Library

Looking for new and notable information to help you dig deeper into an issue? Start with these featured reports and web sites, and then browse through our full selection by topic.

Reports: Featured

Quarterly economic pulse December 2011
Greater Twin Cities United Way and Twin Cities Compass, December 2011, 4 pp.
Provides information on economic trends impacting the Twin Cities region, including data on the unemployment rate, layoffs, housing, homelessness, and community basic needs. more info >

Ninth District community insight: A front-line perspective on the economic health of low- to moderate-income communities
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, November 2011, 13 pp.
Presents findings from a survey of community development and service organizations that is designed to provide insight on key indicators related to the economic health of low- to moderate-income communities. more info >

High black unemployment widespread across nation's metropolitan areas
Economic Policy Institute, October 2011, 8 pp.
This report compares black unemployment rates before and after the recent economic downturn, finding that many metropolitan areas current have rates of over 20 percent, black unemployment rates of over 20 percent, comparable to the peak national unemployment rates during the Great Depression of the 1930s. more info >

oneMinneapolis: Community indicators report
Wilder Research, October 2011, 64 pp.
A look at disparities in education, economic vitality, and social capital indicators for the city of Minneapolis. more info >

Civic health and unemployment: Can engagement strengthen the economy?
National Conference on Citizenship, September 2011, 7 pp.
States with higher levels of civic engagement - including Minnesota - are more resilient during an economic downturn, according to this report. The report found that states with the highest level rates of volunteering and working with neighbors had the smallest increase in unemployment between 2006 and 2010. more info >

Everybody in: A report to reduce racial employment disparities in the Ramsey County Metropolitan Area
Blue Ribbon Commission Reducing Racial Employment Disparities, September 2011, 68 pp.
Strategies to reduce racial employment disparities in Ramsey County Metropolitan Area. more info >

Citizen solutions: CItizen perspectives on Minnesota's long-term budget
Bush Foundation, August 2011, 12 pp.
Results of citizen forums that brought together Minnesotans from many walks of life and political beliefs to foster new ideas for solving the state’s budget challenges. more info >

Pilot study: Estimating rural and urban Minnesota's interdependencies
Minnesota Rural Partners, April 2011, 48 pp.
Illustrates the economic importance of rural Minnesota to all of Minnesota's economic health and well being. more info >

All hands on deck: Sixteen ideas for strengthening Minnesota's workforce: 2011 Policy advisory
Governor's Workforce Development Council, March 2011, 41 pp.
Presents 16 policy recommendations designed to improve Minnesota's education and training system and help meet the increasing demand for skilled workers. Recommendations fall in four areas: strengthening the skills of the current workforce, creating work and lifetime learning options for aging workers, expanding work opportunities for Minnesotans with disabilities, and ensuring all high school graduates are ready for success. more info >

Immigrant children: The Future of Children Spring 2011
The Brookings Institution and Princeton University, March 2011, 270 pp.
Includes a variety of articles that look at the well-being of immigrant children and what can be done to improve their educational attainment, health, social and cognitive development, and long-term prospects for economic mobility. more info >

Common Cents public participation findings
Citizens League, March 2011, 19 pp.
Provides a summary of community conversations held around the state to share information about Minnesota's budgetary challenges and to ask citizens: What values and priorities should guide solutions to state budget challenges for the long-term? more info >

Women in America: Indicators of social and economic well-being
U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration, March 2011, 97 pp.
This report provides a statistical picture of women in America in five critical areas: demographic and family changes, education, employment, health, and crime and violence. more info >

Central Corridor key outcomes: Baseline indicators report
Central Corridor Funders Collaborative, March 2011, 43 pp.
This reporting tool presents baseline data, gathered before construction of the Central Corridor, on the progress made toward realizing the outcomes for the surrounding area identified by the Funders Collaborative. The report focuses on 13 indicators that will be used to measure outcomes and provides detailed breakouts for the East, Middle and West segments of the corridor. more info >

Beyond the bottom line: Ideas for the future of public investment in Minnesota
March 2011, 53 pp.
Presents 16 ideas that could help Minnesota leaders redesign public services to maximize impact while saving money. This is a follow-up report to Bridges to a Better Bottom Line. more info >

What do we know about nonprofit mergers?
Wilder Research, March 2011, 8 pp.
Based on a literature search, interviews, and a focus group, this study presents factors before, during, and after a nonprofit merger that impact its success. more info >

The long run has become the short run: Budget implications of demographic change
Minnesota State Demographic Center, February 2011, 26 pp.
Examines the effect of an aging population on the state budget between 2011 and 2020. more info >

Building economic security in America's cities: Municipal strategies for asset building and financial empowerment
Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED), January 2011, 96 pp.
Cities are increasingly offering strategies to help families save money, leverage those savings into assets and have access to fair credit according to this report, which highlights successful strategies to help families achieve self-sufficiency. more info >

Assets and opportunity profile: St. Paul
Corporation for Enterprise Development, December 2010, 8 pp.
This profile focuses on wealth, poverty and opportunity in St. Paul. It includes a data snapshot of the financial security and opportunities for St. Paul residents as well as an overview of what it takes for households to achieve financial security. more info >

Assets and opportunity profile: Minneapolis
Corporation for Enterprise Development, December 2010, 8 pp.
This profile focuses on wealth, poverty and opportunity in Minneapolis. It includes a data snapshot of the financial security and opportunities for Minneapolis residents as well as an overview of what it takes for households to achieve financial security. more info >

Minnesota nonprofit economy report: A statewide and regional analysis 2010
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, December 2010, 28 pp.
Annual report providing employment and and financial data for nonprofit organizations statewide and in six Minnesota regions. more info >

14 Solutions that expand job and economic opportunity, and reduce Minnesota's disparities
Organizing Apprenticeship Project, December 2010, 16 pp.
This policy brief offers solutions that expand opportunity, reduce Minnesota's racial, gender and economic disparities, and highlights equity implications of the most pressing policy issues. more info >

Soul of the Community: St. Paul, MN
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, November 2010, 20 pp.
This study was conducted over three years in 26 cities across the United States where Knight Foundation is active. It was designed to find out what emotionally attaches people to a community and what makes them want to put down roots and build a life there. more info >

Transform 2010: Data report - baby boomer survey
Minnesota Department of Human Services, November 2010, 24 pp.
Results of a survey of Minnesota baby boomers that asked for their thoughts about work and housing and how they expect to approach these issues in the next 10 years. more info >

Rural Pulse 2010
Blandin Foundation, October 2010, 44 pp.
Results of a survey of rural Minnesotans conducted in September 2010. It presents demographic information, including data on employment, family income, and length of residence. Respondents were asked questions about the condition of their community's economy and quality of life; a person's ability to affect change; whether community members worked well together; community leadership; whether their community is welcoming for people of all backgrounds; access to basic services; the community's ability to control crime, provide services for the elderly and protect the environment; access to technology and strong infrastructure; adequate healthcare and cultural/arts opportunities; and availability of quality educational and job opportunities. Respondents were asked to select the most critical issue to their community. more info >

Young children of immigrants: The leading edge of America's future
The Urban Institute, August 2010, 14 pp.
Highlights information about children 0-8 growing up in immigrant families in the United States, including immigration trends, impact on schools, and parental and family characteristics. more info >

America's children in brief: Key national indicators of well-being, 2010
Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, July 2010, 22 pp.
Reports data on a set of indicators of child well-being. Indicators included are in the categories of family and social environment, economic categories, health care, physical environment and safety, behavior, education, and health. more info >

Help wanted: Projections of jobs and education requirements through 2018
Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, June 2010, 122 pp.
Provides detailed national forecasts of educational demand from 2008 through 2018, including educational demand by education level, occupation, and industry. Minnesota is ranked among the top five states that will lead the nation in job openings requiring postsecondary education. more info >

Uneven pain: Unemployment by metropolitan area and race
Economic Policy Institute, June 2010, 11 pp.
Details the variation in unemployment across the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. The Twin Cities metropolitan area has the highest black-white unemployment ratio, with the black unemployment rate three times that of the white rate. more info >

Charting a new course: Restoring job growth in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region
Itasca Project, April 2010, 28 pp.
Identifies strategies and policies the region could employ to create, attract, and retain quality jobs. Strategic priorities identified include: addressing the cost of doing business; developing a vision, strategy, and approach for regional economic development; and enhancing entrepreneurship and innovation. more info >

The economic impact of immigrants in Minnesota
Minnesota Business Immigrant Coalition, September 2009, 48 pp.
Information on the estimated fiscal costs and contributions of immigrants in Minnesota. more info >

MergeMinnesota: Nonprofit merger as an opportunity for survival and growth
MAP for Nonprofits, June 2009, 61 pp.
Provides information about the merger process, including steps to take, mistakes to avoid, and best practices. It also includes profiles of completed mergers and a literature review. more info >

Preparing Minnesota's workforce for tomorrow's economy
Governor's Workforce Development Council, November 2008, 24 pp.
The Council's recommendations for preparing Minnesota's workforce for the future. Committees identified problems and provided recommendations in the areas of business and community connections, diversity, education, and skill and wage advancement. more info >

Artists' count: An economic impact study of artists in Minnesota, 2007
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, November 2007
Detailed regional studies documenting the annual economic impact of Minnesota’s individual artists. One statewide study also looks at artists' access to health care and retirement plans. more info >

The Arts: A driving force in Minnesota's economy
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, November 2006
Detailed regional studies documenting the annual economic impact of Minnesota's nonprofit arts and culture industry, demonstrating that the arts are a powerful economic development tool. more info >