Rural Minnesotans want jobs. Not just any jobs, but good jobs. Jobs that can support households. Rural Pulse 2016 tells us that attracting and retaining jobs is the number 1 priority for rural Minnesotans, but 30 percent of respondents believe their community doesn’t successfully maintain or grow job opportunities. Last week, Small Biz Survival author …
“Because with 75 years experience, we know that a truly vibrant community will be one where every member has both options for their life, and the ability to pursue those paths to their fullest end.” Blandin Foundation President and CEO Kathy Annette shared this statement with our partners earlier this year in an email about the work …
Safe streets. Active and diverse leadership. Learning opportunities at all stages of life. Clean air. Active faith communities. Strong job market. Accessible healthcare. Welcoming spaces. Separate, these are all bright spots in a community. Only together, though, do they give a holistic view of what it means to be a healthy community. Each of these pieces represents …
Rolling hills, towering pines and jagged bluffs – just like the unique and varied landscape of Minnesota, the priorities and concerns of its people are equally diverse. Each region has its own story, its own challenges and its own priorities. Rural Pulse 2016 helps tell that story through a series of special reports focusing on …
Released today, Rural Pulse 2016 is a one-of-a-kind survey, conducted every three years, that provides insight into rural Minnesotans’ perceptions about their communities. Raising up the voices of 1,144 rural and 500 urban residents, this data helps Blandin Foundation, its statewide partners and community leaders in starting and informing conversations that strengthen rural communities. Key themes this year …
Brain gain is getting its moment in the legislative spotlight. Introduced by Rep. Deb Kiel, the “Greater Minnesota Brain Gain bill,” if passed, would create a “pilot grant program to provide grants to eligible organizations to identify and support local economic development initiatives in greater Minnesota designed to attract workers and new residents by marketing …
Through our work in broadband adoption and use in rural communities, we’ve seen and featured a number of tech-related hackathons. The hackathon model sets the stage for creative minds to collaborative on new and innovative ideas in a short amount of time. While these events have typically been designed for coders interested in generating new …
“At the age of 12, Blandin left school to become an apprentice at the [New London] Times. Two years later young Blandin decided to leave New London and strike out on his own.” — Papermakers, p. 119 Forty-three years after Charles K. Blandin’s first embarked on his journey to “make it” in the world, he …
What does a welcoming rural community look like? Is it the shower of smiles you get while walking down main street? The sign at the town’s entrance shouting WELCOME in all CAPS? Or the local cafe where the many faces of the community come together for coffee? Creating a welcoming community, for newcomers and for existing residents, is …
Money follows vision. Without a strong voice to carry your vision, though, the money might not find you. This thought hit home for me and many others attending the panel on closing the philanthropic gap at this year’s Rural Assembly. With only 5.5% of large foundation grants going to rural communities, I, alongside three other rural …