Montana is the fourth largest state by area, but despite its vast geography, the state’s population density is the third lowest in the country¹. As reported by Montana State University’s Center for Research on Rural Education, 96% of the state’s public school districts are classified as “small rural.” The challenges that residents in rural communities may face accessing workforce training opportunities are not entirely unique, but they are compounded by the distance it takes to travel to two-year colleges or adult education centers that often provide training opportunities.

• 52% of Montana counties are considered childcare deserts, and four counties have zero licensed childcare providers².

• Online training is not a silver bullet: approximately 1 in 6 Montanans cannot buy a basic broadband connection where they live³.

• In many Montana communities, public transportation and private ride share options are limited or non-existent.

• Students from rural communities often face unique challenges when they matriculate to postsecondary institutions, from balancing homesickness, culture shock, and seasonal obligations at home, such as harvest.

   

The barriers are real, but so are the opportunities to think creatively about locally-rooted approaches.