THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION CENTER FOR COMMUNITY VITALITY WILL LEAD AN INTEGRATED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROJECT TO ADDRESS THE INNOVATION FOR RURAL ENTREPRENEURS AND COMMUNITIES PRIORITY AREA. DRAMATIC DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS HAVE AFFECTED RURAL COMMUNITIES SINCE THE '70S. AS THE PROPORTION OF WORKFORCE-AGED PEOPLE LIVING IN RURAL AREAS DROPS, EMPLOYERS FACE PRESSURE TO FIND WORKERS, AND ENTREPRENEURISM SUFFERS. DEMOGRAPHIC DATA INDICATES THAT NEWCOMERS AGED 30 - 49 YEARS OLD ARE ATTRACTED TO RURAL AREAS. THESE NEWCOMERS BRING EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND AN ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT THAT REVITALIZES RURAL COMMUNITIES. RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE DISCOVERING THIS OPPORTUNITY. "PEOPLE-FOCUSED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT" INITIATIVES USE PRIVATE STRATEGIES AND PUBLIC POLICIES THAT RECRUIT AND RETAIN NEWCOMERS TO GROW THE WORKFORCE AND ENTREPRENEURISM IN THEIR LOCAL ECONOMY.THIS RESEARCH PROJECT WILL SUPPORT THESE PEOPLE-FOCUSED INITIATIVES BY: 1) CREATING A TYPOLOGY OF THESE EFFORTS; 2) CONDUCTING FOCUS GROUPS AND SURVEYS THAT BETTER DESCRIBE NEWCOMERS; AND, 3) USING FOCUS GROUPS AND SURVEYS TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER NEWCOMERS OF MANY TYPES ARE INTEGRATING WELL INTO RURAL LIFE. INCLUDING IMMIGRANTS IN THIS STUDY IS ESSENTIAL SO THAT ATTRACTION EFFORTS DO NOT REINFORCE "WHITE FLIGHT", AND SO THAT EMPLOYERS AND STOREFRONTS BENEFIT FROM RECRUITING AND RETAINING IMMIGRANTS, WHO ARE ESSENTIAL TO POPULATION GROWTH. "INTEGRATION" IS DEFINED HERE AS THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE TALENTS AND RESOURCES OF NEWER RESIDENTS BENEFIT FROM, AND ARE A BENEFIT TO, THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND THE PUBLIC GOOD.THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES THE PROGRAM AREA PRIORITY BECAUSE IT WILL RESULT IN RESEARCH AND EDUCATION THAT HELPS RURAL COMMUNITIES SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY AND CHALLENGE OF DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS AND APPLY NEW KNOWLEDGE TO ADVANCE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL COMMUNITIES.