<![CDATA[This study aims to analyze the potential for rural regional development in Gorontalo Province based on the level of economic activity concentration using Village Potential (Podes) data for 2024. The analysis focuses on identifying the distribution of village-level economic concentration and examining the relationships between various village potentials, including transportation access, telecommunications, leading products, institutional capacity, access to financing, economic facilities, inter-village cooperation, governance quality, and coastal characteristics. The research employs a quantitative approach using descriptive statistical analysis and cross-tabulation supported by Chi-Square testing. The results from 732 villages reveal that the majority of villages (97.1%) remain in the low economic activity concentration category. The Chi-Square tests indicate no statistically significant relationship between the examined village potential variables and the level of economic activity concentration. These findings suggest that the availability of infrastructure and physical village potentials alone does not automatically lead to the agglomeration of economic activities. Therefore, rural economic development requires a more integrated approach through strengthening institutional capacity, improving human resource quality, enhancing market integration, and optimizing the management of local potentials so that villages can evolve into sustainable centers of economic growth. ABSTRAKPenelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis potensi pengembangan wilayah pedesaan di Provinsi Gorontalo berdasarkan tingkat konsentrasi kegiatan ekonomi dengan memanfaatkan data Potensi Desa (Podes) tahun 2024. Fokus kajian diarahkan pada identifikasi distribusi konsentrasi aktivitas ekonomi desa serta pengujian hubungan antara berbagai potensi desa, meliputi akses transportasi, telekomunikasi, produk unggulan, kelembagaan, akses pembiayaan, fasilitas ekonomi, kerja sama antar desa, kualitas pemerintahan, dan karakteristik wilayah pesisir. Metode penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif dengan analisis statistik deskriptif dan tabulasi silang yang dilengkapi uji Chi-Square. Hasil analisis terhadap 732 desa menunjukkan bahwa mayoritas desa (97,1%) masih berada pada kategori konsentrasi kegiatan ekonomi rendah. Uji Chi-Square mengindikasikan tidak adanya hubungan yang signifikan antara seluruh variabel potensi desa dengan tingkat konsentrasi kegiatan ekonomi. Temuan ini menunjukkan bahwa ketersediaan infrastruktur dan potensi fisik desa belum secara otomatis mendorong pemusatan aktivitas ekonomi. Oleh karena itu, pengembangan ekonomi pedesaan memerlukan pendekatan yang lebih terintegrasi melalui penguatan kapasitas kelembagaan, peningkatan kualitas sumber daya manusia, integrasi pasar, serta optimalisasi pengelolaan potensi lokal agar desa mampu berkembang sebagai pusat pertumbuhan ekonomi yang berkelanjutan.]]>
