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Building Community Through Dialogue
This document summarizes a case study of community revitalization efforts in Miner County, South Dakota between 1996-2009. It describes how: 1) A 1996 study by Howard High School students found that residents spent little locally and increasing local spending by 10% could boost sales. 2) Community meetings engaged residents around issues like agriculture, economic development, seniors and housing. 3) New jobs were created in renewable energy, kosher beef, healthcare and education. The diversified economy helped create 247 new jobs and retain 87 others. 4) Population declines reversed and sales tax revenues in Howard grew 24% from 2007-2008, showing the success of their economic development and engagement efforts.
Building Community Through Dialogue
- 1. Building Community Through Dialogue: Miner County Case Study Pepin and Stockholm Community Dialogue Project Monday, October 12, 2009 Lindsey Karlson, Community Outreach Coordinator
- 3. Miner County Historical Population Trend 9000 8560 8376 7661 8000 6836 7000 6268 5864 5398 6000 5165 5000 4454 3739 4000 3272 2884 3000 2000 1000 0 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
- 4. Economy was agriculturally dependent Second highest percentage of elderly people in South Dakota 62nd out of 66 counties in age of housing stock Highest outmigration of youth in the state of South Dakota our challenges
- 5. Community revitalization work began in 1996 at Howard High School work began with students
- 6. Students measured the percentage of disposable income residents were spending in Miner County, and then derived what impact a 10% increase would have on gross sales cash flow study
- 7. students and businessleaders develop survey residents receive surveys and respond students analyzed surveys in school classes students share results with business owners, and then the community as a whole community residents understand, and spend more disposable income in Miner County
- 8. Community visioning process involved a broad cross-section of the community, and engaged people around specific issues whole community visioning
- 9. Several working committees were formed around specific issues, including: agriculture, economic development, seniors, housing, etc. strategic community planning
- 10. People and Organizations Economic Development Housing a multi-dimensional approach
- 12. Miner County Economic Engines • Renewable Energy • Kosher Beef • Health Care (seniors, telemedicine) • School System • Rural Learning Center Growing our economy required a multi- dimensional approach—including a look at what kinds of businesses would compliment existing industry and regional skills our results: a diversified economy
- 13. 247 new jobshave been created in Miner County since 2002 87 jobs have been retained in Miner County Sales tax figures continue to increase in Howard—from 2007 (a record setting year) to 2008, sales tax grew by 24% 17.61% Job Growth in Miner County compared to -0.27% average in rural SD between 2002-2008 our results: job and sales tax growth
- 14. Miner County Historical Population Trend 9000 8560 8376 7661 8000 6836 7000 6268 5864 5398 6000 5165 5000 4454 3739 4000 3272 2884 3000 2000 1000 0 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
- 15. Miner County Population 3,500 3,272 3,000 2,884 2,814 2,806 2,629 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 - 1990 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2010 est
- 16. Miner County TaxableGrowth 350,000,000 300,000,000 250,000,000 200,000,000 150,000,000 100,000,000 50,000,000 0 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
- 17. 10 12 0 2 4 6 8 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Miner County Tax Levies 2006 2007 2008
- 18. Howard Sales TaxRevenue 550,000.00 494,591.49 500,000.00 450,000.00 397,570.84 400,000.00 350,000.00 306,893.22 300,000.00 218,464.71 282,532.51 250,000.00 200,000.00 195,359.92 150,000.00 100,000.00 1996 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
- 19. Jonathan Eig Story appeared in the March 25, 2005 edition of the Wall Street Journal Wall Street Journal
- 21. lessons learned: youngpeople are critical
- 22. lessons learned: seeour mental models
- 23. lessons learned: seethe whole community
- 24. lessons learned: newways of thinking are required to do something different
- 25. lessons learned: knowyour community, inside and out
- 26. lessons learned: buildon existing relationships
- 27.
- 28. Rural Learning Center Howard, Howard, SD www.rurallearningcenter.org www.ReImagineRural.com