Lincoln University Awarded $725,669 National Science Foundation Grant for Project Strengthening Rural Resilience

Nearly one in five Americans lives in a rural community - regions that cover more than 90% of the nation's land and supply 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 (pictured), will examine the social and economic dynamics of rural life and develop strategies to strengthen resilience and long-term prosperity for rural residents and businesses. The project will run from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2029.

"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."

About 20% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas, which cover more than 90% of the nation's land and provide essential resources such as water, food, energy and recreation. Despite their significance, rural communities often face limited research attention.

"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. The project also aims to produce publications, community reports and practical tools that can be used by extension specialists, local organizations and policymakers.

The grant highlights Lincoln University's dedication to research that addresses critical societal challenges and provides evidence-based solutions to strengthen communities across the nation.