A Strategy for Our Farms, Forests, Freshwater, and Our Future

The Nature Conservancy’s Vision for Michigan’s Rural Prosperity

June 3, 2026

PSC partnered with The Nature Conservancy to research the barriers holding back rural Michigan communities and identify policy solutions at the intersection of economic resilience and natural resource stewardship. Drawing on expert interviews, a 50-state policy scan, and a survey of over 1,000 Michigan voters, PSC delivered recommendations connecting the health of Michigan’s lands and waters to the prosperity of the communities that depend on them.

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Key Findings

PSC’s research revealed five key barriers to rural prosperity and healthy natural resources in Michigan, including insufficient investment in natural resource management; limited local government capacity and funding; aging water and sewer systems; an aging population and youth out-migration; and rural poverty and income inequality. PSC analyzed programs and policies across Michigan and eight peer states, reviewed a statewide survey of 1,021 registered voters, and identified initiatives with the strongest track record of advancing rural prosperity. This research informed four implementation recommendations for policy solutions that meaningfully address barriers to rural prosperity while prioritizing the sustainable, long-term management of Michigan’s natural resources.

Establish a gubernatorial or legislative commission to identify long-term funding solutions for natural resource management and the growing demands on working lands, parks, and natural areas.
Modify the Office of Rural Prosperity’s structure and increase its funding so it can build capacity to support local rural communities and their governments and serve as a data clearinghouse for accurate, timely information about Michigan’s natural resources and rural communities.
Build and fund new a financial toolbox that delivers long-term, sustainable funding for conservation and rural development projects.
Adopt a unified, state-level rural development strategy that integrates land use planning, economic development, and natural resource management to help the state become less reactive and more focused on addressing long-term challenges.

For more details on the four recommendations listed above and other insights from this work, download the report.