IMPACT 20/20 has focused its attention on three key economic drivers in Northwest Minnesota:
1. Broadband: Support installation of high-speed internet access throughout the region.
2. Education: Increase high school and college graduation rates.
3. Workforce: Enhance the leadership skills of the region’s first-line and mid-level managers.
Each of the three initiatives was adopted in response to the findings of a Regional Competitiveness Assessment that was prepared for IMPACT 20/20 using the results of one-on-one interviews conducted with all of the members. The education initiative was intended to address the fact that our schools and colleges are not adequately preparing a shrinking labor force for the new knowledge-based economy. The workforce initiative was meant to satisfy the growing need of employers for mid-level managers with supervisory skills adequate to the 21st Century workplace. The infrastructure initiative was conceived as a technological answer to the issue of a shrinking labor force. (In other words, workforce needs was the unifying theme.)
Taskforces were subsequently formed around each initiative, consisting of IMPACT 20/20 Core Team members, support staff, and outside advisors. The taskforces have formulated work plans which are now beginning to be implemented.