Introduction

Discussion and debate about the future of rural and small town places within developed economies have focused upon the need to create and support more sustainable economies and more resilient communities (Brown and Schafft, 2011; Halseth et al., 2010; Halseth and Ryser, 2018; Markey et al., 2012; OECD, 2010, 2014). In study after study, it is clear that rural and small town places have a promising future in the new global economy, but it is equally clear that poor public and private-sector policy choices, and the application of outdated program and funding solutions, are not supporting this transition to more sustainable economies and resilient communities. As a complement to the literatures on rural and small town transformation, this book devotes its attention to the delivery of needed human services and the infrastructure to support those services.