“It is in the best interests of the citizens of the State of Louisiana to engage in a centralized and coordinated effort to further revitalization of rural Louisiana to be more productive, sustainable, healthy, attractive places to live,” Gov. John Bel Edwards proclaimed in establishing the Governor’s Advisory Council on Rural Revitalization in 2020. Two years later, the benefits of that sustained, multi-disciplinary effort were apparent as the state logged 20 rural economic development projects totaling $1.5 billion in combined capital investment and creating more than 1,600 new direct and indirect jobs. Meanwhile, new federal funding earmarked for underserved communities began flowing into rural Louisiana as well, laying the groundwork for transformative change in the years to come.