Cheyenne County avoids the "brain drain" problem

Although “brain drain” afflicts many other non-metropolitan counties in Nebraska, the portion of Cheyenne County’s population with some level of higher education increased significantly over the last 10 years.

Brain drain represents the movement of educated people from rural areas to cities. It has been an issue for more than 30 years.

In the past decade, however, Cheyenne County gained the highest percentage of college educated residents in the state with an increase of 8.5 percentage points, according to David Drozd, research coordinator at the Nebraska State Data Center. This data was based on a comparison of the 2000 U.S. Census and the 2008-2012 American Community Survey which was conducted by the census bureau. Low populated counties with high data variability were removed from the report.

“This is a validation of the things we’re doing,” said city manager Gary Person.

Counties close behind Cheyenne were Dawes with a 7.7 percentage point increase in college educated residents, Red Willow with a 7.1 percentage point increase and Saunders and York, both with a 7 percent increase. Around 21 of the 93 counties in Nebraska saw around a 5 percent increase in residents with higher education. Most counties saw small improvement.

“Improving education leads to higher earnings and lower poverty,” Drozd said in his report.

Person believes that all the recent news about upcoming projects in Sidney, as well as the projects themselves, will only add to growth in educated residents.

“Now we have the opportunity to take that momentum to another level,” Person said.

According to the 2008-2012 American Community Survey estimates, around 19.5 percent of Cheyenne County residents 25 and older earned a bachelor’s degree or higher. Of 25-34 year olds, almost 35 percent held at least a bachelor’s degree.

Even though features such as Sidney’s trails system and community center might make the city a desirable place to live, the major reason for an educated person to consider coming to Sidney is obvious.

“Number one on anybody’s list is always the job,” Person said.

He added that quality of life is a factor in whether or not residents decide to stay in Sidney long term, or ultimately choose to move here for a job. Even the decision to approve large scale projects can be a draw. In Person’s opinion, voting to build a new high school sent a message to both current and future residents that the community cares about its kids.

“We’re preparing for the future,” Person said.

Facilitation of new housing construction and taking care of wastewater issues were essential to readying the community for more growth, he said.

“Obviously, what Cabela’s is doing with their recruitment efforts is huge,” Person said.

Although Adams Industries and Cabela’s are examples of large employers making new hires at a steady rate, many other Sidney businesses bring educated people to the area as well.

The increase in median age in many rural Nebraska counties contributes to the brain drain problems experienced across much of the state. As the median age increases, the population decreases. As a result, many of the more rural counties in Nebraska experience a drop in residents with a higher education, according to the 2013 Kids Count in Nebraska Report by Voices for Children in Nebraska.

Although other non-metropolitan counties might be aging, Sidney’s median age was 37 in 2010, which is significantly younger than most rural areas in the state. By comparison, Banner County’s median age in 2010 was 48, more than 10 years older than Sidney’s, according to Sidney’s 2012 comprehensive plan.

In an attempt to reach out to young current and potential residents, Sidney operates active social media accounts including Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

“That’s kind of our goal is to get on every platform,” said community development director Megan McGown.

McGown also touted the city’s website, wherein potential residents young and old can easily access information about the region.

As of 2012, the 80 non-metropolitan counties in the Nebraska had 15 percent fewer residents with at least a bachelor’s degree than the three large metropolitan counties of Douglas, Sarpy and Lancaster, according to the Kids Count report. When brain drain occurs, it leads to lower overall earnings due to a lack of skilled labor.

“Brain drain continues to compound upon itself with high-achievers being encouraged to leave their communities for the broader opportunities available in larger cities,” the Kids Count report stated.

This hurts the rural counties that invest tax dollars to educate children in public schools, only to see potential high earners and their tax dollars leave the area. When higher earners abandon rural areas, it leaves the county with less money to fund services.

The report recommended incentivizing jobs in rural areas of the state. It suggested that the state partner with universities and community colleges to increase financial incentives for those trained in highly demanded careers who agree to work in rural communities.

The detriment that the brain drain causes in some small communities makes Cheyenne County’s ability to keep educated people coming to the area even more significant.

“I think this community has a wonderful future ahead,” Person said.

In 2000 around 24 percent of Nebraskans age 25 and older had a bachelor’s degree or more, ranking the state 24th in the country. In the 2008-2012 American Community Survey, that number rose to 28 percent, making Nebraska 22nd in the country.

This increase of 4.5 percentage points in ten years gave the state the 17th highest increase in the U.S.