Preston, MN, August, 2020 — Minnesota Compass is pleased to announce that Cathy Enerson, Economic Development Director of Eyota, Minn., Preston, Minn., and Lanesboro, Minn. has been selected as one of its 2020 Minnesota Compass Champions!
Minnesota Compass, a social indicators project led by Wilder Research, measures progress, and provides data and trends about Minnesota and its communities. Compass developed regional “champions” across the state to help individuals and organizations access and use the data and resources it provides to guide programs, planning, and policies that will benefit residents and communities.
Compass champions are provided with a tool kit tailored to their region and community. They learn how to use Minnesota Compass data, charts, and tools in local workshops, presentations, reports, and meetings. The champions work with Minnesota Compass researchers to identify unique ways to use data. Examples of ways to apply Minnesota Compass data includes the creation of a promotional plan for their community, and or conduct outreach, presentations, and workshops to help residents, businesses, community leaders, and organizations understand and use data to support their communities. Minnesota Compass Champion applicants must live in a Minnesota community, demonstrate involvement in their community in a professional and/or personal capacity, as well as demonstrate how they anticipate championing Minnesota Compass in their region.
Enerson will be sharing housing, economic, and employment data tools with local communities to support economic development in southern Minnesota. “I am looking forward to presenting Minnesota Compass to local businesses and organizations said Ms. Enerson. “Data-informed decision making is a key to understanding how to support and grow our communities.” Enerson will share Minnesota Compass data to use within the Preston “Livability tab,” a website tab showcased on the Preston Area Chamber’s website prestonchamber.com/livability, as well as in the community to help businesses and non-profits. The “Livability” tab serves to education new and or potential businesses and residents about how to live, play and recreate in Preston area. To learn more, go to www.mncompass.org.
Wilder Research, part of the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research and evaluation center dedicated to the field of human services. Wilder Research issues nearly 150 reports per year to improve understanding of major social issues and identify effective ways to strengthen individuals, families, and communities.