Northeast Indiana Counties Survey Rural Communities for Talent Attraction Efforts
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Residents living in Northeast Indiana’s rural communities are encouraged to complete a survey about what it's like to live and work in the region’s rural areas.
Rural counties in Northeast Indiana collaborated on the survey with the goal of collecting perceptions and data about life and work in the region’s rural communities. The results of the survey, paired with out-migration data, will position Northeast Indiana to develop strategic initiatives that focus on workforce and community development.
According to American Community Survey data compiled by the University of Wisconsin, Northeast Indiana loses an average of 1,000 individuals each year to other communities in the United States.
“As we continue on our regional Road to One Million plan, rural areas, small towns and larger metropolitan areas all need to grow. One of our long-term challenges is increasing the vitality of small towns and rural areas to stem out-migration. We need all 11 counties to grow and prosper in order for our region to compete for talent globally,” said Michael Galbraith, director of the Road to One Million at the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership.
“Business and community leaders rely on the input of residents, and we know we must learn more. We are asking for input from residents, employees, employers and young people who spend significant time in the region’s rural communities. Residents have a voice and they can provide a true, authentic representation of how they view their community,” said Sami Jacobs, marketing coordinator at the Noble County Economic Development Corporation.
“The treasures of Northeast Indiana’s rural areas are vital to attracting much-needed workforce talent to the region. The survey – and the strategic work that will come after it – will help cast a bright light on the many amenities of this region we call home,” said Rick Farrant, director of communications at Northeast Indiana Works.
The survey is only available online through Friday, Dec. 15. To fill out the survey, visit the following link.
To learn more, visit www.neindiana.com/news.
About the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership
The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s mission is to build, market and sell Northeast Indiana to increase business investment. Founded in 2006, the public-private partnership strives to build a globally competitive region. The Partnership’s Vision 2030 framework supports collaborative regional efforts to increase per capita income, population growth and educational attainment by focusing on business attraction, talent attraction and talent development. The Partnership represents 11 member counties: Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley counties. For more information, visit www.neindiana.com.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Kate Virag
Vice President of Marketing & Strategic Communications
Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership
260.414.2431
kate@NEIndiana.com
