Author

JC Shepard

@jcshepard.aicp

articles: 11
total claps: 47
top claps: 25
avg read: 2.6 min
active: 2026-01-06 → 2026-09-08

Wiki topics

ECO · Economy · General · 8 🎮 · Gaming · 3 🌐 · Web Development · 2 🚆 · Urban & Transport · 2 HIS · History · 2 📊 · Economic Policy · 2 CUL · Culture & Media · 1 📚 · Books & Reading · 1

Top tags

#small-towns ·8 #economic-development ·8 #rural-development ·4 #rural ·3 #historic-preservation ·2 #urban-planning ·2 #leadership ·1 #collaboration ·1 #great-outdoors ·1 #outdoor-recreation ·1

ECO MDA

JC JC Shepard · Small Towns, Real Ideas

Stop Chasing Smokestacks

A Practical Guide to Getting Started in Small‑Town Economic Development

May 26, 2026 · 3 min read · 25 claps #economic-development #small-towns #rural

MDA TCH

JC JC Shepard · Small Towns, Real Ideas

What I’m Reading and Listening To: A Rural America Media Starter Kit

Rural and Small Town Social Media

Jun 09, 2026 · 3 min read · 10 claps #small-towns #rural #podcast

What I’m Reading and Listening To: A Rural America Media Starter Kit

HUM ECO

JC JC Shepard · Small Towns, Real Ideas

Leaning Into What Makes You Different: Rural Heritage as a Development Tool

Every small town is unique. Where the suburbs seem to have a chain store on every corner, and big cities live in their own little worlds…

May 19, 2026 · 2 min read · 10 claps #small-towns #economic-development #cultural-heritage

Leaning Into What Makes You Different: Rural Heritage as a Development Tool

ECO SOC

JC JC Shepard · Small Towns, Real Ideas

Rural Broadband Makes Progress… at a Cost

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently reported 96.9% of Americans have access to 100/20 Mbps fixed terrestrial broadband…

Sep 08, 2026 · 3 min read · 1 claps #broadband #small-towns #rural-development

Rural Broadband Makes Progress… at a Cost

SOC AI

JC JC Shepard · Small Towns, Real Ideas

Implementation is the Watchword

Most people have a hard-wired bias for action — they may place more or less value on collaboration, or risk-taking, but they want to get…

Jan 06, 2026 · 2 min read · 1 claps #urban-planning #implementation #project-planning

ECO MDA SOC

JC JC Shepard · Small Towns, Real Ideas

Balancing the Plan and Public Participation: A Success Story

“You can’t save everybody / Everybody don’t want to be saved” –Kieran Kane

Jun 23, 2026 · 3 min read · 0 claps #urban-planning #community-engagement #small-towns

Balancing the Plan and Public Participation: A Success Story

ECO SPT TCH

JC JC Shepard · Small Towns, Real Ideas

June is Great Outdoors Month — Events, Economic Impacts, and More

June is Great Outdoors Month here in the U.S. Coordinated by the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR)…

Jun 02, 2026 · 3 min read · 0 claps #great-outdoors #outdoor-recreation #economic-development

June is Great Outdoors Month — Events, Economic Impacts, and More

ECO HUM TCH

JC JC Shepard · Small Towns, Real Ideas

Rural Renaissance Road Show: At the Data Center Crossroads

Communications, Utilities, and Energy is our theme for June 2026 on the blog. It all comes together in the work Michelle Moore is doing as…

Jun 16, 2026 · 3 min read · 0 claps #clean-energy #local-energy #data-center

Rural Renaissance Road Show: At the Data Center Crossroads

ECO HUM SPR

JC JC Shepard · Small Towns, Real Ideas

Main Street America and the Revival of Small Town Downtowns

Downtowns are enjoying a renaissance as the malls across suburban America shrivel up and get bulldozed by the dozens.

Jun 30, 2026 · 2 min read · 0 claps #small-towns #main-street #historic-preservation

Main Street America and the Revival of Small Town Downtowns

ECO MDA AI

JC JC Shepard · Small Towns, Real Ideas

Measuring Success With Some Help From Our Friends

Pullman, Washington, is the county seat of Whitman County. It’s not the largest or smallest place out there; it’s a Main Street community…

Jul 07, 2026 · 2 min read · 0 claps #small-towns #economic-indicators #economic-development

Measuring Success With Some Help From Our Friends

ECO SOC

JC JC Shepard · Small Towns, Real Ideas

Rural Policy That Works

When rural communities face big challenges, they often turn to their greatest strength: each other. Across the United States and Canada…

Jul 14, 2026 · 2 min read · 0 claps #small-towns #rural #rural-development