Extended Abstract: How Can Professional Communicators Aid Rural Economic Development? Solidarity, Double Binds, and Constructive Dialogue in Rural Texas Communities

In this panel, we describe two community research projects supported by the IC2 Institute at the University of Texas at Austin. Drawing from an interview-based study across 6 small Texas communities, Presenters 1 and 2 address two related questions–-solidarity and contradictions–-to better understand the challenges that these communities face as they consider how to develop economically. Presenter 3 examines two communities–-in Japan and in the US state of Arkansas–-and proposes a framework for characterizing obstacles to developing a regional entrepreneurial ecosystem. All presenters examine how professional communicators can play a role in community research and development efforts.