ONE MONTANA: A RURAL-URBAN PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY

One Montana is a University System-wide effort to build and sustain connections between urban and rural Montanans. It serves as a national model in our country’s pursuit of sustainability.

The potential for sustainability in our country is jeopardized by a dramatically growing disconnect between its rural and urban communities. (Brookings Institution, “Rural-Urban Independence: Why Metropolitan and Rural America Need Each Other,” November 2007). Rural communities are increasingly at risk due to lack of technology, capital, political influence, health care, educational resources, and even population. Urban communities are at risk because of their dependence on rural areas for the majority of their food supply, energy resources, open space, and a host of other natural resources. And, yet, no matter where we live, we all share common needs and aspirations for a sustainable future.

Using Montana as a national model, the solution is to develop a strong and vibrant rural-urban partnership – a new integrated community vision that emphasizes interconnection, common purpose, sustainability, and stewardship. This requires a new paradigm of thinking where we work together to connect across political, economic, social and geographic boundaries to address the issues facing our state and our country regarding sustainability.

Check out our NEW video for "One Montana" on YouTube!

UPDATED! View the PowerPoint presentation: "One Montana: A Rural-Urban Partnership for Sustainability in the 21st Century" (PPT 9MB) To download the free PowerPoint viewer, click here.

To learn about what Oregon is doing on this topic: Oregon's "UR Connected" (PDF 52KB)