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Southwest

Rural Pulse™ Snapshot: Southwest Minnesota

Rural Pulse™ is a research study commissioned by the Grand Rapids-based Blandin Foundation to gain a real-time snapshot of the concerns, perceptions and priorities of rural Minnesota residents. This initiative was last conducted in 2016 and has served to identify trends within significant, complex subject areas including the economy, education, employment and quality of life.

In completing this comprehensive research study, 1,068 telephone interviews were conducted with rural Minnesotans. The full report can be found at www.RuralPulse.org. To provide a localized perspective, study findings for Southwest Minnesota are included in the following pages and contrasted with overall rural Minnesota responses. Intended to serve as a regional snapshot against full study observations, data reflects a statistical reliability of +/- 8.3 percent at the 95 percent confidence level. Also, please note that results within regional reports do not include communities of 35,000+; these cities are grouped within metro Minnesota findings – see full report for more information.

Collaboration and Contribution

More than four in five residents in Southwest Minnesota felt that they can make a positive impact on their local community and feel residents work together effectively.

Community Performance

Southwest residents were most likely to agree that their community performed well in crime control, caring for the elderly, healthcare, infrastructure and lifelong learning opportunities. They appointed the lowest community ratings to availability of childcare and addressing opioids and drug abuse.

Southwest residents’ perceptions of community performance have improved since 2016 Rural Pulse study findings in the areas of healthcare, infrastructure; internet access; cultural/arts opportunities; and providing public transportation for all, including the disabled.

When comparing issue significance and satisfaction, Southwest Minnesotans felt their communities were underperforming in the areas of addressing drug abuse and economic development.

Rural Voice

Sixty percent of residents in Southwest Minnesota believed the needs of rural communities are important to policymakers, the same as in 2016. A significant percentage, however, do not agree that rural voice is being heard.

Critical Issues

The most critical issues to address in the Southwest region were said to be healthcare, jobs, economic development, affordable housing, drug abuse, mental health, barriers due to race and the availability of childcare.

Most Critical Issues
Southwest Overall Rural
1 (tie) Healthcare, Jobs Jobs
2 Economic development Healthcare
3 (tie) Affordable housing, Opioids and drug abuse Opioids and drug abuse
4 Mental health Economic development
5 (tie) Barriers due to race, Availability of childcare Mental health issues

Economic Concerns Linger, But Show Improvement

Rural Minnesotans continue to experience a rebound in the economy, with confidence increasing that there are sufficient living-wage jobs and that regional communities maintain/grow job opportunities. About a quarter in this region felt the local economy has improved within the past year. There was improvement in the belief that economic development is being promoted well. Sixty-eight percent felt there is an adequate workforce available for local businesses.

Impact of the Economy

Twenty-two percent said their household income has increased over the past year. Job losses declined since 2016 study findings.

Migration

Nine percent said that they do not expect to live in their same community five years from now; 13 percent have considered moving to a metropolitan area – a decrease from 2016 study findings. By far, job opportunities were the reason for considering migration, among those who have considered moving.

Leadership

Fifty-nine percent believed leadership positions in their community are filled with a diversity of participants. More than half say they have served in a leadership capacity. Nearly four in 10 who have not, say that they would definitely consider serving in leadership if asked.

Inclusion

Half of residents in Southwest Minnesota said that they have at least some close friends of a different race or culture than themselves.

Southwest residents were most likely to feel the groups that experience bias, discrimination or harassment within their community include those with drug or mental health issues, transgender individuals, gays and lesbians, Latinos and Hispanics, African Americans, recent immigrants and those with different religious beliefs.

Groups Most Believed to Experience Bias, Discrimination or Harassment Within Their Community
Southwest
1 Those with drug or mental health issues
2 Transgender people
3 Gays and lesbians
4 (tie) Latinos/Hispanics, African Americans, Recent immigrants
5 Religious beliefs

Multiple Responses Allowed

Three-quarters of Southwest Minnesotans believed people in their community are able to stand up to hatred and discrimination.

Optimism Exists

Overall, four in five Southwest region residents are optimistic about their community’s future.

More Information

Rural Pulse
Back to Rural Pulse 2019 Home  ·  Authored by Russell Herder. Published 2019.
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