House Ways & Means Committee Meeting The Minnesota House Ways and Means Committee meeting on Jan. 11 offered a presentation from Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) to provide an update on the state’s two primary sources of funding for COVID-19 response (the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund and the State’s COVID-19 Minnesota Fund), as well as an overview of recent stimulus bill passed by Congress and how it may benefit Mi... Read More
Welcoming Spirit Reflected in Polls, Headlines A recent feature story (“Austin’s True Colors”) in the Star Tribune describes how the meatpacking town of Austin has embraced its immigrants and created a new spirit of community vibrance. The article focuses on the success of the local high school basketball team and some star performers who are children of immigrants from East Africa. But reporter Chip Scoggins... Read More
Retaining Newcomers in Rural The efforts of Greater Minnesota communities to attract and retain newcomers can sometime feel like a constant uphill battle. While several towns have put forth welcoming initiatives that have been successful in attracting newcomers, the next question is how do those towns encourage their children and grandchildren to keep their roots firmly planted in the community? Recently, the Sahan Journal profiled the town of ... Read More
Economic Development in Little Falls This afternoon Growth & Justice will be at Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace in Little Falls, MN for a central Minnesota focused event, with local and regional highlights reflecting the Minnesota Equity Blueprint’s second section – Economic Development. We’ll be joined by the Region Five Development Commission, Rural Renewable Energy Alliance, Five Wings Art Council, Initiative Fo... Read More
Our Unifying Role Clarified in Letter Seizing an opportunity to clarify our role as consensus seekers for a more equitable prosperity, Growth & Justice Board Chair David Fisher sent a letter to the editor (“Growth & Justice Responds”) to the Star Tribune that was published on Sunday May 19. The letter responded to a recent commentary (“Minnesota Needs Independent Policy Ideas Again),” authored by form... Read More