UMC Receives Grant from Bremer Foundation
The Otto Bremer Foundation will provide $100,000 over the next four years to help support a new rural economic development degree emphasis within UMC’s Agricultural Business degree program. Rob Jacobson, president of Bremer Bank of Crookston, recently presented the first installment of $25,000 to UMC officials. Speaking on behalf of the Otto Bremer Foundation, Jacobson said, “We’re very pleased. This is a good investment for us and a good fit for UMC.”
UMC Chancellor Don Sargeant was appreciative, saying "We're very fortunate to have the Otto Bremer Foundation as a partner interested in achieving the same goal."
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The curriculum has been in development at UMC for the past year and a half. Its focus is on teaching students to assist rural communities in developing and marketing their strengths by envisioning and nurturing economic development and by recognizing opportunities to participate in the larger economy. The program grew in response to a noticeable trend that many small towns and rural communities have been hiring consultants and economic developers to help draw business and industry to those communities.
Dave Hoff, program manager for the new rural economic development emphasis, said the new program integrates well with UMC's established agricultural business curriculum. That, when combined with currently offered business courses in management marketing and the new courses designed specifically to focus on rural economic development issues, "should provide a solid foundation for graduates and enable them to identify and organize to take advantage of opportunities for businesses and people in these rural areas," says Hoff.
Richard Nelson, Director of UMC's Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources, adds, "We've heard much about the digital divide, but less about the growing income divide between rural and metro regions. Lower income earning potential in rural areas makes it difficult to attract and retain the talent that fuels sustainable economic growth. Because education is the most important factor in determining earning power, professional rural economic developers trained in UMC's new program will be exceptionally well prepared to help close the income divide."
For more information about the Rural Economic Development emphasis, visit <www.umcrookston.edu/academics/AgBus/RED/> or contact Dave Hoff at 218-281-8139. The new program is also supported by the Veden Charitable Trust.
Posted 04/18/2001
Contact: Andrew Svec,
218-281-8435