The Tri-State Development Regional Report
news & updates
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ANNOUNCEMENT
CHANGE TO EVENT
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Please note that the Rural Elected Officials Roundtable initially scheduled for March 3rd has been postponed and will be rescheduled for a later date in the year that does not conflict with municipal elections. |
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WORKFORCE IN THE TRI-STATE REGION: SERIES |
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Tri-State Development will be exploring and providing insights on our regional workforce in a new series that will appear over the next several months. Please join us as we take a closer look at who we are, where we come from, and what we do.
The statistics that are provided below represent the Tri-State Development 36-county, 3-state region of Northeast Missouri, Southeast Iowa, and Westcentral Illinois. A list of the counties included in the region is available by clicking here. |
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- The Tri-State region's high school graduation rate exceeds the national average, demonstrating a strong network of public and private K-12 educational institutions.
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Regional college graduation rates among our residents are slightly lower than the national average. Keep in mind that this statistic is for residents only. This does not take into consideration the rate of graduates who leave the region for opportunities elsewhere. The out-migration of young, college-educated workers from the nation's rural areas was prevalent throughout the last two decades. However, some recent studies suggest that this trend may be shifting post-pandemic.
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The percent of residents 16 and older who are currently employed, enlisted in the armed forces, or actively seeking employment have jobs at a rate slightly below the national average. Availability of transportation and job density likely contribute to the slightly lower participation rate. Job density refers to the number of available jobs per acre. The Tri-State Development region has a job density of 0.02 compared to 0.06 nationally.
- We tend to scatter as we head off to work. Our regional workforce doesn't seem to mind traveling to their workplace, with higher rates than the national average crossing state lines for their paychecks. And though we may have to drive a little further to work, it takes less time than average. We aren't fighting traffic to get to work or back home.
- We are an innovative and entrepreneurial workforce with a significant number of self-employed residents, outpacing the national average. Highlighting entrepreneurial opportunities and providing services to small businesses within our region will help boost this workforce sector.
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Tri-State Development
SPOTLIGHT:
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LEE COUNTY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GROUP
CREATING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS FOR ADDRESSING SKILLED WORKFORCE SHORTAGES
The shortage of apprentices and skilled-trade workers has exposed the need for training programs and opportunities for students to explore jobs in the skilled trade sector. Exacerbated by the trend of rural outmigration and the decline in population growth, rural industry is facing significant challenges in meeting their labor needs. Lee County, Iowa, is no exception when experiencing the impact of these trends. But a new collaborative project between the Lee County Economic Development Group and the School District’s curriculum directors is tackling this challenge by providing students with hands-on introductions to the companies, careers, and opportunities available to them in the community where they live.
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Share Your Spotlight Story |
We want to shine a light on the Tri-State region! Tell us about the great things happening in your community! Please help us spread the word about the activities, projects, programs, and collaborations that positively impact our region. We want to thank you for all that you do!
Click here to submit a spotlight story. It's quick and easy!
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Are Tri-State Development Communities Focused on Population Growth? |
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A recent article published by Route 50 and written by Sharon O'Malley explores the emerging way midwestern communities are approaching economic development strategies. The article highlights insights provided by economic experts suggesting that focusing on "livability" and amenities provided within our smaller, midwestern towns may help attract new residents and workers. One expert suggests that without population growth, other traditional economic development strategies aren't going to be as successful. |
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Focusing on programs and activities that promote population growth should be our #1 priority.
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Yes, I agree! This should be a high priority for Tri-State Development.
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No, I disagree! Our region needs to focus on other economic strategies.
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Rural America at a Glance: 2022 Edition
Economic Information Bulletin No. (EIB-246) 24 pp
USDA Economic Resource Service
Interested in learning more about how the overall decline in population growth, the aging population, and changes to industry structure have changed the composition of the rural labor force over the past two decades?
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Discussion summaries and updated actions from task force meetings held in January will be provided in the February newsletter.
The Tri-State Development Task Forces meet regularly to discuss challenges and opportunities and to develop action plans to move regional initiatives forward. We have completed the first meeting for all seven task forces. To review the discussion notes and actions, please click on the links provided.
Thank you to those participating in the task force meetings, providing insight, direction, and perspective. We value participation from all stakeholders in the Tri-State Development region and encourage you to register for the next meeting.
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“Serving on a Tri-State Development Summit task force provides an opportunity to work with mission-driven stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to achieve the goal of encouraging investment in our communities and enhance the lives of our citizens. I take great responsibility and pride working with other stakeholders to increase economic opportunities for everyone across our region.”
Mark Schneider
Marketing Coordinator
Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials
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Tri-State Development is eager to share the progress and impact of task force efforts by providing access to meeting discussion notes and follow-up actions. Please click on the links below to review the task force notes from last quarter.
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Catch up on the Tri-State Development Newsletters that you missed!
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Please join us in showing gratitude to our Sponsorship Partners who generously support Tri-State Development at the Presenting and Program levels. Their investment helps support the annual Tri-State Development Summit, investments in stakeholder resources, as well as programs and projects throughout the year.
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Tri-State Development Summit at Culver-Stockton College | [culver.edu/tsds]
Leslie Sieck, Executive Director [lsieck@culver.edu]
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