Gogebic Range Next Generation Initiative
Will Andresen
Community Resource Development Educator
Many of today's young people are looking for more than just a job. They want to live in a place that also matches their lifestyle. This is a major change that local government and economic development officials should understand so that the community can attract and retain young people to sustain its population and economy.
A thorough review of the related literature supported this idea, but I realized that local research was required to build community credibility. I surveyed 668 local young people, presented the survey results to an audience of more than 60 local leaders and community members, and divided participants into four groups to develop strategies to retain and attract young people by better connecting them to the community, developing our niche, promoting our strengths and creating social capitol.
After analyzing the results, I identified four opportunities to attract and retain young people on the Gogebic Range, leading to the creation of four community-based work groups:
- Attract young workers by strengthening our niche.
- Attract young workers by promoting our strengths.
- Retain students by better connecting them to the community.
- Retain young workers by building social capital.
Peer reviewed
Presentations include:
- National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals, 2010
- Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs Economic Development Summit, 2010
- International Making Cities Livable Conference, 2009
- Wisconsin Associated County Extension Committees, 2009
- UW Colleges Colloquium, 2009
- UW-Extension Community Resource Development Department Symposium, 2009
- Governor's Northern Wisconsin Economic Development Summit, 2008
Additions to intellectual history
- Publications include "Attracting and Retaining Young People as an Economic Strategy" in the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs fall 2009 "Rural Research Report" (Volume 20, Issue 5).
- Neighboring Ashland County, Wisconsin, is conducting a similar survey of its young people.
- An exchange with the City of Ashland involved sending young adults from Gogebic Range to that community and inviting their young adults to our community to compare and contrast first impressions of the communities through the eyes of its young people.
Valued by those for whom intended
Awards include the Hurley Area Chamber of Commerce's recognition of the Gogebic Range Next Generation Initiative as its "Organization of the Year," 2009.
After 15 months, the evaluation of the Next Generation Initiative's (NGI) short-term outcomes has been largely positive. According to the March 2010 Zoomerang survey:
- 97% believed the NGI had a positive impact on the community, and those opinions were shared equally among natives, boomerangs and transplants to the community.
- 88% had a better understanding of how to create a community more attractive to young people.
- A clear majority stated that they (and the community) had a better understanding of the community's assets and the importance of promoting these assets.
- 79% of all respondents – and 88% of natives – had a more positive perception of the community.
- All six work group leaders indicated they learned new valuable skills.
- 87% of participants in the Go-In Forward Next Generation Group (formed to retain young workers by building social capital) said they would be more likely to stay in the community as the result of the group's social and networking opportunities.
Links
