Name & Title: Julie Tesch, President & CEO
Organization name: Center for Rural Policy & Development (CRPD)
What industry/sector do you identify with? We connect with the non-profit world the most, but we are all encompassing on anything that has to do with rural life; health care, housing, taxes, childcare, transportation, etc.
Number of employees, member patrons, growers, shareholders etc. in Minnesota: 3 staff members and 19 board members
What about your organization or company’s work are you most proud of? I am most proud that we provide honest, non-biased, non-partisan research on topics important to rural MN. Our goal is to get decision makers at all levels in MN informed on the facts of rural MN. Hopefully our work then affects good policy decisions.
Please highlight key trends affecting your industry. Every year we conduct a Thought Leader Survey where we ask thought leaders across the state what issues are important to them that need further research. Our research agenda this year includes: Rural health care access, impacts of ag land values on rural infrastructure and economy, pandemic impacts on rural workforce, changes in county revenue sources, and pandemic impacts on immigrant, refugee and Native American populations.
Talk about the key opportunities & challenges facing your business over the next 5 years. We have the opportunity to provide key research on rural topics that can help make sound policy decisions. There is always opportunity for decision makers to utilize our research in making decisions. Like most non-profit’s right now, our biggest challenge is funding. We also struggle with getting our research out to the masses. We are becoming more strategic in getting our research in the hands of decision makers and also broadening relationships to help with funding in the future.
Website: www.ruralmn.org Facebook: @ruralmn Twitter: @ruralpolicymn
