For our rural communities, the connection between a quality
education and a vibrant, sustainable economy has never been
clearer. Unemployment rates in rural communities continue
to outpace state and national rates. To get the jobs of the future, even in fields like manufacturing and agriculture which
have not traditionally required postsecondary education, businesses are requiring that their workers obtain higher levels of
education than ever before. In the face of these challenges, it
is clear that making investments in education must be part of
any strategy to ensure that our region remains economically
vibrant and globally competitive.