Alliance for Rural Impact

Our Mission

The Alliance for Rural Impact mission is to assist rural communities in becoming more competitive by delivering innovative and meaningful technical assistance supported by investment to ensure every community has the opportunity to prosper.

The Alliance for Rural Impact (ARI) is a nonprofit organization headquartered in the heart of the Mississippi Delta region, a vast area of our nation that has endured years of persistent poverty, out-migration, and economic distress. It is here ARI began its mission to provide community and economic development resources to the communities that have struggled for decades, with the overarching goal of ensuring all aspects of a community have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

ARI was founded with the understanding that this would not be a typical consulting organization. Being proactive about driving projects and committing resources is critical to achieving lasting success – for both ARI and the communities it serves.

Our Values

Achievement. Rural Impact believes in getting things done. Achievement is the cornerstone of all we do. Strategic planning is only useful if it results in successful implementation. Capacity building can only be sustained with a steady flow of important projects. Achievement – for Rural Impact – goes beyond just crossing tasks off of a list. It’s the idea of a community working together to accomplish more than they could individually and with a greater purpose in mind.

Community. For the purposes of Rural Impact, a community is defined as an organization, town, city, county, tribe or region collaborating to improve the economic conditions and overall quality of life of its citizens. Yet, there is also an intangible quality to a community that defines it more than a geographic boundary. Shared backgrounds, cultures and values create a common sense of purpose among residents and leaders. Channeling that purpose toward a collective vision is the aim of Rural Impact.

Inspiration.  Transformative change takes hard work, dedication and commitment. In order to engage people over the long term, inspiration must be built into the project at every step. The Rural Impact method empowers citizens to set and achieve goals that are important – and inspirational – to them.

Integrity. Our team of professionals has a proven track record of accomplishment and accountability. By working closely with each community, we build a strong foundation of trust through open discussions and fulfillment of our promises. Each of the communities we work with becomes our home – and we insist upon loyalty, honesty and ethical behavior from all members of our team.

Professionalism. At Rural Impact, we put the needs of our clients first. Our role is to guide the community and economic development process, providing clients not only with outstanding results, but also with an exceptional experience from beginning to end. Demonstrating a positive attitude and commitment to quality at all times creates an immeasurable positive impact on the communities we serve. 

Teamwork. No one can achieve true success alone. Building the right team is important for any organization to succeed. Our team has been established based upon the shared values of Achievement, Community, Inspiration, Integrity and Professionalism. From our board of directors, to our core group of founding partners, to our collaborating organizations, we are committed to our common goals, an environment of open communication, and continuous support for our clients and each other.