Economic development is for many communities and policy makers a familiar and worthy goal, but sadly, it can also be an elusive goal. Familiar, because the standard by which many policy makers and their advisors are evaluated is their ability to attract industries and firms, to create jobs, and otherwise to expand the capacity and economic base of a community. Elusive, because not only are no two communities identical, but also because the outcomes of specific policies and actions can be difficult to predict with certainty. The collected case studies in this book offer more than 30 examples of programs and policies enacted in the pursuit of economic progress across various small towns and rural communities.