Foreword: Working together
Julie Tesch, President, Center for Rural Policy & Development
In praise of one state
Tim Penny, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, & Charlie Weaver, Minnesota Business Partnership
Chapter 1: Changing Demographics
Demographic change in Minnesota
Megan Dayton, Minnesota Demographic Center
A memo: About aging in rural Minnesota
LaRhae Grindal Knatterud, MN Department of Human Services
Immigrants and Greater Minnesota
Ryan Allen, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota
Newcomers in a small town: The challenges of being an immigrant in rural Minnesota
Cristina Ortiz, University of Minnesota, Morris
Chapter 2: Pillars of the Rural Economy
Great growth in Greater Minnesota: A review of employment
Cameron Macht, Minnesota Dept. of Employment and Economic Development
Greater youth
Luke Greiner, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Workforce recruitment: Marketing Big Stone County
Vicki Oakes, Big Stone County
Dear Governor: Working together works
Kevin Paap, President, Minnesota Farm Bureau
Dear Governor: Rural Minnesotans are looking for someone who listens
Gary Wertish, President of Minnesota Farmers Union
Chapter 3: Environment
Beyond buffers: Investing in clean water for resilient communities
Rylee Main, Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance
Minnesota’s forests: Worth bragging about, cherishing, sustaining
Charlie Blinn, Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota
Finding balance: Finding economic and environmental sustainability in rural Minnesota
Nick Leonard, Otter Tail County
Chapter 4: Infrastructure
Transportation investments are important in continuing Minnesota’s ag and food success
Tamara Nelsen, Executive Director, Minnesota AgriGrowth Council
Thinking big
Gary Johnson and Brian Bissonette, Paul Bunyan Communications, Bemidji
Chapter 5: Health Care
Minnesota’s rural health care: There is still no 911 to call
Steve Perkins, Perkins Consulting
The complex map of substance abuse in Minnesota
Thad Shunkwiler, Department of Health Science, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Chapter 6: Education
Helping all of Minnesota’s students thrive
Todd Holthaus & Fred Nolan, Minnesota Rural Education Association
The simply complicated nature of fixing child care
Marnie Werner, Center for Rural Policy & Development
The authors in this publication were invited as experts in their fields to present their views on important topics in Greater Minnesota. Views of the authors do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Center for Rural Policy & Development.