[Recommended reading] Greater Minnesota looks to attract, retain young professionals

Minnesota Rising is excited to be working with communities in north central and west central Minnesota through our Greater Minnesota Rising project. Thanks to the Pineandlakes Echo Journal for featuring our efforts in partnership with the University of Minnesota RSDP!

Greater Minnesota looks to attract, retain young professionals

By Pineandlakes Echo Journal on Jul 8, 2015 at 2:12 p.m.

Greater Minnesota Rising, a group of millennial generation leaders and the University of Minnesota Regional Sustainanable Development Partnershps (RSDP) are supporting a new project to attract and retain young professionals.

This project has received a grant from the Mary J. Page Community-University Partnership Fund, which is advised by RSDP, to support the Humphrey School of Public Affairs student Brooke McManigal in her research on workforce needs and community vitality.

"Minnesota Rising is a network of emerging leaders working to build relationships, trust and a shared vision for the future," said Diane Tran, the organization's founder. "We're excited to partner with these communities in Greater Minnesota to help ensure shared prosperity for all Minnesotans."

The project will involve communities and people in north central (Cass, Crow Wing, Todd, Wadena and Morrison counties) and west central Minnesota (Clay, Becker, Wilkin, Otter Tail, Grant, Douglas, Stevens, Pope and Traverse counties) from March to November and develop recommendations for engaging local emerging leaders and community organizations around future workforce needs, broadening of the tax base, and talent attraction in light of the area's changing demographics.

"The Greater Minnesota Rising project is a great example of how the university can connect to vital community needs," said CRSDP executive director Molly Zins of Pequot Lakes. "We look forward to the project's findings for our region and what they might mean for demographic challenges throughout Greater Minnesota."