There have been a couple of editorials in the Star Tribune that have painted a bleak picture for rural Minnesota. Last December, Representative Hamilton and Senator Schmit told us that Rural Minnesota is falling behind and losing clout. Earlier this month, Jim Mulder took us on a tour of Minnesota’s small-towns: A tour of crisis in the making.

Hamilton and Schmit point out…

In much of Greater Minnesota, stagnant economic growth is coupled with flat or declining population. This, in turn, has led to diminished rural clout at the Legislature. A 2013 report for the St. Peter-based Center for Rural Policy and Development highlighted the challenge, noting that “statewide organizations are following the flow of money and members to the Twin Cities and regional centers — placing much more emphasis on nonrural agendas.”

Otherwise effective tools in our state economic development toolbox, such as the Angel Investor Tax Credit, disproportionately benefit the metro — with 95 percent of funds staying in the Twin Cities area. Where opportunity exists, our policy continues to lag: for instance, the Department of Employment and Economic Development reports that 12,000 additional workers will be needed to fill manufacturing jobs in Greater Minnesota by 2020. If we can’t fill these openings with qualified workers, the jobs will go elsewhere or simply fail to materialize. That’s lost opportunity for the state.

Mulder paints a similar picture…

But to get a real feel for the crisis, take a long drive across Minnesota on rural highways such as U.S. 75, U.S. 212, MN 9 or MN 30. Make sure to tour small cities like Benson, Olivia, Tracy and Montevideo. Stop in smaller cities like Balaton, Ada, Hallock and Wheaton and have a cup of coffee. (Don’t even think about asking for a latte, but you might be able to have egg coffee.) Take a moment to stop in some really small cities, like Echo, Holloway and Euclid. Don’t expect to find a cup of coffee here. Most of the small-town coffee shops and cafes have disappeared. …

Movie theater? Not a chance. Thrift and secondhand stores are fairly common, and many of the smaller towns have nursing homes and assisted-living facilities that look new or have recent additions spreading from an original building. Housing throughout the city looks a little ragged, and you’ll see empty lots where a house used to stand. Other houses are abandoned and are close to falling down. On the edge of town, a newer home may have been built, but you won’t see a subdivision. You will probably find an old school building. If it’s in use, the name on the school will incorporate the county or region or multiple nearby cities. If it is not open, it may have found another use, but in too many cases it stands empty.

I spend a fair amount of time in rural areas and while I’m not likely to confuse Cloquet with Uptown Minneapolis, the picture I pain might not be as bleak – part of the reason is because I tend to visit areas that have or are actively seeking broadband for the community. Both articles recognize the dearth of broadband in areas that are hurting and/or potential of broadband to make a difference.

From Hamilton and Schmit…

Greater Minnesota’s infrastructure shortcomings vary from roads to sewers, but significant disparities in broadband Internet connectivity are keeping much of Greater Minnesota from truly “connecting.” While basic connectivity for e-mail and online shopping has extended its reach, service with the speeds and reliability needed for important new applications in e-commerce, tele-medicine, education, and agriculture is sorely lacking.

Mulder offers broadband as one of four factors in a successful community…

Invest in traditional transportation infrastructure such as roads, bridges and railroads but also in ultra-high-speed broadband infrastructure that can create new business opportunities and access to broadcast culture and sports.

It makes sense for rural to look toward broadband. BUT it’s not just a rural issue. Again as Hamilton and Schmit point out, it’s a statewide issue…

Amid this troubling news, though, there is hope. We know our weaknesses. We can target policy fixes to address them. And despite its shortcomings, Minnesota’s economy is picking up steam. Now imagine the strength of a diversified statewide economy operating on all cylinders — one that fully integrates the creativity, entrepreneurship, and productivity of all it citizens.

And research has shown that investment in rural areas provides a return on investment for urban areas too.

I am about to head out to a Ways & Means meeting where they will discuss the $100 million for broadband development – I hope to write more specifically on that bill after the meeting. But I wanted to give a heads up and hopefully provide a format to get people interested because some of the discussion gets wonky and geeky but at the root will be potential investment, much of it in rural areas. Again after the meeting I hope to have details to help communities look at the issue and decide if the bill would serve them well and help them make wise investments in the community.