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Minnesotans invited to contribute via video conferences, e-mail, blog, Twitter

As part of a cooperative effort with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, Minnesota Rural Partners, Inc. is hosting a series of video conferences through May 2010 to encourage conversations across the state about rural and urban connections that impact individual lives, communities, and work.  The goal is to foster increased innovation and job growth by leveraging the strengths of rural and urban areas.

“There’s always been an interdependence between rural and urban areas, with our food supply being one important example of that,” said Jane Leonard, president of Minnesota Rural Partners, Inc.  “Today, more people are realizing the value of those rural urban connections, and the benefits that come from increasing access to local sources of healthy foods, developing green energy, caring for our water resources and spurring other innovations that can lead to business growth for the entire state.   We want to get Minnesotans talking and thinking about the interdependence between rural and urban areas, as well as future opportunities arising from stronger rural urban connections.”

Minnesotans are invited to share ideas and examples of rural urban connections, collaborations and partnerships related to business, workforce, education, arts, food, broadband, health care, energy, and other areas.  The video conferences will culminate in the Symposium on Small Towns and Rural urban Gathering at the University of Minnesota, Morris, on June 9 and 10.  People who are interested in opportunities developing through rural urban connections are invited to attend the symposium, as well as to help establish the new Minnesota Rural Urban Partnering Council, which will be forming at the Morris symposium.

“Rural and urban areas have always been inextricably tied,” said USDA Rural Development State Director Colleen Landkamer.  “As we move ahead, the health of Minnesota’s economy as a whole will be shaped by how well we use our resources to strengthen those rural and urban connections throughout the state.”

Based on input they receive, Minnesota Rural Partners, Inc. will be mapping existing rural urban connections and examining how to expand them.  “Through the process, we hope to renew the framework for ongoing rural urban dialogue and build new partnerships,” said Leonard.

Participants are asked to register for video conferences in advance at http://blog.rurb.mn/video conferences/.  The next video conferences will be:

• Wed., Feb. 17 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Central Minnesota, and will focus on rural urban connections, collaborations and partnerships related to manufacturing, workforce readiness and renewable energy, with video conference sites at:
  • Brainerd – Central Lakes College, 501 West College Drive, ITV Room C224;
  • Staples – Central Lakes College – 1830 Airport Road, Main Campus – ITV Room B103;
  • Little Falls – Midstate Education District Building, 15738 Highway 27, District Office Conference Room;
  • St. Cloud – Small Business Development Center, 616 Roosevelt Road, Suite #100, https://www.stcloudstate.edu/sbdc/contact.asp for directions;
  • Saint Paul – TIES, 1667 Snelling Ave. North, Video Conference Room.

• Wed., Feb. 24 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Southwest Minnesota, and will focus on rural urban connections, collaborations and partnerships related to renewable energy, with video conference sites at:
  • Montevideo – Montevideo High School, 1501 William Ave., in the Library (check in at the office);
  • Marshall – Marshall High School, 400 Tiger Drive, Fine Arts Conference Room, Fine Arts Entrance;
  • Willmar – Willmar High School, 2701 30^th St. NE, Library (check in at the office);
  • Hutchinson – Hutchinson High School, 1200 Roberts Road, Library (check in at the office);
  • Morris – University of Minnesota Morris, Humanities / Fine Arts Building, 600 East 4^th Street, HFA Room 7, parking in North Lot; and
  • Edina – Edina High School, 6754 Valley View Road, Professional Library (check in at the office)

Upcoming video conferences and their locations will be posted online at http://blog.rurb.mn, click on video conferences.   Those unable to attend the video conferences can provide input online through e-mail at feedback@rurb.mn, on Twitter at http://twitter.com/rurbmn or comment at http://blog.rurb.mn.