Growing from the middle out: An economic model of good jobs for the heartland, by the heartland

Written By Megan Crook

Brookings
By Ben Armstrong and Elisabeth Reynolds
April 21, 2025

Now is the time to adopt a new approach to rebuilding the middle class—and the middle of the country. Places such as Fergus Falls, Minn., Grand Forks, N.D., and Manhattan, Kan. show us there’s a path for struggling regions to achieve wage growth and upward mobility. With a focus on K-12 and postsecondary education as well as rebuilding the industrial economy, these regions can expand on a model of economic vitality that’s made for the heartland.  Read more.

The Brookings Institution

Megan Crook
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