Viewpoint

“Young people are fitter to invent than to
judge; fitter for execution than for counsel;
and more fit for new projects than for
settled business.”

—Francis Bacon

Even in the 17th century, the special talents and strengths of young people were recognized. In the 21st century, preparing young people to participate in the new economy and attracting companies to rural regions are top priorities for regional development organizations. The New River Valley Planning District Commission in Virginia is partnering with their local community college to train young people for high- technology careers and is recruiting companies that provide these jobs.

In the early 20th century, the question was, “How are you going to keep them down on the farm?” Today, the number of farmers is small and employment in this sector is shrinking. But off-farm employment enables many to preserve and sustain their family farms. Many rural regions that have depended on agriculture or natural resource-based industries like forestry are now faced with a new economy tied to technology. Even communities still dependent on agriculture and resources need workers with high-tech skills.

Educating the current workforce to meet the needs of today’s employers is a top priority of many regional organizations. About 25 percent of NADO member organizations administer the Workforce Investment Act for their regions; members in the Eastern and Western regions rank workforce as one of their top two priorities. Whether regional organizations are directly involved in workforce activities, their staff and board members recognize the need to consider this as part of their economic development strategy.

Developing a skilled workforce and encouraging creation and attraction of high-tech companies requires a coordinated approach that extends beyond a single institution or jurisdiction, particularly in small metropolitan and rural areas where resources are limited. The New River effort includes education, infrastructure, planning and entrepreneurship. All are necessary to build and sustain an economy.

Rural Education and Economy Currently, there are 22,000 rural schools in America, representing 28 percent of the total number of schools. These schools serve six million rural students, who represent 16 percent of the student population in the US. Seventy percent of rural schools have 400 or more students. (Perspective [Central Savannah River Area RDC], Vol. 28, No. 3, Winter 1998) About half of the nation’s schools and approximately 40 percent of the public school students are in rural areas and small towns. Rural schools are smaller; less likely to have minority students, less likely to provide bilingual, English as a Second Language, magnet and job placement programs, but are more likely to offer remedial and Chapter One programs. (Status of Public Education in Rural Areas and Small Towns - A Comparative Analysis, National Education Association, September 1998) Existing businesses create the majority of all new jobs. According to Ohio State University’s research, 78 percent of Ohio’s new jobs come from expansions of existing businesses. In rural areas, it is 86 percent.

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