North Dakota’s economic prosperity is providing stakeholders a chance to map the future direction of the state. Feedback from more than 600 people at 14 community meetings throughout the state has been compiled in a report recently released by North Dakota 2.0, an initiative announced in 2011 that is focused on bringing people together to capitalize on the state’s opportunities while addressing its immediate needs.
Richard Rathge, professor of sociology and director of the North Dakota State Census Data Center contributed to the report, titled “The Next Chapter.” The report offers eight recommendations for improving the state’s infrastructure, housing, transparency, leadership development, budget surpluses, health care, childcare and investing in the future.
“The goal of these recommendations is to develop a pathway toward a sustainable and successful future for people and our state,” Rathge said in the report. “I would like to thank the sponsors of North Dakota 2.0 for inviting me and my research team at NDSU to contribute to the completion of this study and the reported results.”
The initiative and report were developed in cooperation with a variety of sponsors, which included the NDSU Extension Service for Community Vitality. To view the report or find more information about North Dakota 2.0, visit www.nd20.com.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.