The troubled economy in the region is facing even more hardships in the next few decades — particularly if educational, political and business leaders in southern Minnesota fail to seriously plan for the looming demographic challenges.

The message was heard repeatedly during a day-long economic summit coordinated by Congressman Tim Walz and attended by more than 100 officials and citizens from across the southern part of the state Monday.

“By 2020, we’re going to be in serious straits here for labor,” said Randy Johnson, director of Workforce Development Inc. in Rochester, about a looming shortage of workers.

“The world is going to be so different,” said Robert Hoffman, vice president of strategic business and regional partnerships at Minnesota State University, about the accelerating rate of change facing businesses and workers.

“We’re heading for a train wreck,” said Kip Sullivan, an organizer for a single-payer health care system, about the rapidly rising cost of medical care.

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