Interesting to read that you have the same discussions in Canada as we do in Germany!

My observations from a prosperous but partly rural Southern Germany:
1. Smaller towns fall behind as new technology-driven industries settle near to universities and other high-tech companies (= in the big cities).

2. Once new businesses grow, they attract the "creative industries" (as suppliers) and competitors, too.

So for example bio-technology in Germany is not widespread but concentrated in a few (very urban) places, among them Munich and Freiburg.

I personally don't have much hope for smaller places in the long run. Even if you get the "carriages" out of your mind - there simply is not much you can do about it.