America's rural future: What does the future look like here?
A Brookings-AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity field hearing

Thursday, October 23, 2025, 1:45 - 3:45 p.m. CDT 
Location: Shooting Star Casino, White Earth-NTW-Ogema-Waubun Room, 777 S Casino Rd, Mahnomen, MN 56557

America’s Rural Future: Brookings-AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity is a bipartisan endeavor co-chaired by former Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and former Governor Chris Sununu (R-NH), and facilitated by Tony Pipa of the Brookings Institution and Brent Orrell of the American Enterprise Institute. The commission is focused on reviewing and updating federal policy to enable rural prosperity in the 21st century by strengthening economic opportunity, resilience, and quality of life across rural America.  

On October 23 from 1:45 – 3:45 at Shooting Star Casino, the commission will host a public event to investigate the theme, "What does the future look like here?" Moderated by Commission Co-chairs Heitkamp and Sununu, the event will consist of two expert panels discussing a range of policy issues facing White Earth Nation and rural Minnesota. Two expert panels will tackle key issues like broadband, access to capital, community and economic development, higher education, energy sovereignty, and civic leadership.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend; refreshments will be provided.