The heartland is more than a collection of 20 states—it is one of the world’s largest economies, powered by both big-name cities and smaller, impactful communities that don’t always make the headlines. While Chicago, Dallas and Detroit are well-known economic hubs in the heartland, much of the region’s economic story is uniquely defined by the successes of its often unsung heroes: the micropolitans – our small towns!

Micropolitan areas are typically areas built around a smaller city or town —whose population is 10,000 to 50,000—that stand on their own instead of being tied to a larger metropolitan area (a group of counties, where each has an economic relationship with a central city of more than 50,000 residents). 

Heartland Forward has analyzed what makes certain micropolitan areas particularly dynamic—with vibrant economies and qualities of life—offering insights and blueprints for development that other communities can leverage for their own success.

A Micropolitan to Watch

Ruston is a micropolitan in Northern Louisiana and acts as the seat of Lincoln Parish. A relatively small economic engine, Ruston has burst into developmental relevance of late–surging 320 places on Heartland Forward’s 2025 Most Dynamic Micropolitan index. Ruston presents immense growth potential due to their demonstrated capacity to grow in the past year. Defined by thoughtful and transparent leadership, a strong relationship with nearby higher educational institutions and a keen prioritization of STEM innovation, Ruston’s plans are a model for other micropolitans to follow for economic growth. 

“Moving Ruston Forward”

Ruston’s thoughtful policy planning, open civic engagement and high-level execution are the main factors driving growth in the community. For the past nine years, the city has been investing in its 20-year infrastructure plan titled “Moving Ruston Forward”. Funded by an increase in local sales tax by $0.0075 and accessed grant funding from sources including the US Department of Transportation in 2019ⁱ, the “Moving Ruston Forward” plan consisted of a list of projects assembled by city department heads and community members to upgrade infrastructure, improve quality of life and draw businesses to the area.

We have spent $194 million on infrastructure over the last eight years. If you don’t have good infrastructure, you won’t get companies to come to your city…Companies look for places that people want to live. And Ruston is a great place to live.
–Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker

Ruston tracked the progress of these projects on a public database to promote transparency and collaboration in their projects, holding the city accountable to the promises it made. The “Moving Ruston Forward” plan delivered on its promises by completing major projects and drawing further public and commercial investment into the community.

As a part of the plan, Ruston upgraded its sports and recreation facilities to attract events and travel tournaments and boost weekend tourism. Having implemented a hotel and restaurant tax to assist in financing the sports facilities, the hospitality industry in Ruston is now reaping the rewards. Demand for hotels and overnight lodging has soared, resulting in weekend room rates of nearly $450/night. These successes have piqued the interest of nearby developers, and two new hotels and a 300-person housing subdivision are expected to finish construction in the near future.

These hotels and housing projects are merely a few of the countless private construction projects in the region. In 2024, $137 million worth of construction projects were underway or planned to break ground in Ruston. Among them, a 50,000 square foot worldwide operations hub for banking giant JP Morgan Chase and a new Buc–ee’s travel center to draw travelers off of I-20 and increase the volume of visitors in Ruston. 

Partnering with Local Universities

The Ruston area is home to Louisiana Tech University (Louisiana Tech) and enjoys a productive relationship with an abundance of young talent and entrepreneurial spirit. Beyond the potential spending power of its student body and the research it produces, Louisiana Tech provides the area with a constant stream of highly accessible, skilled workers. Companies in the area have taken full advantage of forward-thinking services provided by the school, including the Innovation Enterprise’s talent concierge service that matches students to prospective local employers. 

In addition to bolstering the local talent pipeline, the Innovation Enterprise has also expanded to include two incubators for young businesses on campus, Tech Pointe I and II, to catalyze entrepreneurship. With high-quality resources (such as space for hands-on creation, research and development), the Tech Pointe facilities have already birthed successful firms such as Grapheno, a student-led enterprise that has secured contracts with the US Department of Defense. Successes such as Grapheno have inspired further innovation, and the Innovation Enterprise has moved forward with plans for more facilities, such as Tech Pointe III. 

Prioritizing STEM in the Modern Economy

As is the case with the vast majority of communities with growing economies, Ruston seeks to prioritize STEM innovation. Ruston and Louisiana Tech benefit from the nearby US Air Force Global Command in the Barksdale Air Force Base. The presence of this air base provides incentive for Ruston to strengthen its STEM industry, and the city’s motivation has manifested in two central actions: 

1. The recent relationship formed between Archem LLC and Louisiana Tech to test the efficiency of jet fuel additives—a relationship directly involving the Barksdale Air Base. 
2. In partnership with the Louisiana Tech University Foundation and the State of Louisiana, the city of Ruston has begun development of a secure business park–whose first tenants include Radiance Technologies. Their new microchip manufacturing facility promises to supply over 100 high-paying jobs to the Ruston area. 

What Can Be Learned? 

Ruston, Louisiana demonstrates a thoughtful understanding of what it can do to bolster economic development at a micropolitan level. Here’s what Ruston does well: 

1. Empowers policymakers to present attainable goals and execute on their promises with transparent action, as seen in the “Moving Ruston Forward” plan and its clear successes in project management and acquisition. 
2. Capitalizes on the advantages of their ecosystem, particularly their strong relationship with Louisiana Tech as a source of talent and entrepreneurial energy. 
3. Enters the modern STEM economy through new technological manufacturing facilities and research and development partnerships with the US Department of Defense. 

In following these guidelines, Ruston has seen a meteoric rise in growth measurements. Micropolitans such as Ruston do not have the same advantages as massive population centers like Chicago or Dallas, but with strategic policies individualized to their contexts, they can maximize their opportunitiesand help to power the heartland to greater economic heights.

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^I Walker, R. (2025, July 1) Ruston, Louisiana – Mayor Interview (M. Ratnatunga & R. Ramirez-Perez, Interviewers) [Personal communication].