Tag: economic development

By Kelly Asche, Research Associate Ask high school students what they want to do after graduation, and they’ll probably have a pretty good idea. Asking them where they want to live, though, might not yield as clear an answer. They might even pin that location decision on where they can get the career they want. ...

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 ...

By Marnie Werner, Vice President, Research & Operations The beating heart of what we do here at the Center for Rural Policy and Development is our research—research pure and simple on policy issues that matter to rural Minnesota. It’s the beginning of the fiscal year for us, which means a new start to not just ...

By Julie Tesch I recently read an article about Willmar in, of all places, the New York Times, and I was surprised and amazed (I’m a bit sad to say) at its positive view of rural Minnesota. I’m a bit sad at my level of surprise not because it was an article on Willmar, but ...

As employers hit the end of what’s known as the “slack in the labor force”—that percentage of the population ages 18–64 not participating in the workforce—they are running up against something new: engaging with and recruiting workers from groups of people living in particular circumstances that make it difficult for them to hold jobs. It ...

Results of a statewide survey of child care providers April 2019  By Marnie Werner, Vice President, Research & Operations For a printable version of the report, click here. For a two-page summary, click here. The Center first started looking into the matter of the child care shortage in 2015. In the process of this initial ...

Each year, the Center for Rural Policy and Development provides a brief update on various economic and demographic data in rural Minnesota. As policy discussions concerning rural Minnesota unfold, it is important to understand the past, present, and potential futures of rural regions. This report provides historical data points, illustrating how rural conditions have changed ...

  Heather Fisher, owner of Salvage Sisters in Mankato, joins Marnie and Jim to talk about Shop Small Saturday and the importance of small businesses to cities small and large in Greater Minnesota.