The presence of such industry powerhouses as Polaris, Arctic Cat and New Flyer make Northwest Minnesota a hub of transportation equipment manufacturing.
From wheat and potatoes to soybeans and sugar beets, the region is a major producer and processor of food staples and specialty agricultural products.
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11/5/2020 9:00:00 AM
Erik White
According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, "World War II was the most widespread war in history with more than 100 million people serving in military units. About 16 million Americans served during WWII, and many of those veterans are now receiving VA benefits including pension and health care." At this point, most living veterans from WWII are in their 90s and older.
A recent article from the Pew Research Center suggests there are about 300,000 WWII veterans still living, including about 16,250 WWII veterans in Minnesota, and 1,775 who reside in Northwest Minnesota. These veterans lived through both the Great Depression and WWII, earning the title of the "Greatest Generation." Though every year there are fewer WWII veterans in the population, they deserve honor and appreciation for the sacrifices they made for our country.
Including WWII vets, there were over 35,500 veterans living in Northwest Minnesota in 2018, according to the Census Bureau. The largest group of veterans in the region were from the Vietnam era, representing over 15,000 residents, with another 4,000 veterans from the Korean War era. Northwest Minnesota is home to about 10% of the state's veterans, though it has a higher share of veterans from the Vietnam and Korean wars, reflecting the region's aging population. In sum, there were an estimated 21,450 veterans in Northwest Minnesota that are 65 years and older in 2018.
Nearly 4,400 veterans in the region served during the first Gulf War, and another 4,000 have served from 2001 and on. More than 6,250 served in other periods.
There were just over 14,000 veterans between 18 and 64 years of age in Northwest Minnesota in 2018. Nearly 11,000 of these veterans were participating in the labor force, bringing a wide variety of skills capabilities to employers in the region.
DEED offers resources and representatives through CareerForce to provide priority services for former military members. This includes help with setting career goals, pursuing education, or finding a job.
In Northwest Minnesota, there are two great contacts to help veterans with employment:
North Central Minnesota: Jane Kerntz
Northwest Minnesota: LaDeen Schillinger
Veterans, active duty military service members and their spouses are also invited to participate in this year's Virtual Veterans Career Fair taking place on November 19.
Contact Erik White.
