Rural communities across the country are sometimes forced to cope with the closure or downsizing of a major employer. Five communities in Minnesota and North Dakota recently coped with these events. Interviews with community leaders, together with a survey of almost 600 residents, revealed that community adjustments were facilitated by the presence of an active local or regional economic development organization, by substantial lead time prior to the closure or downsizing, and by cohesive local leadership with connections to State and regional organizations.