Nonmetropolitan Industrial Expansion: Emerging Implications for Regional Development

The recent employment growth trend in many heretofore declining nonmetropolitan communities has created optimism that public policies can he formulated and implemented which will accomplish greater economic balance over the spatial landscape. The following analysis examines the characteristics of recent industrial location and expansion in a case study of nonmetropolitan Wisconsin, using the “filtering-down” process as a conceptual framework. The results of the analysis are used to explore some impacts of continued industrial decentralization and suggest some directions for public policy.