Online Discussion: Topics for Conversation

Beginning December 10th, you will have an opportunity to 'sound-off' on a number of issues by responding to a list of questions. These questions are designed to address a number of rural policy issues that relate specifically to the state of North Dakota.

The format is quite simple. Review the list of questions below, click on a question that you wish to respond to. A new page will open with the question and a dialogue box for your reply. When you click on 'submit', your comments will be forwarded to us online. Postings of the responses will appear on this website on a daily basis. This online discussion will remain open up to and throughout the "Marketplace of Ideas" event.

• Question 1: How important is it that rural communities survive? Why invest in rural America? In rural North Dakota?
  
  
  
• Question 2: How are our public policies keeping pace with the changing rural economies? If not, why?
  
  
  
• Question 3: What are the service gaps and barriers to creating and/or sustaining vital, rural communities?
  
  
  
• Question 4: What policies and projects have worked in your rural community?
  
  
  
• Question 5: What resources and tools are needed to maintain and revitalize the quality of life in our rural communities?
  
  
  
• Question 6: What do you think is the most effective use of the public dollar in rural North Dakota?
  
  
  
• Question 7: What are the important priorities for rural education?
  
  
  
• Question 8: What are the unrecognized job or self employment opportunities of your community?
  
  
  
• Question 9: What public outcomes should a rural policy try to attain?
  
  
  
• Question 10: What would rural policies look like if developed to:
  
  
  • Redefine and restructure the rural-serving college and university so as to increase human capital in sparsely populated and high poverty rural areas.
    
    
  • Create new market demands and linkages so as to increase regional competitive investments in urban periphery and sparsely populated areas.
    
    
  • Develop and use new technology to overcome remoteness to create infrastructure that expands competitive advantage in sparsely populated and high poverty areas.
    
    
  • Encourage immigration to rural communities to increase human capital in sparsely populated and high poverty areas