By Julie Tesch, President & CEO Do you know what the bedrock of any town is, rural or urban?  Community.  In this age of technology, it is very easy to isolate yourself.  You can be listening to a podcast on your phone while you are emailing for work and playing a game at the same ...

EXCERPT: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting grant applications for organizations offering technical assistance to improve access to fresh, affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate foods for underserved communities. The funding is available through the Good Food Access Program (GFAP). These grants will help organizations provide needs-based technical assistance to eligible food retailers, such ...

EXCERPT: “In the largest city in Chippewa County, last week, Oct. 10, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn) visited Montevideo and was taken on a ‘Rural Economy Tour.’ During the driving tour, Smith was escorted by Montevideo City Council President Nathan Schmidt, City Administrator Robert Wolfington and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Luther Heller, who guided her ...

EXCERPT: “Members of the Minnesota House of Representatives’ Capital Investment Committee visited southwest Minnesota this week to learn more about Worthington’s Welcome, Education, Library and Livability (W.E.L.L.) proposal, Windom’s storm sewer project and Red Rock Rural Water System’s pipeline expansion plan, as all of the entities seek state bonding money. Local officials led tours of ...

EXCERPT: “Firefighters and farmers, two groups of professionals who often work in hazardous environments, are teaming up in a program aimed at improving agricultural safety and health nationwide. The Rural Firefighters Delivering Agricultural Safety and Health (RF-DASH) project trains emergency responders to provide resources and consultation to farmers in their service areas. ‘This project is based ...

By Marnie Werner, VP Research Over the last few years, I’ve been digging a lot into the child care shortage and the difficulties it’s causing for parents of young children around rural Minnesota. One problem in particular for working parents with children in both daycare and preschool is getting their kids from one place to ...

EXCERPT: “As the ninth annual Mankato River Ramble came to a close Sunday afternoon, it was evident the Greater Mankato Area is on the radar for cyclists not just from Mankato, but also the Twin Cities, greater Minnesota and even neighboring states. Mankato is one of nearly 30 cities in Minnesota classified as “bike friendly” by ...

EXCERPT: “Nancy McCloud did not have any food industry bona fides. She had never worked in a grocery store; not even a restaurant. And yet three years ago, when her local grocery in central New Mexico closed, she wanted to offer the community (population: 863) the fresh foods they otherwise would have to travel 47 ...

EXCERPT: “Members of the Minnesota House will gather in Winona and other southeastern Minnesota communities Wednesday for a three-day mini-session. More than 100 lawmakers from both parties have registered. They’ll participate in tours and informational field hearings on a wide range of topics. No votes will be taken.It’s the first time the House has held ...

EXCERPT: “Many rural hospitals have had to get creative these days because they are struggling to make ends meet. In the past decade, more than 100 rural hospitals have closed nationwide, largely due to financial problems. Others have had to freeze, or even cut salaries. Some have eliminated important services, like obstetrics and gynecology. But change is coming from ...