WHAT WE HEARD
The Rural Policy Institute (RPI) convened the first RPI Summit on March 17-18, 2026, at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. We brought together 87 rural partners from across the state, representing local, state, federal, and Tribal governments; philanthropy; nonprofits; universities; and businesses.
Facilitators helped to guide small group discussions and take notes at each table. As we process the notes and have additional conversations, some themes have emerged. Here’s what we heard partners say:
- Focus on solutions.
- Collaborate with and leverage the expertise of existing rural players.
- Help us look across all of our priorities and identify common ground.
- Convene a neutral, apolitical space so that we can have candid discussions and work through our differences.
- Lift up rural success stories, including projects that highlight rural-urban interdependence.
- Explore solutions that could be supported legislatively, by philanthropy, or by the private sector.
OUR NEXT STEPS
RPI is committed to continuing to explore our role and how we can best support rural policy.
We’re building a new space from the ground up and want to shape this together.
RPI will pilot a process for finding common ground by:
- Gathering Research: We’ll collect data and information from rural partners.
- Convening: We’ll set a neutral table and facilitate conversations among rural partners.
- Identifying solutions: We’ll support rural partners in identifying actionable solutions.
- Sharing stories: We’ll amplify rural success stories.
A pilot will allow us to test and fine-tune this process in collaboration with rural partners. We’ll start by piloting this process in the context of rural readiness, or the preparedness of rural communities to build partnerships, take action, and unlock resources for locally-led projects.
Why rural readiness? Rural leaders have identified limited staff capacity, match requirements, and complex applications as foundational barriers preventing rural communities from accessing resources. Without support for capacity building in rural communities, such as planning, grant writing, and navigating resources, this gap can be a barrier to any rural project getting off the ground. Stay tuned for more information about this pilot.
HOW TO ENGAGE
Here's how you can get involved:
- Let us know who else should be engaged.
- Sign up up for our email list to get updates on our work and opportunities to engage.
Let's continue building RPI together.
PHOTOS
EVENT OVERVIEW
Are you passionate about building a prosperous future for Wisconsin's rural communities? Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and create a shared vision for rural Wisconsin?
The first Rural Policy Institute Summit will be held March 17-18, 2026 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. We are grateful to our host, the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
The RPI Summit will bring rural partners together to explore how we can collaborate to shape rural policy in Wisconsin. We are inviting movers and shakers who are living and working in rural communities across Wisconsin to join us. We look forward to welcoming rural partners from organizations, businesses, local, state, federal, and Tribal government, and philanthropy.
Not just an opportunity to engage, collaborate, and learn, the RPI Summit is the start of a movement to work together across sectors and collectively create a strong future for rural Wisconsin. The RPI Summit will be participatory, so we hope you will come ready to share ideas and success stories in small group discussions.
AGENDA
March 17, 2026
Location:
CREATE Portage County
300 Maria Dr., Suite B
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Schedule:
5-7 pm | Welcome reception
March 18, 2026
Location:
Alumni Room, Dreyfus University Center
UW-Stevens Point
1015 Reserve Street
Stevens Point, WI
Schedule:
8:30 | Registration
9:00 | Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:30 | Table Discussion: Get to Know Each Other
9:45 | Panel: Sharing Success Stories from Rural Wisconsin
10:30 | Table Discussion: Sharing Success Stories from Rural Wisconsin
11:45 | Lunch
12:45 | Panel: Advocating for Rural Wisconsin
1:00 | Table Discussion: Advocating for Rural Wisconsin
2:30 | Closing and Call to Action
4 pm | Summit Ends
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS
ABOUT RURAL POLICY INSTITUTE
The Rural Policy Institute (RPI) is a nonpartisan, grassroots, cross-sector coalition that is mobilizing a unified voice for rural Wisconsin. Three groups with deep roots in rural Wisconsin came together to establish RPI: Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Wisconsin Towns Association, and Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, RPI’s mission is to empower Wisconsin’s rural communities by supporting rigorous research, fostering informed dialogue, and educating policymakers about solutions that drive generational growth and prosperity in our rural areas. RPI is committed to addressing the unique challenges and opportunities that our rural regions face, ensuring that they are heard, understood, and well-supported in the policymaking process.