Category: Rural Headlines

EXCERPT: “The six Minnesota Initiative Foundations have created an EmergencyChild Care Grant Program to provide immediate financial support to licensed child care providers in Greater Minnesota in response to the coronavirus pandemic or COVID-19. All six foundations have committed $50,000 – for a total of $300,000 dedicated for Greater Minnesota child care providers right away – ...

EXCERPT: “Rural communities are bracing for a looming recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic, expecting that it could devastate already shaky economies. As the virus shuts down schools, factories, restaurants and other businesses, rural towns contend with a smaller tax base, less access to high-speed internet and growing strain among lenders. Both farming and manufacturing ...

EXCERPT: “A fierce wind of acronyms is blowing across rural America: WINDCOWS (Wisconsin Independent Citizens Opposing Windturbine Sites), River RATS (River Residents Against Turbines), SOUL (Save Our Unspoilt Landscape). The UK’s not immune, what with England’s STINC (Stop Turbines in North Cornwall) and STEMM (Stop the Exploitation of Mynydd Mynyllod) in Wales. All are grassroots groups ...

EXCERPT: “Internet providers in Minnesota are honoring a call made by the Federal Communications Commission to take action to assure that residents and businesses can stay online during the COVID-19 crisis. What is called the Keep Americans Connected Pledge promises to not terminate internet service to residential or small business customers because of failure to pay for reasons ...

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 ...