Category: Rural Headlines

EXCERPT: “Louis Parenteau often jokes with his children, saying they are ‘living like hillbillies’ in their northern Minnesota home. The family lives 10 minutes from Mountain Iron, along a two-lane highway, but has no access to the internet. ‘We basically have to use a hotspot from our [cellphone] service and it is limited,’ Parenteau said. ...

EXCERPT: “While there are struggles to function around a severe workforce shortage, the current state of rural mental health care is all the more concerning with a deepening crisis of mental illness that afflicts small towns, remote communities and agricultural hubs throughout Greater Minnesota. In an effort to chip away at the issue, nurses, psychiatrists ...

EXCERPT: “The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has awarded $344,000 in Launch Minnesota Innovation Grants to 13 high technology startups. In round two of grant funding, Launch Minnesota awarded 13 business operations grants and two housing/childcare grants. Of the 13 business awardees, 73% are women, veteran or minority-owned or are headquartered in ...

EXCERPT: “Minnesota’s public airport system generates $18.2 billion in annual economic activity statewide, according to a new study the Minnesota Department of Transportation released today that details the economic impact of the state’s 133 public airports. The Minnesota Statewide Airport Economic Impact Study documents the broad economic impacts of the statewide system, and provides detailed ...

EXCERPT: “Launch Minnesota announced this week that it awarded grants to six organizations that will create regional hubs to establish a network that will advance Minnesota’s startup ecosystem. The seven selected organizations, along with nearly 60 program partners, will form the Launch Minnesota Network to help Minnesota-based high-tech startups take their businesses from concept to launch. ‘The ...

EXCERPT: “Children’s Minnesota is launching neonatal virtual care partnerships with six hospitals across Minnesota and in Wisconsin. Physicians at partnering locations now have 24/7 access to Children’s Minnesota’s Level IV neonatal expertise, the highest designation by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Recently, Children’s Minnesota neonatology program was also ranked among the top in the country by U.S. News and World Report . . . Partnering hospitals ...

EXCERPT: “The administration of Gov. Tim Walz is getting closer to finalizing its plan to adopt a set of auto emission and electric vehicle regulations aimed at fighting climate change. But while it doesn’t need the Legislature’s approval to move forward, skeptical lawmakers in both parties ripped the proposal on Wednesday as misguided, particularly for rural ...

EXCERPT: “Fire departments throughout Minnesota are expressing concern about the dwindling number of people willing to do the job. They presented the issue to state leaders Wednesday, hoping lawmakers could help come up with solutions. ‘If we don’t look at ways to try to draw people in, it’s going to be an issue in years ...

EXCERPT: “Far from the big names such as Industrious and WeWork, Greater Minnesota coworking providers are finding ways to make smaller communities and greater distances work for them. From Winona to Moorhead, small local coworking outfits, many sponsored by local governments or nonprofit groups, are meeting the demand for flexible work space. And while they don’t ...