releases: https://walz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walz-releases-southern-minnesota-way-of-life-report
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://walz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walz-releases-southern-minnesota-way-of-life-report | Walz Releases Southern Minnesota Way of Life Report | 2018-12-17 | 2018 | 2018-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Tim Walz | W000799 | walz.house.gov | legacy | MANKATO, MN Today, U.S. Representative Tim Walz (MN-01) released the Southern Minnesota Way of Life Report on behalf of the people of Minnesota's First Congressional District. The report summarizes what Rep. Walz and his office learned from constituents over the last two years along their listening tour across southern Minnesota. Alongside insight into the needs and the potential of southern Minnesota, the report showcases the Walz's Small Town and Regional Vitality Investment Act, legislation to invest in the needs and longevity of Minnesota's small towns and empower local leaders to create jobs. This report is a call to action, said Rep. Walz. It's a call to continue the conversations and building the bridges we started along the Southern Minnesota Way of Life Tour. It's a call to participate in our democracy and invite others to do the same. It's a call to unite and collaborate on commonsense solutions that benefit all our communities. I want to thank everyone who participated in our meetings, roundtables and summits over the last couple of years, Walz concluded. This report and the Small Town and Regional Vitality Investment Act would not have been made possible without your invaluable input and expertise. It is because of each and every one of you that Minnesota has a bright future, and I look forward to continue working with you all to bring it to fruition. Background In May of 2017, Walz and his office set out to visit all 21 counties in Minnesota's First Congressional District to hear from constituents and community leaders about how to protect and enrich their way of life in southern Minnesota. Along the Southern Minnesota Way of Life Tour, Walz and his team convened more than 60 meetings purposefully in small towns to hear about the critical challenges rural leaders are facing when it comes to meeting the current and projected needs of their local residents and communities. The Tour culminated in the Small Town and Regional Vitality Investment Act (H.R. 6383), legislation Walz introduced in July of 2018 to invest in the needs and longevity of Minnesota's small towns and empower local leaders to create jobs. Specifically, the bill creates a new investment initiative by sharing federal revenues directly with local governments to address the major challenges facing their specific communities. Furthermore, the legislation also spurs the alignment of the pressing decisions small towns have to make with their region's long-term strategic framework. Summary The Southern Minnesota Way of Life Report recaps the Southern Minnesota Way of Life Tour; summarizes what Walz and his team learned about the issues from southern Minnesotans; addresses how the office's findings can inform public policy; shares the message Walz's office heard from southern Minnesotans; showcases Walz's Small Town and Regional Vitality Investment Act; and provides a list of folks and organizations that participated in the office's listening tour. The specific needs of small town Minnesota communities identified in the report and addressed by Walz's legislation include but aren't limited to: affordable, quality child care and early childhood education options public infrastructure investment, such as waste water treatment facilities and substance abuse treatment centers sufficient housing opportunities for the local workforce reliable, high-speed internet increase in health care services, including mental health care, and affordable health insurance options increase in skilled, experienced workers increase in amenities like art and music, sports, bike trails, and other outdoor recreational opportunities To read the Southern Minnesota Way of Life Report in full, click here. Small Town and Regional Vitality Investment Act Support Numerous small towns, counties and organizations have passed Resolutions of Support for Walz's legislation, including: City of Austin City of Blooming Prairie City of Darfur City of Grand Meadow City of Grand Meadow EDA City of Houston City of Kasson City of Fergus Falls City of Luverne Dodge County Fillmore County Greater Minnesota Partnership Southwest Regional Development Commission Statements in support of the bill: The Small Towns and Regional Vitality Investment Act is the kind of game changer that can revitalize rural Minnesota and spark economic growth across the state, said Mayor Roy Srp, Waseca. This bill is an example of the kind of leadership Congressman Walz is known for. He listens and brings people together to solve problems. Rural communities across Minnesota can tackle the challenges they face if we work together to create investment in the things that matter most, said Nicole Griensewic-Mickelson, Executive Director, Region 9 Development. Organizations like mine help communities plan for their future and this legislation will tie that planning to strategic investment that will improve small towns across the state. Many of our workers have to travel long distances to job sites, said Carly Melin, Executive Director, MN Building and Construction Trades Council. This legislation will create jobs close to home for Minnesotan construction workers and will help revitalize local economies from the ground up. To learn more about how Rep. Walz's Small Town and Regional Vitality Investment Act will help Minnesota's small towns reach their full potential, please click here for an overview and click here for the full bill text. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |