized a fillable PDF in one way or another. Many businesses have adopted fillable PDFs for a number of reasons:

• The use of fillable PDFs can eliminate the need for printing, manual filling, and scanning. This helps to reduce paper and printing costs.
• Users of fillable PDFs can type directly into forms, streamlining data collection and minimizing typos associated with manual entry.
• Fillable PDFs can also simplify application processing and review. Completed forms can be easily saved digitally and easily shared with other departments.
• Most fillable PDFs are intuitive to use and can be opened and filled out on most devices and platforms.

The top reason, in my eyes, is legibility. We’ve all struggled with processing application forms that are poorly filled out. We waste precious time attempting to decipher what is written, as handwriting varies greatly from one person to the next.

Reflect Your Brand

Creating a new form is an ideal time to incorporate your brand as well. Expressing your brand effectively is important, no matter the medium it is printed on. Too often, the brand is reduced to a sticker on the side of a truck. Include your brand on your application forms as well.

Checking All the Boxes

Another aspect that many application forms overlook is the use of checklists. This is especially true with older forms. Checklists are essential for ensuring that complete applications are submitted accurately and on time. Many forms provide lists of what is needed in paragraph form or direct users to the regulations for guidance on the required information. However, a list with checkboxes often yields better results, especially for those who need the checkboxes to provide a sense of organization.

Provided below are examples of checklists that may be used for various municipal forms. Check them out:

City of Edina, MN: Residential Addition

City of Yutan, NE: Commercial Industrial Building Permit Application

Roosevelt City, UT: Business License Application and Checklist

City of La Vista, NE: Design Review Application

Set Aside Time

One of the biggest reasons why applications are not updated is complacency. We are all strapped for time, so creating something new to replace something that currently gets you by is pushed down the priority list. Also, there often isn’t much in the way of feedback on forms, as many applicants use the form once a year or even once in their lifetime. Their frustration with the form is contained by their lack of future use.

However, city staff read (or attempt to read) submitted application forms on a regular basis. The task may feel daunting and time-consuming when contemplated. But you need to make time. It will save you time and frustration in the long term.

The post Better Application Forms appeared first on Rural Resurrection.

Things we love we want to protect, but everything changes. We can’t live by exclusion. We have a responsibility to the places we live and the power to make them better.

Ryan Short at CivicBrand is not a planner by training. He’s taken a roundabout journey. He started off doing branding and design work for a general audience. Ryan did have several friends who were architects, planners, engineers—people creating things that would be around in a hundred years. Place impacts people’s health and happiness—things which shape people’s lives. He recognized the power of what they were working on.

Ryan also recognized that he could add value from his experience in community engagement. Not replicating or replacing the typical planning process; but taking it further.

“We seem to lose sight of the people,” Ryan related in a phone conversation on a cold December day from his small town in the mountains of Colorado. In the fall of 2025, Ryan Short published a new book, titled The Civic Brand: The Power & Responsibility of Place.

In four parts, he discusses:

1. The Power of Place
2. Anatomy of a Brand
3. Public Engagement
4. Brand in Action

He writes, “I’m talking about place branding that, when done right, becomes the connective tissue that gives communities a common direction that guides every new policy, project, and decision so that they add up to something bigger.” Sounds like planning to me.

The Strong Towns connection

Charles Marohn, founder of Strong Towns, wrote a foreword from the book. As Ryan worked on more place-based branding, he got to reading the Strong Towns blog—why are cities built like they are? How do they work? After working on some community engagement projects together, Marohn and Short got to talking about how to do things better. “We both think there’s a better way.”

There are people coming at “place” from all different ways. Yet as Charles writes, “This book lays out a compelling argument: that what’s missing from so many of our communities is not funding or planning or even leadership; it’s a shared sense of identity.”

How do we do better at engagement?

I asked him about how we can be better at creating a culture of engagement. He replied, as consultants, we can work more like a trainer—we can jump start process, but the local community need to cultivate the culture.

Local planners can also take this approach, if they are brave. Train your Planning Commissioners and your governing body; reach out to other staff and community volunteers about what it is we all do.

In the middle of the book, Ryan discusses the idea of “the illusion of consensus.” He writes:

“Shifting our focus to consent rather than consensus, can be a simple but impactful way to ensure that people are heard, that concerns are addressed as best as possible, and that even those that may not fully agree—or may be on the losing side of a vote—can still see their voice considered in the ultimate decisions.”

We are constantly working at doing better. As Ryan suggests, it’s like therapy for an entire community. Like therapy, it’s difficult to tell when we’re done.

Be Honest About Where You Are

Self-confidence is huge. There’s a big gap between “we’ll take anything” to “exclusive resort town”. The planning process is really about finding better ways to Be Your Best Self. He writes, “Cities need to be honest about where they are.” As for “The Civic Brand,” branding also needs to be re-branded— it needs to be real as well.

We can also do better with our placemaking. Really, it is a form of engagement, a way of getting people to vote with their feet about a place. It’s also one of those things where we can try one thing, see how it works, then try something else. Incremental improvement in the civic brand.

“With small towns, things don’t have to be these big master plans.” Ryan said as we wrapped up our conversation. “A single coffee shop in a small town can change the identity and vibe… Too often we try to think too much.”

What would he suggest we do about it? “Like Chuck says, do the next small thing. Don’t underestimate small wins.”

Above all, remember to have fun. Sounds like a good idea to me.

The post Book Review: The Civic Brand by Ryan Short appeared first on Rural Resurrection.

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The survey is a collaborative initiative of SaveYour.Town and SmallBizSurvival.com and is conducted every other year. Although the survey started in the United States and Canada, it has received additional responses from countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand! Since 2015, more than 2,200 people have contributed their perspectives.

When the survey closes, rural development experts Becky McCray and Deb Brown (seriously, check out SaveYour.Town) analyze the survey findings and publish the results through reports, infographics, presentations, and articles on both websites.

Past Surveys

One of the biggest challenges facing rural leaders is separating assumptions from reality. Too often, decisions are based on anecdotes, outdated perceptions, or what someone believes is happening in small towns. The Survey of Rural Challenges, provides something far more valuable, a decade of insights gathered directly from the people who live, work, volunteer, and own businesses in rural communities.

If you’re serious about strengthening your community, the survey results from 2015 through 2025 deserve a place on your reading list. They reveal how some challenges, such as workforce shortages and downtown decline, have remained persistent through the years. While others issues, including housing, childcare, and support for small businesses, have emerged as pressing concerns over the past decade. The trends documented over ten years are compelling proof of the importance of listening to rural voices.

Take the Survey Now!

So what are you waiting for? Now is the time to provide valuable input:

Take the survey now!

The post Survey of Rural Challenges appeared first on Rural Resurrection.