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.
Economic Vitality in Greater Minnesota
‘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?
Can Minnesota garlic become a thing? The state’s growers have ambitious plans for a burgeoning industry
With help from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the state’s garlic growers have embarked on an effort to see if Minnesota garlic can become a full-fledged industry.
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.
Greater Minnesota’s eviction problem
Le Sueur is a medium-population county an hour southwest of the Twin Cities. Its eviction filing rate is one of the highest in the state.
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.”
Solar power could be huge in Greater Minnesota — if they can find the people to build it
Last year solar jobs dropped 4 percent nationwide, while in Minnesota they rose 48.2 percent. Many installers complain that they can’t get enough labor for the demand.
‘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 uncertain future of cabins in Minnesota
As baby boomers prepare to transfer assets — including the family cabin — to the next generation, things are getting complicated.
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.
Last resorts: The slow disappearance of a northern Minnesota tourism institution
The number of resorts in Minnesota has dropped by nearly half since 1985.
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.
Why Central Minnesota’s population has exploded over the last few decades
At a time when many Minnesota regions are growing slowly, or projected to lose population in the future, expansion is something that sets Central Minnesota apart.
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.
One problem with pitting Greater Minnesota vs. the metro: There’s more than one Greater Minnesota
Considering Minnesota’s regions separately reveals different challenges — and suggests different solutions.
