2026 Rural Summit

Join us at the Rural Summit, which brings together rural champions every spring to learn about our rural communities and explore what we can do to make a difference. This year’s summit will focus on infrastructure – needs, successes, and the future. The summit offers a unique opportunity for local, state, and national leaders to come together in conversation and celebration to engage in a thoughtful, intentional dialogue about how to move North Carolina forward.

The 2026 Rural Summit will focus on three key areas:

• Traditional Infrastructure: Water, wastewater, land use planning and aging infrastructure
• Infrastructure for the Future: Energy grid modernization and broadband expansion
• Infrastructure for Economic Development: Housing development, revitalization of downtown areas and the role of artificial intelligence