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How do you ‘Live Wide Open’
ick Schara wants to know your “Live Wide Open” story. In fact, he’s made it his job. As the marketing coordinator at West Central Initiative, he regularly visits the communities of west central SHERI Minnesota, BOOMS HOLM encourag- West ing people Central Initiative to share their stories of why they chose to make their home there. He’s met bookstore owners and boat builders, teachers and technicians, health care professionals and hair stylists, and so
many more. Some grew up in west-central Minnesota, some vacationed or went to school there. Still others found their way there out of sheer happenstance. Each are happy to call their community home.
What’s “Live Wide Open?”
Maybe you’ve heard of Live Wide Open. It’s a regional marketing and workforce development campaign that encourages people to live, work and raise their families in west central Minnesota. Back in 2015, a group of workforce development professionals were eager to launch such a campaign, and they thought West Central Initiative should be the organization to lead it.
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FINDING THE STORIES: Rick Schara, Live Wide Open coordinator, is often on the road, uncovering stories of people who chose to make west-central Minnesota their home.
