Making Rural Collaborations Stick
At Rural Pathways, we’ve seen firsthand the promise and the challenges of rural collaboration. In small towns and rural regions, the intention is almost always there. People care deeply. They show up. But they’re often doing double duty: serving on multiple boards, leading more than one initiative, or juggling day jobs alongside volunteer roles.
The result? It’s easy for even the most promising collaborations to lose steam. So how do we keep momentum going and make the most of the precious time we have together?
Today, we’re sharing a story that has shaped our thinking. It comes from North Carolina and offers practical insights into what makes collaboration not only possible, but durable.
A Catalyst for Something Bigger
Curtis Wynn, former CEO of Roanoke Electric Cooperative
In the late 1990s, Curtis Wynn became CEO of Roanoke Electric Cooperative in one of the most economically distressed regions in the country. With poverty rates well above the national average, and limited access to opportunity, Curtis believed the cooperative could be more than a utility provider; it could be a catalyst.
A newly announced federal Empowerment Zones program promised up to $40 million in funding. But going after it would require something that’s both essential and elusive: genuine collaboration across sectors and communities.
Curtis brought together people from four counties—grassroots leaders, nonprofits, local officials, and community organizations—and they met regularly to develop their application. They focused their efforts on shared concerns: healthcare, education, financial literacy, and economic development. These themes created enough direction to focus their work without limiting conversation.
And here’s what we at Rural Pathways especially appreciate: every meeting included time to share a meal.
Why This Matters for Rural Places
It’s a small but profound lesson. We’ve facilitated dozens of gatherings across rural Minnesota, and the most effective ones always create room for people to connect as people first. The truth is, collaboration doesn’t thrive in tightly packed agendas or transactional checklists. It grows in moments of trust, familiarity, and shared meals, whether that’s over potluck chili or a plate of cookies at the community center.
Especially in rural places, where time is short and roles are many, you have to be intentional about connection.
We also know that collaboration falters when there’s no clear structure or follow-through. We often help our clients design what we call a “light but firm” framework: shared goals, defined next steps, and clear communication without overburdening those already stretched thin.
When the Big Win Doesn’t Happen
After a year of work, the Roanoke coalition submitted their application, and they didn’t get the grant.
But something remarkable happened: the group kept meeting. Not because they had to. Because they wanted to. Because the relationships they built were worth continuing.
In our work, we’ve seen the same dynamic. When a group rallies around one big project, whether it’s a shared funding proposal or a new initiative, it’s tempting to view success as binary: Did we get it or not? But real success is in the infrastructure of trust and alignment you build along the way.
And over time, that kind of infrastructure pays dividends.
Today, more than two decades later, the coalition, Roanoke Chowan Partners for Progress (RCPP), is still active, and they’ve attracted far more investment and opportunity than that one grant could have provided.
So, How Do You Keep It From Fizzling Out?
From where we sit, the answer comes down to three things:
Start with relationships. Trust is your strongest asset. Build it early and nurture it often.
Create a shared rhythm. Regular, structured time together (especially with food) keeps momentum alive without overwhelming participants.
Don’t hinge success on one outcome. Whether you get the grant or not, the process is part of the payoff.
Let’s Work Together
When you treat collaboration as a long game—not a one-off campaign—it doesn’t fizzle out. It gets stronger. Want help designing a collaboration that lasts? That’s what we do. Let’s connect.
Citation: Anderson, Charity & Gilpin, Staci. (2025). Making Rural Collaborations Stick. Rural Pathways News.