EXCERPT: “When Bisharo Aded was hired onto the production line at Pilgrim’s Pride chicken processing plant in Cold Spring, Minn., in 2014, her co-workers warned her bluntly: Don’t lose your job, or you’ll risk becoming homeless. She had lived only three years in the United States, and the thought of ending up on the streets frightened ...

And in related news, this from The New York Times… EXCERPT: “When I talk to undergraduate students about their postgraduate plans … the answer inevitably reveals a common assumption: Big cities are where highly educated people must go to succeed economically and socially….But these preconceptions are not only incorrect, they are also unduly limiting the ...

Changing the story on careers in rural Minnesota For decades, the narrative speaking to rural high school students has been that to succeed, they must leave. But what if we could do something about that? August 2019 By Kelly Asche, Research Associate For a printable version, click here. All Articles in this Series: Finding work ...

EXCERPT: “Asked who she’d like to have read the state’s report about its strategies to adopt a more driverless future in Minnesota, Kristin White went straight to the point. ‘Anyone and everyone — anyone in Minnesota who uses transportation,’ she said. ‘We want to make this a collaborative process leading into the future.’ White is ...

EXCERPT: “For the past several years, manufacturers and other large employers throughout Greater Minnesota have been dealing with a shortage of workers – a scenario that has only found staying power in a strong economy with low unemployment. MinnPost chronicled the issue two years ago, noting that many companies were either operating short-staffed or holding ...

EXCERPT: “Cities, counties and townships that charge building fees on new homes banked $78 million more than what they needed for inspection costs over the last five years, a study released Tuesday, Aug. 20, showed. The fees are supposed to offset the cost of the inspection expenses at the municipal level. But affordable housing advocates ...

by Julie Tesch, President At the heart of the Center for Rural Policy & Development are our staff and board of directors.  While we the staff do the research, our board members are also vital to the success of this organization. CRPD’s board is made up of thirteen members appointed by the Governor, one each ...

EXCERPT: “The latest monthly survey of bankers in parts of 10 Plains and Western states indicates a shrinking rural economy, and three-quarters of bankers said President Donald Trump’s trade policies are having a negative effect on their local economies. The Rural Mainstreet survey released Thursday shows the its overall index falling from an already anemic ...

EXCERPT: “The Federal Communications Commission announced Monday it will provide $28.5 million in broadband funding to rural households in Minnesota. The FCC says the money will benefit more than 8,000 homes and businesses in Minnesota that are currently unserved. The funding, which providers will begin receiving in late August, will be distributed over the next 10 ...

EXCERPT: “Opponents of the public option have funded an analysis that warns more rural hospitals may close if Americans leave commercial plans for Medicare. With the focus on rural hospitals, the Partnership for America’s Health Care Future brings a sensitive issue for politicians into its fight against a Medicare buy-in. The policy has gone mainstream among ...