This research poster presents a systems-based theoretical model for addressing the "rural climate gap," where limited institutional capacity amplifies vulnerability to climate stressors such as extreme heat. Using a rural county in Georgia as a site of analysis, the poster conceptualizes an integrated development ecosystem centered on a Community Land Trust (CLT) and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) partnership, with mission-aligned social enterprises. Grounded in systems theory and causal pathway analysis, the model illustrates how coordinated land stewardship, mission-aligned capital, and workforce development can strengthen endogenous adaptive capacity while addressing the structural drivers of climate vulnerability in under-resourced rural communities.
