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."