Rural Policy Forum to explore critical issues

Policy makers and experts from throughout Arizona will gather on the Northern Arizona University campus Thursday and Friday to discuss solutions to three pressing problems facing rural Arizona.

NAU President John Haeger will open the Arizona Rural Policy Forum at 12:30 p.m. Thursday in The W.A. Franke College of Business.

Nearly 150 individuals from across the state, including legislators, will discuss three major concerns facing rural areas: affordable housing, recruiting and retaining health-care professionals and workforce development.

The discussions and proposed solutions will revolve around a best practices report compiled by NAU, which lists solutions that have worked in other areas.

NAU is host of the forum, which is sponsored by APS, Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Arizona Lottery, the Arizona Community Foundation, and Freeport McMoran (formerly Phelps Dodge).