Mike Running is the Executive Director of Dumas Economic Development, a member of the Ports-to-Plains Alliance. He gave this presentation at the Rural Development Symposium 2010 - Taking Charge! November 3-5, 2010, Medicine Hat Lodge, Medicine Hat, Alberta

1. Community Success:
A $5 Million Impact From a Plate of
Nachos?
Mike Running, Executive Director
Dumas, Texas Economic Development Corporation

2. Nachos
• So many ingredients coming
together to create a tasty
feast
• Enjoying a plate with
someone is fun
• Every recipe tastes great
• They can be simple or
complex, but they all have
the same initial ingredient
• What the Heck do they have
to do with economic
development?!?!

3. It’s Pronounced Doo-Miss!

4. Dumas, Texas
Last Project = Beef
Processor in 1980’s
DEDC est. 1999
Some Successes
Became Stagnant
Disappointment
2008 = Me; Tasked
with Doing it Differently
I live up there
under the star.

5. Time To Do Inventory
• Industries
• Strengths
• Problems or Potential Problems
• Deficiencies
• People
• Continual Process

6. Building the Framework For
Success
• What do we do and make?
• What do we have?
• What trends/events may affect us?
• What problems do we have?
• Who do we target?
• What’s missing?
• Who can help?
• What works & what doesn’t work?

7. What Do We Do & Make?

8. Energy

9. Agriculture

10. Keep Looking Around!

11. What Do We Have?

12. Amenities

13. Assets

14. What Qualifies as Quality of
Life?
• Will it increase the
economic base?
• Is it necessary?
• Is their a REAL return
on investment?
• Does it attract new
businesses?

15. What Trends Will Affect Us?
• Economy
• Contract Jobs
• Industry Changes
• California
• Emerging
Technologies

16. Dumas Wind Opportunities
• Wind Farms
• Electrical
Transmission
• Center of High
Activity

17. What Is Occurring Globally?
• Advances in food
health
• California economy
• Who is developing
new products?
• So much to know!

18. What Problems?
• Negative Speak
• Majoring in the
Minors
• Fragile Feelings
• Fear
• Indecision
• Apathy
• Competition

19. Do Your Local Officials See IT?

20. Who To Target?
• What Fits?
• What Works?
• What is Within
Reach?
• What Do We Need?
• What Do We Want?

21. Our Industry Targets
Aviation Distribution Energy Retail Agriculture
Green
Technology

22. What’s Missing?
• The Right People?
• Public Perception?
• Outreach?
• Marketing?
• Organization?
• Investment?
• Knowledge?

23. Investment in Local Assets
South 287 Utility
Infrastructure
Dumas Business
Park
Dumas Enterprise
Center
AC- MCC Wind &
Renewable Energy
Training
Airport Business
Park
BNSF/TXNW Rail
Access Agreement

24. Who Can Help?
• Industry Specific
Locals
• Organizations
• Industry Leaders
• Local Leaders
• Colleagues
• Prospects
• Organizations

25. Our Partners

26. What Works For You?
• Trade Shows?
• Conferences?
• Web Based?
• Social Networking?
• Advertisements?
• Cold Calls?
• Waiting for Phone
to Ring?

27. Booth Display: $5600
Travel: $1800
Marketing Ploys: $900
$1.3 million investment & 65
new jobs? Priceless

28. My Basic Tenets for Success
• Although YOU know you’re
in it up to your chin, keep
your mouth shut and walk
tall!
• Never underestimate the
power of stupid people in
large groups.
• The main thing is keeping
the main thing the main
thing.
• If opportunity doesn’t
knock, build a door.
• Agree to respect each
other’s views, no matter
how wrong yours might be.
• Always keep the folks who
hate you away from the
folks who are undecided.

29. What Works For Us?
• It’s Not Business, It’s
Just Personal
• Keep it Positive
• Play the Field
• Don’t Neglect Your
Family
• Keep Doing More
• Promotion
• Know the Impact

30. It’s Not Business…
• Can Never Have
Enough Friends
• Treat Everyone as
Though They Have
Another Deal to Bring
You
• Make it Personal
• Never Eat Alone!
• Great Things Happen
Around the Table

31. Keep It Positive
• Prepare for
Success
• Eliminate Growth
Killers
• Take Chances
• Plug Your Town
• Celebrate
Everything

32. Play the Field
• Ask 10 people for a date; one will agree
• It’s easier to ask someone you know out
• A mutual friend is a great place to start
• Having things in common makes it easier
• Look and act interested in them rather than
yourself
• Sometimes the best catch is the quiet one
• They don’t know you are looking until you
tell them
• They don’t think they are as good as you see
them
• Some are good from far, but far from good
• You need to know what you want and target
their hang outs
• Clean yourself up; they can sense lack of
pride
• Don’t show too much on the first date

33. Don’t Neglect Your Family
• Show Your Businesses
You Care; Someone Else
Will Make Them Feel
Desired!
• Organic Growth Works;
BG&D
• Grow What You Know
• Look At Your Community
With Visitor Eyes
• Help Local Businesses
Succeed; Lead
Generation

34. Dumas Business Growth &
Development (BG&D)
• Applied more focus
on our existing
business
• Created
networking events
• Business Facilitator
• Start-up assistance
• Small grant awards

35. Always Do More
• There are ways
around a one drink
limit!
• Stay a Step Ahead
• What Do Others
Have?
• Find Out Where the
Leads Hang Out
• It Doesn’t Have to
Cost Money

36. Promotion
• Get your name out
there
• Stay on top of your
websites
• Promote yourself
locally
• Get branded

37. Know The Impact
• Create an Impact
Analysis
• Use it to prove it!
• The numbers don’t lie
• Has to be
personalized
• Show it off to prevent
apathy

38. Does Any Of It Really Work?

39. Nachos Anymore!
• Anemometry
Specialists…Over a
Steak
• Wells Industrial
Paint
Services…Over a
Plate of Nachos
• Each of them
delivered a new
firm

40. 900 Days In Dumas

41. 900 Days in Dumas

42. Education
• AC-MCC Wind/Renewable
Energy Program
• New Intermediate School
• New Football Field

43. Infrastructure
• US 87 Overpass
• US 287 Utilities
• Airport
Improvements

44. Amenities
• New Dumas Aquatic
Park
• New Festival Booths
• New Housing

45. Holiday Inn
Express
Hampton Inn &
Suites
La Quinta Cato Fashions
Dollar Tree CVS Pharmacy
Big R 287 Roadhouse
Retail

46. Recruitment
Anemometry
Specialists
Wells Paint
Service
Access Care
Sierra
Engineering
Twisted
Fabrications
Written Pole
Motors

47. Start-Ups
Audio Trixx
High Plains
Management
580 Restaurant
Carter Family
Practice

48. Expansions
Continental
Carbon
JBS
Sierra Process
Systems
Faria Dairies
Valero

49. The Next 900 Days
Business Park
Improvements
Green Tech
Center
Business
Success Center
Wind Training
Tower
Business
Aviation Park
Business Spec
Hangar
Wind Energy
Rail Yard

50. Current Active Projects
• Project Logic- Solar Manufacturer
• Project Milk- Dairy Distribution
• Project Popcorn- Family Entertainment Center
• Project Care- Occupational Medicine
• Project Seniors- Assisted Living
• Project Steam- Industrial Expansion
• Project Tool- Tool & Dye
• Project Crane- Wind Energy Service
• Project Safety- Wind Energy Service
• Project Carrier- Beef Distribution
• Project Turbine- Small Wind Manufacturer
• Project Gear- Wind Energy Service
• Project Dinner- Retail Restaurant
• Project Shopper- Retail Discount Store
• Project Big Stuff- Wind Energy Parts Manufacturer
• Project Omega- Food Industry

51. So What?
• Get prepared…
• seek ‘em out…
• work ‘em all…
• get to know them,
AND…
• Hang out w/ them
over a plate of
nachos!

52. This is
my plug.
(Call me!)