So with a big press conference and with many of the local movers & shakers present, a new initiative was launched today, called the Valley Prosperity Partnership. See all of their info here:
Valley Prosperity Partnership | Linking business, community, and people
It's basically a coordinated lobbying & marketing effort among the metro areas of the Red River Valley. Workforce Development--attracting, developing, and retaining talent is the first stated goal. So one of the major action steps to achieve that is "Attract Former Valley Residents and Alumni." Now there is an action step listed later of "Create Pilot Program to Recruit Foreign-Born Talent and/or Attract the Unemployed or Underemployed" I do admit.
But still--why the fixation on specifically recruiting & hiring those who have lived here previously? When you combine this with the experiences of those in the Upper Midwest who have relocated (see "
Newcomers say it's Nice, but not warm"), as someone who has relocated, I get the distinct message that I'm really not wanted here.
Is this what you would recommend to the power brokers of the region to deal with workforce shortages?