NSF Awards Lincoln University of Missouri $725K to Research Critical Challenges Facing Rural Communities
JEFFERSON CITY, MO — Nearly one in five Americans lives in a rural community, regions covering more than 90% of the nation’s land and supplying essential resources such as food, water, and energy. Yet despite their importance, rural communities often struggle with labor shortages, shrinking populations, and limited research attention. To help address these critical challenges, Lincoln University of Missouri has been awarded a $725,669 grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation for its project, Excellence in Research: Translational Approaches to Strengthening Rural Resilience.
The four-year initiative, led by principal investigator Dr. Ye Su, will analyze the social and economic dynamics of rural life to equip policymakers, community leaders, and stakeholders with insights for targeted solutions that address the unique needs of rural areas. Its ultimate aim is to strengthen resilience and long-term prosperity for rural residents and businesses.
“The well-being of rural populations is critical for the country’s environment, natural conservation and overall economy,” Su said. “Our research seeks to contribute significantly to understanding rural economic dynamics and promote rural communities’ long-term resilience and prosperity.”
The NSF funding will support interviews and surveys in rural communities, stakeholder engagement sessions, advanced data analysis and the development of econometric models.
“This support enables our team to deepen our research on rural residents and businesses, applying evidence-based strategies to address the unique challenges, such as labor shortages and declining populations, faced by rural communities, and improve their resilience and prosperity,” Su said. “We are deeply grateful for this investment to further our research.”
The project also aims to produce publications, community reports and practical tools that can be used by extension specialists, local organizations and policymakers. The research project runs from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2029.
