Gov. Tim Walz issued a proclamation last week celebrating cities, townships and counties across the state as telecommuter-friendly communities, as part of declaring Aug. 7, 2020 as Telecommuter Forward! Day.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has made clear how important it is for the state to support telecommuting capabilities,” said Governor Walz. “This initiative will help ensure options for remote work expand in our state, improving the quality of life for employees and encouraging economic vitality in communities throughout Minnesota.”
“As Minnesotans have balanced work, school, and life from their kitchen tables, the need for telecommuter-friendly cities is more apparent than ever,” said Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan. “The collaboration and support that telecommuter-friendly communities offer are critical to providing the flexibility Minnesotans need in the modern workplace.”
“We know that more Minnesotans than ever before are telecommuting for work,” said Steve Grove, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). “As we help Minnesota’s economy recover from the pandemic, telecommuter-friendly policies add new opportunities for civic engagement and collaboration among Minnesota’s businesses, entrepreneurs and communities.”
The number of workers teleworking was already increasing prior to the pandemic but jumped to nearly 45% in recent months. Data suggests that more than 1 million Minnesotans are now doing at least some work remotely, accounting for well over one-third of Minnesota’s labor force.
Beltrami County was named as one of these 23 telecommuter-friendly communities, along with the City of Bigfork.
Today we recognized 23 Minnesota cities that have committed to expanding telecommuting capabilities in their region. More than ever, we must support remote work options to help improve the quality of life for employees and encourage the economic vitality of our communities. pic.twitter.com/uWGYS6mnIS
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) August 7, 2020
