Tuesday, Jun 25 2013 3:58PM

Many rural communities are boosting local economies through the growing agritourism industry.

Economic community development is being threatened in many rural locations as persistent joblessness continues and more young and unemployed residents migrate toward urban areas. In response, many rural communities are taking advantage of a growing industry that is taking hold: agritourism. 

Some states, such as Oregon, are inviting urban visitors who want to get away from city life and learn more about rural lifestyles and agriculture to stay at farms for a weekend, according to the Seattle Times. Visitors learn about how their food is grown, how animals are taken care of, innovations that are helping the farming community and other agricultural processes.

The industry, which has taken hold in rural Washington and Oregon, is being driven in large part by a trend toward organic food and environmental consciousness, the Times reports.

In Nevada, the state Department of Tourism recently extended $971,188 in rural grants to various organizations to help improve their business and attract more tourists, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal. For example, the city of Carlin received $15,000 to improve advertising for three summer events that will take place to draw a bigger crowd, and the Walker River Paiute Tribe received $7,000 to cover a new marketing campaign that will include literature about the Native American tribe.

For more information, check out this resource: The Seattle Times, Reno Gazette-Journal