Programs+Policy

We take ACTION - focusing our “on the ground” efforts and public policy solutions to deliver results for states and local communities to thrive.

Innovation & Entrepreneurship The Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator powered by Heartland Forward is a 90-day program, a proven onramp to entrepreneurship, helping participants (we call them Builders) put their business ideas into action and scale.

Our goal is to inspire more people to see themselves as Builders, creating value for communities and increasing access to capital and resources.

Learn More Learn More about our Builders
Regional Competitiveness The No.1 economic issue of our time is having access to affordable high-speed internet.

The Connecting the Heartland initiative is a multi-state multi-pronged initiative to boost internet availability, affordability and adoption rates for participation in online services that are key to economic opportunity.

Our goal is to be a resource to states and communities by emphasizing affordability and adoption alongside expanding infrastructure. Our work is focused in five states – Tennessee, Illinois, Arkansas, Ohio and Oklahoma.

Learn More
Human Capital & Workforce Development Heartland Workforce Initiative

Beginning in the states of Arkansas and Louisiana, the Heartland Workforce Initiative is a platform aiming to connect job seekers with education and training as well as employers. The goal of the platform is to meet the demand for quality employment opportunities in order to expand the high-speed internet infrastructure in the heartland.

Learn More
Health & Wellness

As a result of Heartland Forward’s report entitled: Health Care Access in the Heartland: How to Improve Services in Rural America, Heartland Forward launched the Heartland Health Caucus to bring together the top public policy decision makers focused on health care in six states - Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

Read the Report Caucus Launch CHWs One Pager
Share
Tweet
Post

Over the past year Heartland Forward and Builders + Backers have used a new approach to problem solving to stimmulate entrepreneurial thinking and action across the heartland.

Our goal is to inspire more people to see themselves as Builders, creating value for communities and increasing access to capital and resources.

LEARN MORE

The Connecting the Heartland initiative is a multi-pronged, multi-state initiative in America's heartland working to boost internet availability, internet speeds, adoption rates and participation in online services that are key to opportunity.

Our goal is to ensure American families in the Heartland have the high-speed, affordable internet service necessary for full participation in life in the digital age.

LEARN MORE