Hello Iron Range! attracting workforce to Northeast Minnesota
November 13, 2020
Being a Workforce Strategy Consultant is all about making connections and developing solutions to help employers find the employees they need to grow and thrive in Minnesota. One of the most exciting projects that I have been working on is Hello Iron Range! a talent attraction website designed to promote the Iron Range and help businesses recruit and retain talent to the region. My partner in this project has been Beth Pierce, Executive Director from Iron Range Tourism.
The project was funded with support from the Blandin Broadband Initiative and the Iron Range Tourism Bureau. The purpose of the site is to be a resource to those considering a move to the Iron Range, showcasing our key employers, quality of life, low cost of housing and more. We also feature blogs from community leaders discussing education, what it’s like to relocate here, broadband access, and a variety of other topics of concern to those thinking of living or working here.
Hello Iron Range! has been in development for around a year and a half now. We convened several focus groups of local employers, local Chambers of Commerce and community leaders to discuss what should be included on a website promoting the area to a potential workforce. Beth and I also worked to recruit local leaders to blog about the Iron Range, and we plan on rolling those blogs out over time.