Making Rural Life Appealing
to Young People

By Zanetta Doyle, Digest Editor

The face of rural America is changing as young adults increasingly leave to pursue opportunities unavailable to them in their hometowns. Whether it is to attend college, enlist in the military, pursue better paying jobs or to just seek a better life someplace else, many have chosen to make the big city their home.

While the out-migration of youth is a growing trend throughout the rural US, it is even more evident in the Midwest, according to a recent article in the US Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service’s Rural America. It reported that during the 1990s three- fifths of the youth in nonmetro counties in the Midwest had fewer residents under age 18 in 2000 than in 1990. (Population Change in the Midwest: Nonmetro Population Growth Lags Metro Increase, Summer 2000). However, there was some improvement based on 2000 Census data, which revealed that three-quarters of the nonmetro counties reported more 18-64 year olds in 2000 than in 1990. As a result of the continuing out-migration of young adults in rural areas, many development organizations have created programs that seek to encourage youth to stay by creating educational, career and social opportunities.

New Hampshire Youth Network Through the Web

The Belknap County Economic Development Council in Laconia, New Hampshire is helping to stem youth out-migration through their Web site www.NHFuture.net. This site offers free online services to connect recent high school, college and technical program graduates with in-state companies. The site is co-sponsored by the New Hampshire Employment Security and Department of Resources and Economic Development, and funded by grants and public contributions. Administered by the Council, it links recent graduates to full-time, part-time or seasonal jobs as well as apprenticeships, internships and cooperative education opportunities. Companies list their openings and job seekers post classified ads for employers to browse.

www.NHFuture.net connects New Hampshire youth to career opportunities.

The Web site, which was launched in 2001, has made a significant impact in a short time with limited resources. During the first few months of its launch, it was maintained on a budget of $10,000. Designed by college students, the site received 3,000 hits weekly, primarily from job seekers. More than 500 companies are registered on the site. Most have advertised jobs or searched for job applicants. The highest number of jobs posted in any month was 150, and the average number of monthly posts is 110. On average, 75 job seekers post classified ads to the site monthly. “When students return home from college or from pursuing other endeavors, there is sometimes a disconnection and they don’t know where or how to find work,” said Eliza Leadbeater, Executive Director of the Belknap County Economic Development Council. “This website serves as a big ‘Rolodex’ for the students to network and to give them access to available opportunities.”

The council will continue to promote the site via job fairs, colleges and local public service announcements throughout the state. Leadbeater explained that job availability and salaries range from entry-level to professional, and everyone from high school graduates to those who hold masters degrees could find employment in New Hampshire through the site.

Motivating Youth In Kentucky

The Cumberland Valley Area Development District (CVADD), in London, Kentucky, recognized the need for youth to develop core skills to pursue future career opportunities, and to convince them to return home to put those skills to use. Through CVADD’s Teen Leadership and Mentoring program, high school juniors and seniors learn about volunteerism, ethical decision-making, leadership abilities, career development, time management, business etiquette and goal setting. Students also network with business, education, ministry, medical and government professionals. “The young people as well as the community have been very receptive, and this particular project has brought a real sense of community to this area,” said Betty Calhoun, CVADD staff member who administers the program.

The program serves Jackson County, Kentucky, one of the poorest areas in the region, and a federal designated Empowerment Zone. It was based, in part, on results from a survey of local businesses conducted by the CVADD. “Businesses told us that they could train the young people to do a job, just as long as they were willing to come to work,” Calhoun said. “More than half of the businesses are actively involved in training and mentoring students. Many are also targeting students for employment once they complete school or their training program,” she added.

Since the program’s inception in 2001, 24 post-secondary scholarships have been awarded to teens who have completed the program. The school drop out rate has declined from 9.9 percent to 8.4 percent. School attendance has increased from 92 percent to 93 percent and the successful transition of graduating high school seniors into adult life has increased from 90 percent to 96 percent.

A three year $2.5 million grant from the Department of Labor in 1999, helped CVADD establish an office and create five jobs in Jackson County. “Even though we may have an additional two years to spend our funds, we are already looking at other possible resources once the grant ends to extend the program, as well as other career development projects,” Calhoun stated. The ADD has had conversations with the Kentucky Bankers Association as a source of funding and they also hope to encourage local businesses to sponsor students through the program.

John Bruner, Executive Director of the Cumberland Valley Area Development District, commented, “We have really seen a positive return on the investments made in this program. We have more local young people going to work as a result of the comprehensive training, experience and confidence they gain. And, they have the option of returning to and contributing to the improvement of the community in which they gained their skills.”

For more information contact: Betty Calhoun of the Cumberland Valley ADD’s Teen Leadership and Mentoring Program at 606/864-7391 or bettyc@cvadd.org; Eliza Leadbeater of the Belknap County EDC at 603/524-3057 or info@bcedc.org.

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