Energizing Our Youth
Stimulating Rural Economies and Stemming Outmigration
by Karen Dabson, Craig Schroeder and Deborah Markley
Executive Summary
Community leaders and developers have recognized for some time that the key to the renewal of rural areas lies in attracting people to their communities and keeping them there. How to stem the multi-decade outflow of young adults from America’s countryside and attract new residents have been topics of concern for decades. Now, an examination of junior high and high school students’ perspectives on their hometowns, conducted across select Midwestern states, suggests a tangible answer provided by the young people themselves.
The news is good. In short, many students would elect to stay in or return to their communities, especially if there are viable employment opportunities available. Strong emotional ties related to families and growing up in rural America are powerful draws, and most believe that their home communities would be a great place to raise their own families.
The implications for rural communities are clear. Actions must be taken to ensure that young people view their hometowns and regions as places where economic and educational opportunities are available. This research points to some practicable steps that rural communities can take to put a youth retention and attraction system in place. This paper provides background on the research, highlights some notable results, and recommends actions for communities to pursue in the successful stewardship of their most precious asset – youth.
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