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2021 Heartland Forward Year in Review

From releasing cutting-edge policy reports, to standing up a comprehensive effort in our Connecting the Heartland high-speed internet campaign and making it possible for community builders to pursue their entrepreneurship dreams right here in the heartland, 2021 was a very busy year. Here are some of our 2021 highlights!

Four Principles to Maximize the Impact of Federal Spending on Connectivity in the Heartland

The signing of the federal infrastructure package is welcome news in the fight to close the digital divide across the heartland. Now the real work begins to make sure every dollar is spent efficiently and in service of the communities it’s intended to help.

Since Heartland Forward launched our Connecting the Heartland initiative to help close the digital divide, we have had the opportunity to engage with policymakers, subject matter experts, community leaders, digital equity advocates and residents across the heartland.

To that end, our work through Connecting the Heartland in the coming months and years will be anchored in four guiding principles.

Leaders from the Beltway to the Heartland agree: state and local stakeholders are key to making emergency high-speed internet programs long-term successes

COVID-19 has ushered in a new understanding of how vital an affordable high-speed internet connection is for accessing critical services – from healthcare and education to employment opportunities and small businesses. While the data is lacking to precisely measure the exact number of Americans who are not connected, it’s estimated that at least 30 million… Continue reading Leaders from the Beltway to the Heartland agree: state and local stakeholders are key to making emergency high-speed internet programs long-term successes

Hispanics and the Global Heartland

Hispanics constitute the majority. The Heartland continues to experience an influx of Hispanic immigrant workers, as seen in the last decade. Hispanic populations increased more than three times as fast as the national population from 2010 to 2019 (19.2% compared to 6.1%). The fastest growth was in North Dakota (119%) and South Dakota (61%) and… Continue reading Hispanics and the Global Heartland

THE PLOW THAT BROKE THE PLAINS … OFTEN WIELDED BY AN IMMIGRANT

Until recently, the Heartland’s immigrant legacy lay largely obscured — displaced urban ethnic enclaves, abandoned synagogues and discarded German-language newspapers. Yet in those mementos lies a tale relevant once again today as the foreign-born once again are re-shaping the region. Immigrants were a critical part of the Heartland’s story. Starting in the 1830s, German immigrants… Continue reading THE PLOW THAT BROKE THE PLAINS … OFTEN WIELDED BY AN IMMIGRANT

THE REFUGEE EFFECT

In September 2019, President Trump issued an executive order allowing local officials to decide whether their regions should continue accepting resettled refugees. Yet despite fears of rising opposition to refugee resettlements, local county boards in some places, such as Fargo, Bismarck and Grand Forks, North Dakota, voted to continue the practice with little fanfare. North… Continue reading THE REFUGEE EFFECT