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Ground Level Blog

Ely making slow progress on biomass heating project

Ely making slow progress on biomass heating project

The city of Ely in the Arrowhead is hoping to land a state grant that will push a biomass heating project forward.
by Jennifer Vogel

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How are you trying to conserve energy?

How are you trying to conserve energy?

Greg Chester in Cass Lake built a second wall around the inside of his house to conserve heat. Noreen Thomas in Moorhead grows her own wheat and then uses bicycle power to grind the flour to make bread. Elizabeth Dickinson in St. Paul installed solar panels seven years ago and has generated as much power Read more →
by Dave Peters

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Making Energy Local — some Minnesota communities have started.

Making Energy Local — some Minnesota communities have started.

Some Minnesota communities have begun generating their own energy, partly to save money, partly to use available resources more wisely. It’s a local issue that ties directly into global complexities.
by Dave Peters

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American Futures, a new take on small-city America

American Futures, a project on reinvention and resilience by The Atlantic and Marketplace, looks at national economic and political phenomena through the lens of small-city America. Keep an eye out for reports from
by Dave Peters

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Smart phones aren’t reducing the rural Internet gap

Smart phones aren’t reducing the rural Internet gap

There’s been increasing talk lately that the push to get everybody on the Internet will get a boost as smart phones become ubiquitous. Even people who don’t have broadband service at home, because of cost or for some other reason, will get on the Internet via their phones, the argument goes. So perhaps we don’t Read more →
by Dave Peters

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If worker shortage comes, rural Minnesota will feel it first

If worker shortage comes, rural Minnesota will feel it first

There isn’t a huge skilled worker shortage yet, says an economic analysis by the Center for Rural Policy and Development in St. Peter. But if one comes, rural Minnesota, beset by aging demographics and competition from the Twin Cities, Fargo, Sioux Falls and the North Dakota oil fields, will feel it first.
by Dave Peters

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“My Town Is . . .” video gets legs. What’s your town?

“My Town Is . . .” video gets legs. What’s your town?

When you ask Minnesotans to finish the sentence “My town is . . .”, they do. The answers range from “cultural wasteland” to “searching for identity” to “filled with good people.”
by Dave Peters

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Fighting for an American Countryside: the search for purpose

Fighting for an American Countryside: the search for purpose

Small towns are exploring new economic avenues, whether local foods, tourism or green energy. A new eBook called Fighting for an American Countryside, from MPR News’ Ground Level project, looks at efforts across the state.
by Jennifer Vogel

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Fighting for an American Countryside: an age-old problem

Fighting for an American Countryside: an age-old problem

The many demographic challenges facing rural Minnesota include a population that’s older than the state average. Given tight budgets all around, people in small towns are finding new ways to provide services.
by Jennifer Vogel

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Complete this sentence: My Town Is…

Complete this sentence: My Town Is…

Why people live in small towns is integrally tied to their perceptions of place. As part of the new MPR News’ Ground Level project eBook, Fighting for an American Countryside, we asked people to finish the sentence, “My town is…”
by Jennifer Vogel

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