POPULATION DECLINE, OUTMIGRATION OF YOUTH, AND DWINDLING JOB PROSPECTS HAVE CHALLENGED THE VITALITY OF RURAL ECONOMIES IN THE UNITED STATES FOR DECADES. SEVERAL PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO PROVIDE RURAL YOUTH WITH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE SKILLS TO BETTER PREPARE THEM FOR THEIR ECONOMIC FUTURES. HOWEVER, THESE APPROACHES HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED FOR FAILING TO ADDRESS THE SOCIAL UNDERPINNINGS OF FLIGHT, IGNORING THE UNIQUE FEATURES OF RURAL CONTEXTS, AND FOR NOT ENCOURAGING YOUTH TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF CONNECTION BETWEEN HIGHER-LEVEL SKILLS AND OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. THE CURRENT PROPOSED PROGRAM INTENDS TO ADDRESS THESE GAPS. FIRST, USING A MIXED-METHODS AND MULTI-INFORMANT STUDY, WE WILL EXAMINE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL UNDERPINNINGS OF YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT RURAL FLIGHT. USING SEMI-STRUCTURED INTERVIEWS, ETHNOGRAPHY, AND SURVEYS OF CURRENT HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH, WE WILL EXAMINE FACTORS THAT IMPACT UPON THEIR CAREER AND EDUCATIONAL ASPIRATIONS AND INTENTIONS TO STAY, LEAVE, AND/OR RETURN TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. SURVEYS OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES FROM RURAL HIGH SCHOOLS WILL EXPLORE FACTORS RELATED TO THEIR HAVING STAYED AND/OR RETURNED TO RURAL COMMUNITIES. SECOND, WE WILL DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT, AND EVALUATE AN INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION THAT ENGAGES YOUTH IN LEARNING STEAM AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS TO SOLVE REAL LOCAL ISSUES IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, AND EDUCATORS. THIS APPROACH WILL FOSTER YOUTHS' ENTREPRENEURIAL (E.G., DEVELOPING BUSINESS PLANS) AND STEAM (E.G., CODING) SKILLS BUT ALSO SUPPORT SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AND ATTACHMENT TO LOCAL COMMUNITY. ULTIMATELY, THESE EFFORTS ARE INTENDED TO INCREASE RETENTION AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE VITALITY OF RURAL COMMUNITIES.