Globalization is indeed killing American small towns. And it is an open and direct intention to do so, depopulating rural America.
So what needs to be done is for states to incentivize the public to move to rural areas. Making it attractive to them to put down stakes there, and raise their families there.
Possible methods (use by other states after each idea):
1) A state “homestake” law, basically that if you purchase a lot over a certain size, but no smaller or larger, and live in a residential building on that land at least six months and a day each year (AK), you pay no property tax and your property and home cannot be taken from you in bankruptcy (FL).
2) Small town small business incentives. Small town agricultural incentives. Small town animal husbandry incentives.
Force the government to subsidize high speed internet EVERYWHERE. The biggest hindrance to working from home in rural areas is no access hi speed fiber networks. Even though cable has a bad name, extending it to the exo-burbs would give rural people an option instead of satellite which is slower and more expensive.