Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Friday, September 9, 2011
(HUNTINGBURG) - The number of young adults leaving rural Indiana communities is alarmingly high. That concerns State Representative Sue Ellspermann. (R-Ferdinand)
Ellspermann hosted the first ever Southern Indiana Rural Communities Summit in Huntingburg this week.
Ellspermann says rural schools have lost 5 percent of their students in the past decade, and southwest Indiana has lost almost 8 percent. In fact, the Dubois County population lost 16 percent of 25-44-year-olds in less than a decade.
Ellspermann says without this age group, rural communities not only lose a good portion of the tax base, but also communities are operating with less youthful energy and leadership.
Ellspermann says young people need to see that there are many challenging career opportunities and businesses that they could create in their own rural communities.
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