You don’t have to live in the metro to live well—that’s the gospel Brian Voerding wants to spread. In 2023, he was named president of the Little Falls-based Initiative Foundation, whose work supports economic and community development in a 14-county, two tribal nation region of central Minnesota. In 2026, Voerding and the foundation will focus on “bridging and belonging” programs that help towns work together across divides to build stronger communities. “Rural places can be prosperous, welcoming, and exciting,” he says, “and they provide opportunities for all Minnesotans to thrive.”