Powering Rural America
How Foreign-Born Talent is Helping Smaller Communities Thrive
Small communities across the United States are increasingly facing a critical dilemma –economic opportunity without the workforce to sustain it. The Pew Research Center reported 57% of rural counties experienced a population decline between 2010 and 2020, threatening economic stability and growth potential in these regions. In recent years, North Dakota has been a leader in attracting global talent to support their burgeoning economy. Between 2000 and 2021, North Dakota’s economy grew by an incredible 115%. Today, the state’s unemployment rate stands at 2.5%, the third lowest in the nation.
While a strong economy and a low unemployment rate are to be celebrated, the reality of sustaining that momentum without the necessary workforce is incredibly challenging. Recent studies have reported North Dakota has just a fraction of the workers needed to sustain the economic boom of the last 20 years, with 30 workers available for every 100 open jobs across the state. Healthcare, agriculture and energy sectors are projected to be the most impacted by the emerging and potentially persistent labor shortage. However, all sectors in the state face a significant threat without continued innovation.
The EAD Advantage: Unlocking Ready-to-Work Talent
Both foreign and domestic migration have been transformative forces in revitalizing regions facing economic challenges and population decline. Foreign-born workers bring diverse skill sets, professional backgrounds, and educational experiences that can reinvigorate local economies through their workforce support and tax base contributions. Employers have multiple pathways to engage foreign-born talent, including established visa processes like H-1B, H-2A, and TN visas. However, these traditional routes are often time-consuming, with processing times ranging from 2 to 6 months making them impractical for urgent needs.
A more agile solution exists: leveraging existing authorized employee pools. Hundreds of thousands of individuals currently in U.S. immigration processes hold Employment Authorization Documents, representing a robust, immediately available talent reservoir. These workers encompass a rich diversity of nationalities, languages and professional backgrounds. Many EADs are valid for up to five years with renewal options, providing employers with stable, long-term workforce solutions. The strategic engagement, recruitment and integration of this diverse talent pool represents a critical strategy for building sustainable economic futures – not just in North Dakota, but for communities across the country facing workforce challenges.
Comprehensive Implementation Support
At Cherokee Federal, we understand long-term retention and success require addressing real-world barriers for both employers and job seekers. Our approach ensures seamless coordination between state agencies, businesses and globally skilled talent, minimizing risks and fostering sustainable employment relationships.
For Employers: We provide targeted recruitment strategies connecting businesses with qualified candidates, ensuring a strong organizational fit through careful screening and matching. Our retention support services help maintain workforce stability, while cultural integration guidance fosters inclusive workplaces. Additionally, we offer ongoing technical assistance and problem-solving to address challenges as they arise.
For Workers and Their Families: We offer critical support that extends beyond job placement. This includes legal guidance and documentation assistance, language capacity assessments, and workforce training to enhance job readiness. We also help navigate transportation and housing solutions, provide cultural adaptation resources, and support long-term integration efforts. For families with children, we assist in navigating the education system to ensure a smooth transition.
For State Agencies and Community Partners: We support data collection and outcome tracking to measure impact, develop community engagement strategies and identify sustainable funding models to ensure long-term success. Our expertise in program design and implementation planning, ensures seamlessly integration with existing workforce development initiatives.
North Dakota’s Success: A Replicable Model
Through a holistic case management and service navigation model, Team Hope's 45-day pilot program in North Dakota demonstrated a promising approach. Our strategy eliminated common barriers preventing employers from fully utilizing foreign-born talent, achieving a 70% job interview success rate and placing workers in positions averaging $18.50/hour with comprehensive benefits across multiple industries. Our approach provides targeted recruitment connecting employers with skilled candidates, ensuring strong business-worker fit and retention support promoting long-term workforce stability. This effort has brought dozens of new residents to the state, including families who established roots with stable housing and school enrollment. These new community members are creating economic ripple effects through local business engagement and active community participation, demonstrating how our integrated service model can effectively address rural workforce challenges while creating sustainable community growth.
The Path Forward
The future of rural America's workforce depends on innovative approaches. As states continue to experience economic growth alongside persistent labor shortages, the strategic integration of foreign-born talent represents a powerful opportunity. Our experience demonstrates that when communities invest in comprehensive support systems for both employers and newcomers, everyone benefits. Businesses find the talented workers they need, families secure stable employment and community connections and local economies gain the workforce needed to sustain growth. Cherokee Federal stands ready to partner with state agencies and community leaders to design and implement customized workforce solutions that address specific economic needs and demographic challenges. For additional information about our capabilities, please contact Kat Kelley at kathryn.kelley@cherokee-federal.com.
About the Author
As a nationally recognized policy expert, Kat has transformed access to critical services for vulnerable populations. Her innovative strategies eliminate bureaucratic barriers, creating direct pathways to essential resources. As both a professor of social work and a hands-on leader, Kat blends academic insight with practical expertise—delivering compassionate, efficient solutions that uphold human dignity while ensuring fiscal responsibility. She can be reached at kathryn.kelley@cherokee-federal.com.