The opening of a child care center attracts little notice in a city or suburb. In rural Kansas, it’s cause for celebration. The focus on young families, and the hope that represents, is remarkably rare in small towns fighting for survival against forces largely beyond their control. No matter how scarce, said Iowa State University social scientist Dave Peters, it’s an essential ingredient in what he and his research team refer to as a “shrink smart” town. A place residents remain committed to improving even as it gets smaller. “Shrink smart communities are those that saw faster than average declines in population but also had above-average gains in quality of life,” Peters said. Small, rural communities can do little to reverse decades-long population trends, Peters said. But they can improve the quality of life for the people who stay.
(Read more: KCUR)