Year: 2016

March 2016  As Minnesota legislators once again debate the needs and opportunities of broadband, communities large and small across Greater Minnesota wait. It’s not a luxury anymore, one of many options to bring us news and the daily weather. Rural communities understand all too well that today adequate, affordable broadband is crucial when it comes ...

What will the legislative session bring when it starts March 8? Rep. Joe Schomacker, who represents the southwest corner of the state and is a board member for CRPD, expects transportation, taxes, and bonding to be the top three issues, with battles that come down to dollars and cents. Lawmakers will have a better idea where things ...

Jacki Anderson, senior planner at the Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission, joins us again to talk more about DevelopMN, a new effort by the Minnesota Association of Development Organizations to align individual organizations’ strategic economic development efforts. All the organizations have their own plans; DevelopMN will allow them to roll those plans together into ...

Minnesota is made up of many different regions, all with their own identities, strengths and issues. What if they could all work together to strengthen themselves and each other? That’s the plan behind a new initiative called DevelopMN, says Jacki Anderson, senior planner for the Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission. The members of the Minnesota ...

Lisa Hughes, a regional economic developer for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, is our guest again this week to talk some more about economic development and the importance of infrastructure for high-wage companies looking to set up in Minnesota. One of the continuing hold-ups is access to natural gas, but like Internet service, ...

Lisa Hughes, a regional economic developer for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, joins us this week to talk about what companies are looking for when the think about setting up in Minnesota. Infrastructure is a big part of it. For example, natural gas. Manufacturing and ag processing both depend on natural gas, ...

Mike Nolan, director of the Small Business Development Center in Mankato, joins us on RuralMN Radio this week to talk about innovation in business. Entrepreneurship isn’t just for starting a business, says Nolan. Successful companies are encouraging people within the organization to think entrepreneurially.

Tom Gottfried, program director for the Office of Transit at MnDOT, joins us again to conclude our discussion on public transportation in Greater Minnesota. This week Tom talks about planning for transportation services beyond what public transit can do. Regional transportation coordinating councils are forming around the state that will serve as local forums and think ...

Each year, the Center assembles the latest demographic and economic data to create the State of Rural Minnesota report. Most of the data used for the presentation can also be found at our Atlas of Minnesota Online. (January 2016) To download the full report click on the link below: State of Rural Minnesota Presentation