The Brookings–AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity held a public field hearing on May 13 [4] at Hazard Community and Technical College in Hazard, Kentucky.

The hearing represents a bipartisan effort to identify policy solutions for economic distress in rural America. By gathering direct input from local stakeholders, the commission aims to create scalable strategies for prosperity in the country's most struggling regions.

Former Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D) and former Governor Chris Sununu (R) co-chair the commission. The group organized the event to inform their ongoing work in developing frameworks that can revitalize rural economies through targeted policy interventions.

This effort coincides with a broader trend of increased investment in the Appalachian region. Recent funding announcements indicate a push toward regional economic development. The Appalachian Regional Commission awarded $68.2 million [2] to support 65 projects [3] across the area.

Additional private sector support has also surfaced. The SECU Foundation recently provided an award of $150,000 [1] to support local initiatives. These financial injections aim to stabilize infrastructure, and expand opportunity in areas that have historically lagged behind urban centers.

The commission's presence in Hazard allows the co-chairs to witness the specific challenges facing the Kentucky workforce. The hearing focused on the intersection of economic opportunity and a civic renaissance, seeking ways to engage citizens in the rebuilding of their local economies.

“The Brookings–AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity held a public field hearing on May 13.”

The collaboration between the Brookings Institution and the American Enterprise Institute signals a rare bipartisan consensus on the urgency of rural economic decline. By combining high-level policy research with direct field engagement and significant federal and private funding, the initiative seeks to move beyond temporary subsidies toward sustainable, structural economic growth in Appalachia.