Small towns near Rochester hope — and plan — for DMC-fueled growth
“We want to make sure that if and when that growth hits us that we are prepared for it,” said Beth Carlson, the mayor of Lewiston.
Gregg Aamot
Gregg Aamot is a longtime Minnesota journalist and college instructor. After getting his start at a newspaper in rural Minnesota, he spent a decade with The Associated Press in Minneapolis, reporting from many regions of the state. Aamot is the author of “The New Minnesotans: Stories of Immigrants and Refugees” and teaches English at Ridgewater College.
Superior pitch: Small companies harness North Shore’s branding power
Such micro-branding efforts have roots in what marketers call “place branding” – efforts by regions or states to create a unique sense of place.
Why Greater Minnesota interests have high hopes for the 2019 legislative session
When the Legislature begins its work Jan. 8, a battery of lobbyists for Greater Minnesota interests will be there, arguing for a variety of proposals that they believe will boost the rural economy.
Tackling the ‘opportunity gap’: Hutchinson foundation takes on child poverty in southwestern Minnesota
About 11,000 children in southwestern Minnesota live in poverty, according to 2015 data. That’s one in six children.
Distinctive Grand Rapids-based Northern Community Radio explores the world through a local lens
Northern Community Radio, which went on the air in 1976, is an independent affiliate of National Public Radio.
‘The lifeblood’: On the Iron Range, small businesses build off mining’s success
The sector includes companies that make everything from massive conveyor belts to radiators and air coolers to replacement parts for machines that crush ore to special tools used by miners.
Beyond farmers markets: Helping small growers get fresh produce into grocery stores
The project began with a question: How could rural grocers offer more of the fresh produce that is grown in the farm fields all around them?
Greater Minnesota cities struggle to sustain their oldest homes — but loans and education are helping
“We are just scratching the surface of what’s needed in terms of rehab,” said Dale Slagter, Kandiyohi County’s housing rehabilitation manager. “There is a lot of need out here.”
Why craft distilleries are finding a home in small-town Minnesota
Rural distilleries provide a case study in the latest thinking about econmic development in small towns, one that uses a multi-faceted approach to build economies on local strengths.
How University of Minnesota Extension provides a window into the state’s modern rural economy
As the rural economy has evolved, so too has the University of Minnesota Extension, the public agency charged with “extending” the university’s expertise and knowledge into every corner of the state.
How one Minnesota town leveraged its proximity to Fargo-Moorhead while keeping its small-town feel
Since 2000, Barnesville has been attracting new residents at a steady pace, growing 18 percent to today’s population of about 2,500. Many have easy commutes to jobs in Fargo-Moorhead, just 25 miles away.
How broadband helped a small town in Greater Minnesota land a high-tech business
The presence of a new business along the main drag of this Sibley County town – and a high-tech one, at that – has generated some buzz in the community.
Against the odds: How Minnesota’s community newspapers hold on in the digital age
“I love this job,” Swift County Monitor-News publisher Reed Anfinson said in his office in Benson. “What I worry about is what replaces me.”
‘In our blood’: The challenge of being a young farmer in Minnesota today
Just 6 percent of principal farm operators in Minnesota are under the age of 35, according to the most recent census data.
The Bemidji State bump: How one small-town university buoys the local economy
Bemidji benefits not only from the money BSU pumps into the local economy but also from its cultural impact, which includes plays and concerts, athletic events, workshops and speeches.
Chisago County has become a case study in the possibilities and politics of solar energy in Greater Minnesota
Farmers and other landowners in Chisago County have put up a dozen solar gardens, with another four now in the planning stages.
Minnesota’s rural interests look to build on recent gains at the Legislature
Rural priorities include the passage of another bonding bill; another increase in LGA funding; money for street repairs in small towns; broadband expansion and bolstered child care options.
The optimist: Longtime Granite Falls mayor, in an age of discontent, shares his faith in civic life
“What I really hope to do is demonstrate, educate and just encourage others to take the plunge and get involved,” said Dave Smiglewski. Of the lack of civic involvement, he said: “It’s a real threat to community life.”
How one small town is trying to solve Greater Minnesota’s day care crisis
“Several people here have had to quit because their home-based day care closed,” said Lynda Everson, HR director for Brunswick Boat Group. “It’s a constant frustration in our employee base.”
Small town, big wheels: How mountain biking saved a Minnesota mining town
Since the Cuyuna Lakes mountain bike trails opened, job growth in Crosby and the neighboring town of Ironton has been double that of the surrounding region. Last year, an estimated 185,000 people visited the area.
