Rural Summit

June 10, 2026 in Townsend MT

Image of the outline of the state of Montana with two rolling hills, a wheatfield and a sun in the sky with rays and clouds. The words Rural Summit are boldly placed at the base of the outline of Montana.

Join us for a celebration of rural Montana and
an opportunity to explore innovative and effective ways to
support the success of our small towns.

Why Attend?

Are you a funder, service provider, policy maker, or supporter of rural communities? Come for the day to hear highlights from a new “State of Rural” report for Montana, sharing from rural leaders on what works, conversations about where to go from here to take action on persistent challenges that hold rural back, and how we can all help build vital and thriving communities across our state. 

Who should attend?

People at statewide or regional organizations that work to improve the quality of life, economy, infrastructure, and sustainability of Montana’s rural communities. 

If you are concerned about rural Montana's effective economic development, strong schools, excellent healthcare, suitable housing, the presence of arts and culture, outdoor recreation, social support systems, strong local government and ample and skilled volunteers, we invite you to join us for a vibrant day of sharing and learning. 

Registration

Cost to attend will be $50 which includes morning refreshments and lunch.  Registration will open in early March.

Draft Agenda

The agenda is under development.  A general idea of the flow of the day is as follows.

8:30 Registration opens

9:00 Welcoming talks by local and statewide leaders

  • Highlights from State of Rural report
  • Panel discussion
  • Reflections from the Reimagining Rural program

Noon  Lunch

  • Rural thought leader talk
  • Roundtable discussions on issues essential to rural success
  • Identify and prioritize action items

3:30 Wrap up, next steps

4:00 Adjourn

 

Event Sponsors

This event has been made possible through support from the Wells Fargo Foundation and the Montana Community Foundation in support of the Reimagining Rural program.