2013 Rural Pulse: Foundation Home Area Research

May 07, 2013
  • Description

Rural Pulse™ is a research study that has been commissioned by the Blandin Foundation since 1998 to gain a real-time snapshot of the concerns, perceptions and priorities of rural Minnesota residents. This initiative was last conducted in 2010 and served to identify trends within significant, complex subject areas including the economy, education, employment and quality of life. Past studies have also included canvassing opinions within the Foundation's "home" area as well as among Blandin Community Leadership and Blandin Reservation Community Leadership Program alumni. The Foundation chose to undertake this effort again in 2013 to accomplish the following objectives:Understand the issues rural residents and leaders prioritize within their communities; Learn if community needs are being adequately addressed; Compare and contrast issue movement in comparison to past Rural Pulse studies; and, new for 2013, Gain an understanding of how the opinions of urban Minnesotans and those of ethnic and cultural differences compare to at-large findings. This particular document concerns the difference in attitudes between rural Minnesotans and those in the Foundation's "home area" - defined as the Grand Rapids and Itasca County area, including the communities of Blackduck, Hill City, Northome and Remer.