12 



than population growth in nonmetropolitan areas removed from the immediate 

 proximity of SMSA's. 



A final point involves the notion that nonmetropolitan population 

 growth may be viewed as a unidimensional phenomenon indicating a national 

 pattern of rural renaissance. This is clearly unwarranted in the case of 

 suburbanization of nonmetropolitan areas adjacent to SMSA's. It is also an 

 overstatement in the case of nonmetropolitan areas not adjacent to SMSA's 

 if rural renaissance means a return to farming activities. Our previous 

 analysis has shown that nonfarm employment activities predominate among 

 new migrants to remote nonmetropolitan areas. A revival of the traditional 

 rural farm way of life does not appear to be a major force behind the 

 recent migration turnaround, but rather the emergence of a new, nonfarm 

 definition of nonmetropolitan lifestyles is responsible for fundamental 

 changes in the residential location of our nation's people. 



POLICY CONSIDERATIONS 



In order to ensure that the population reversal does not have major 

 deleterious effects on the stability and integrity of local nonmetropolitan 

 governments, efforts must be made to strengthen and diversify the rural 

 economy of the region. Great strides must be made in attempting to in- 

 crease the opportunity structures in this area (so as to better utilize the 

 existent manpower as well as future labor force potentials) by attracting 

 large scale private investment. Similarly, governmental (local, state, 

 and federal) expenditures which have long term economic development poten- 

 tial must be encouraged. 



Every effort must be niade to monitor investment and regulatory 

 policies to prevent adverse effects on rural areas. One way to accomplish 

 this is to engage in multi-purpose planning. For example, state and local 

 governments should be encouraged to focus efforts on placing labor intens- 

 ive industries in unemployment areas. At the same time, improvements in 

 the existent labor force must be made by expanding programs which provide 

 appropriate education and job training skills. Attention must be given to 

 all segments of the local population, providing rural residents maximum 

 choice and opportunity for human development. Strict enactment of statutes 

 which call for equal opportunity and affirmative action are necessary if 

 true increments in nonmetropolitan opportunity structures are to come 

 about. Programs which affect the handicapped, the low income, the elderly 

 and the underemployed, as well as the unemployed, must be incorporated into 

 major resource allocation decisions. Every effort must be made to ensure 

 that all nonmetropolitan residents share and benefit in future economic 

 opportunity policies. By expanding programs which provide education and 

 job training skills in areas of poverty, the ability of nonmetropolitan 

 residents to secure a better and more fulfilling lifestyle should be 

 vastly improved. 



Efforts must be made to provide adequate housing for all by encourag- 

 ing efforts to expand opportunities for home ownership as well as equal 

 opportunity for housing. Attention must be given to establishing programs 

 which subsidize or reduce the cost of housing, making it available for all 

 nonmetropolitan residents. 



The nonmetropolitan Northeast is marked by the preponderance of small 

 localities and the absence of available transportation linkages between 

 them. Mass public transportation is needed so as to interconnect these 

 communities and their concomitant services. Further, such transportation 

 facilities would encourage the elderly, handicapped and low income people 



