Artificial Intelligence Presents New Opportunities For Heartland States

Heartland-based firms are finding a friend in AI – one that helps them introduce advances more on pace with the nation’s coastal tech centers. Further, being able to rapidly absorb knowledge has cut deeply into the insider advantages of physical proximity. Heartland tech businesses can now access noncodified, tacit information so quickly that there’s little… Continue reading Artificial Intelligence Presents New Opportunities For Heartland States

Heartland Has Less to Fear from AI:Evaluating Occupational, Industry and Geographic Exposure

The heartland has less to fear in terms of losing jobs to the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) than other parts of the country — especially some large metro areas along the East and West coasts. Five heartland states — Arkansas, Mississippi, Indiana, Kentucky and Louisiana — are among the least likely to suffer employment… Continue reading Heartland Has Less to Fear from AI:Evaluating Occupational, Industry and Geographic Exposure

Heartland Men Care, Too

Happy family, father and girl playing in a house with freedom, bonding and enjoying quality time together. Happiness, smile and child flying in dads arms on the floor on a weekend at home in Portugal.

During the pandemic as schools shifted to virtual classes and daycares were closed, much attention was focused on adults unable to work since they needed to care for others. In October 2020, Heartland Forward published a blog post sharing  that 5.34% of women were unable to work due to care arrangements, and women located in… Continue reading Heartland Men Care, Too

2022 Heartland Forward Year in Review

As a “think-and-do” tank, our research informs our programs and our programs inform our research. Over the course of 2022, Heartland Forward’s work took both aspects of our mission to new heights.

Championing the Doers – Philanthropy as a Toolkit for Economic Creation

As a 501c3 non-profit with the mission of improving economic outcomes in the middle of the country, we at Heartland Forward often find ourselves grappling with how our work, and indeed the giving of our philanthropists, can make the most impact.  Lukas Walton, Founder and CEO of Builders Vision and Board Trustee, Walton Family Foundation,… Continue reading Championing the Doers – Philanthropy as a Toolkit for Economic Creation

A Deep Dive into NSF Regional Innovation Engine Applications: How We Can Use NSF’s Interactive Application Visualization to Learn More About the Heartland and Innovation 

A few weeks after the deadline to submit concept outlines for the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Regional Innovation Engines program, the economic development world received a pleasant surprise: NSF published an interactive visualization displaying the 679 submissions that advanced to the next round in the process. (Note: this visualization is embedded at the bottom of… Continue reading A Deep Dive into NSF Regional Innovation Engine Applications: How We Can Use NSF’s Interactive Application Visualization to Learn More About the Heartland and Innovation 

Heartland States and Communities Advance Innovation and Economic Development With the Support of Massive Federal Funding

How Can Communities Maximize these Opportunities? Billions of federal funds are being delivered across the country for new programs, investments in local innovation and infrastructure improvements. What’s more is that much of these dollars are flowing directly to the American heartland.  As a think-and-do tank with the mission to improve economic outcomes in the middle… Continue reading Heartland States and Communities Advance Innovation and Economic Development With the Support of Massive Federal Funding

Heartland Talent: Policy and Practice

Workforce development challenges have become perhaps the largest priority—trumping even job growth—for many areas of the heartland and particularly in smaller, growing metropolitan areas. Workforce initiatives traditionally have been federally funded and administered by state governments, sometimes creating overly staid systems not adaptable to meet local needs.  Local economic development organizations can provide the bridge… Continue reading Heartland Talent: Policy and Practice