For a few years now, Blandin Foundation has been interested in the concept of brain gain and the promise it holds for the future of healthy rural communities. Recently, we were surprised when our broadband partners at Intelligent Community Forum published a book entitled Brain Gain that seemed to echo the brain gain research of […]
More to the story Itasca County, like much of rural Minnesota, sees “ brain gain” For some, the perception of rural Minnesota – indeed of rural America –is of decline and stagnation: abandoned farmsteads, boarded storefronts, shuttered schoolhouses. Books proclaim a “brain drain” and the demise of rural America when young adults leave. But […]
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 […]
[…] other post-secondary training. But research by Ben Winchester at the University of Minnesota Extension Service’s Center for Community Vitality suggests there’s another chapter to this story: Rural Brain Gain. Over the past several years, Winchester has compiled compelling evidence that when those once-rural youth hit middle age, they return to rural areas whenever possible – […]
[…] of rural telecommunication services developed itself right here, and billboards for miles around tout new high-paying jobs in Mitchell. Brown spotlights Mitchell as the “Home of the Brain Gain,” a migration trend showing that young adults, ages 30-50, are moving to rural communities from urban centers. He recently wrote a post for us describing the […]
[…] on the misconceptions surrounding brain drain – the outmigration of young people after high school graduation – in rural communities. Outposts guest blogger Aaron Brown recently discussed brain gain and the promise it holds for the future of healthy rural communities. He started by saying “Our future rests not in whether we lose young people, […]
[…] just have to work on that. University of Minnesota Extension Service researcher Ben Winchester has called the return of residents like you part of rural Minnesota’s “ brain gain.” Does this phenomenon ring true for you? I never thought I would consider living in Grand Rapids after I graduated from high school, but if it […]
[…] that, on a per-capita basis, rural communities need more leaders to get things done. A big thank you to Ben and Extension for your thought leadership on brain gain and rural community! So, how is rural doing on attracting and developing community leaders? The hard truth is, not all communities put their people assets to […]
[…] research around rural migration. A recent Gallup poll showed that across the United States, 27 percent of respondents said they would prefer living in a rural community. Brain Gain research, pioneered by the University of Minnesota Extension Center for Community Vitality, found that the population of residents ages 30-49 are increasing in rural Minnesota. Why? […]
MPR’s Ground Level series is about listening throughout the state to build bridges across differences. Last week they hosted a conversation here in Grand Rapids. You can find the recording here. Among the topics: local insights on the Ground Level Survey of Minnesotans, and rural brain gain, a trend tracked by University of Minnesota Extension researcher Ben Winchester.
[…] towns are doomed. Walljasper examines how rural Minnesota’s shift from an agriculture-based economy has changed small towns — not killed them. He highlights: Locally-produced foods at the University of Minnesota Morris The brain gain phenomena New London’s thriving Main Street Milan’s vibrant response to multicultural newcomers Albert Lea’s community-wide approach to wellness Read the full story at MinnPost.
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[…] do these things clash? Rural communities should take these things into account when crafting their attraction strategies. So what do you need to know? For starters, rural brain gain research tells us that GenXers (born 1965-1980) crave a high quality of life and they’re motivated by security, both physical and job-related. We also know that Millennials […]
[…] to a small town have a previous connection to that town? This means a few things. One, people who move back in their 30s and 40s (see brain gain) are bringing families with them. Two, it’s not just the returnees coming back – people are choosing rural. Not because of jobs, they’re moving for a […]