Editorial: Worthington's growth another positive

• City of Worthington

Worthington City Hall (Brian Korthals/Daily Globe)

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In the July 29 Daily Globe, a special “Positive Perspectives” section highlighted many of Worthington's appealing attributes.

Apparently, many people already realize Worthington is a good place to live. In an interview with this newspaper last month, Brad Chapulis — the city’s manager of community and economic development — noted that Worthington’s population as recorded by the U.S. Census grew 13.1 percent over the last decade. The 2000 population, according to that year’s census, was 11,283; the 2010 number is 12,764.

Chapulis added that when he arrived in Worthington, in 1998, the community’s census figure was less than 10,000. So, the growth has been steady, and while that presents challenges, it also brings plenty of good. As rural population continues to wane nationally — as well as in several communities around southwest Minnesota — Chapulis said that confronting issues pertaining to population growth is a much better alternative than dealing with those related to population decline.

“You see with our population increase that the community becomes more of a player in a regional role,” Chapulis stated. “That’s why you see money invested into Worthington over the last few years. ... All that investment is being made because of the demographics that more our community a strong candidate for economic growth.”

With growth essentially breeding further growth, it seems like a good time for folks to call Worthington home.

Tags: opinion, editorials, worthington