The document discusses the challenges and opportunities in rural America, particularly focusing on Miner County, SD, which is experiencing significant demographic changes and economic development efforts. It outlines a multi-dimensional approach to community revitalization, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and strategic planning to foster local growth and sustainability. Notably, the document highlights successes such as job creation in renewable energy and the establishment of a rural learning center to enhance education and economic resilience.

1. USDA Rural Development Rapid City, SD Wednesday, February 24, 2010Randy Parry, President

3. What comes to mind when you see the above?From Texas to Canada—1600 miles—10 States 20% of US land—4% of the population60% of the Great Plains Counties declined

4. The Great American Desert—six residents per square mile

5. Coastal Counties—17% of US land—53% of the population

6. 2010 California—50 million—1,050 per square mile

7. Northeast states have twice the population density of any other U.S. region—654 people per square mile

8. What comes to mind when you see the above?Lack of money

9. Lack of opportunities

10. Decline of the family farm

11. Limited basic services

12. Less well educated

13. Hardworking

14. Strong Sense of family

15. Commitment to their communities

16. Deeply held religious beliefs

17. Self-sufficiency Rural America is Changing!Some rural communities will successfully meet the challenge of Change by: Understanding their place they call home Being Strategic Being Intentional Creating a Multi-dimensional approach to community development Building the capacity to share their vision and story Developing the ability to project and measure local impact Building strong collaborations and partnerships

19. A Learning Journey Of Change

20. Miner County, SD

21. Highest outmigration of youth in SDHighest percentage of elderly in SD61st out of 66 counties in median home valueOur Context

22. income19902005

23. Miner County Historical Population Trend

24. We were living on our equity,hoping for change!

25. Grassroots EffortMulti-Dimensional ApproachCollaborative Partners Our Story

26. Kids spark community understandingLeadership from withinStrategic community planGrassroots

27. VisionWhat do we want to:Look LikeBe Like3-5-10 years from nowTransformation vs. Revitalization

28. Multi-Dimensional SolutionsCreation of a Long-Term Strategic PlanDo away with “Silo Mentality” LeadershipBroad-based Informed Decision MakingDevelop Regional CollaborationsInvest & Support LocalDevelop a New Economy--Economic Engines Create Life-Cycle Housing

29. Economic DevelopmentHousingPeople & Organizations(capacitybuilding)The Plan

30. If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always gotten.

31. Local Taxing EntitiesBusiness and IndustryEducational EntitiesFunding EntitiesGovernment EntitiesPartners

32. Community revitalization work began in 1996 at Howard High School

33. Northwest Area Foundation invested in the work in March of 1999

34. MCCR, a formal non-profit organization, was formed to lead the community revitalization movement

35. Focus on a multi-dimensional approachMiner CountyA Growing Community

36. 247 new jobs have been created in Miner County since 2002

37. In addition, 125 jobs have been retained in Miner County

38. Sales tax figures continue to increase in Howard—from 2007 (a record setting year) to 2008, sales tax grew by 24%

39. 17.61% Job Growth in Miner County compared to -0.27% average in rural SD between 2002-2008Miner CountyA Growing Community

40. Total leveraging of assets of over $74.1 million

41. Projected population increase by 2010 (SD GOED) for the first time in 90 yearsMiner CountyA Growing Community

42. Miner County Population

43. Miner County Taxable Growth

44. Miner County Tax Levies

45. Howard Sales Tax Revenue

47. USDA Rural DevelopmentAn early collaboratorNetworking—Information ExchangeCoordination—Altering activities to achieve a common purposeCooperation—Sharing resources Collaboration—Enhancing the capacity of each other

48. Brick Home Apartments

49. Licensed Child Care

50. Fund for Rural America

51. Intermediary Loan Program

52. Rural community Health Centers

53. Telemedicine capabilities connect patients in rural areas with doctors in more urban areas

54. Headquartered in Howard, SDHorizon Healthcare, Inc.www.horizonhealthcare.org/

55. Miner County Economic EnginesRenewable Energy

56. Rural Entrepreneurs

57. Health Care (seniors, telemedicine)

58. School System

59. Rural Learning CenterGrowing our economy required a multi-dimensional approach—including a look at what kinds of businesses would compliment existing industry and regional skillsA Diversified Economy

60. Miner County Development Corporation (MCDC) dbaWhispering Winds Assisted Living

61. Rural Learning Center founded in 2002-- focused resources on small, rural community capacity building

62. To date has worked in 32 states and 6 countries

63. In 2008, MCCR and the Rural Learning Center mergedBeyond Miner County

64. Industry in DemandNeed for 9,000+ new wind technicians in the next two years—currently technical schools are producing 600 each year

65. Midwest is poised to see significant growth in renewable energy, specifically related to wind development

66. Currently, Howard has 100 people directly employed in the wind industryGrowing the Wind Industry

67. Energy Maintenance Services was the first wind energy company located in South Dakota

68. Miner County native, Joe Kolbach, founded EMS

69. This partnership allowed Howard to become the first municipality in SD to own and operate wind turbines

70. First renewable energy collaborative training in SDBroadwind Energy/EMSwww.energyms.com

72. Wind blade repair and manufacturing

73. 26,000 sq. foot facility opened in Howard in 2007

74. Currently, 60 employeesKnight & Carver Wind Groupwww.knightandcarver.com

75. Renewable energy training company, currently located in Tehachapi, CA

76. 5 year partnership agreement with the RLC to offer courses in Howard

77. Troops to Energy Partnership

78. National Distance Learning CollaborativeAirstreams Renewables, Inc.

79. Airstreams model is based on short, intensive courses

80. Wind technician course is a 20 day program

81. Currently, Airstreams is partnering with community colleges and universities on wind technician curriculum, alongside their private training program Airstreams Renewables, Inc.

82. The Path out of the Valley appears when you choose to see things differently.

84. Rural Conference Center, Training Classrooms, Restaurant, Hotel

85. Seeking LEED Platinum certification

86. Total facility cost= $6.3 million

87. Public/Private Partnership

88. Construction set to begin Spring, 2010Rural Learning Centerwww.rurallearningcenter.org

89. Green Energy Demonstration, showcasing the following:Geothermal

90. Solar

91. Wind energy

92. Energy efficiency technology

93. Green materialsJob creation at the facility will total 15+ FTE’sLocal economic impact of $6 million per year Rural Learning Centerwww.rurallearningcenter.org

94. Change Inevitably HappensWe can ignore it

95. We can deny it

96. We can react to it positively or negatively

97. We can anticipate it

98. We can create it "The time is always right to do what is right. "

99. “It was hard for the people to believe they had the power to change things, but they were the only ones who could.”

100. Conversations => TrustActually, what we are saying is thatconversations can build social capital,which in turn helpscommunities get things done.

101. Visit the blog at www.ReImagineRural.com

103. Deep DialogueDeep Dialogue—HostConnecting the Dots—BrokerResources for Action—ProviderConnecting the dotsResources for ActionWhere We Intend to Go:ReImagine Ruralwww.rurallearningcenter.org

104. Keys to the FutureAttitude: Confidence in the FutureBusiness Development(People/Ideas/Passion)Agriculture(Production/Processing)Manufacturing/ProcessingWealth Transfer/Investment(Area Foundation)GovernmentSenior ServicesVisitor (Recreation/Tourism) ImpactOtherEconomicIssues“Sense of Community”Faith/ChurchesRecreationSafety/SupportLocationDining/SocialArts/CultureCommunity AppearanceOtherQuality of LifeEducationHealthcareHousingInfrastructurePerspective: “Community” As Region

105. IndividualsOrganizationsCommunitiesOrganizationsRegionsIndividualsCommunitiesRegional RelationshipsThe Rural Learning CenterRegionsRelationships: The Rural Learning Center

106. Imagine…Reimagine Rural is a place where our children do not wish to flee but where they dream to returnIt is a place where people do not talk about what used to be on Main Street but where they dream about what will be there two decades from now for our children and grandchildren to return to be entrepreneurs.

107. Make It Happen!We need to make a decision that luggage is no longer an acceptable gift to high school graduates but the investment of getting them back home is the responsibility of all. Logic will get you from point A to point B; Imagination can take you wherever you want to go.

108. What is it going to take?Collaborative CommitmentCollaborative Hard WorkCollaborative CommunicationCollaboration of Partners in Strategic PlanningCollaborative ImplementationCollaborative Work For Positive Rural Policy Changes

110. Thank You!Together let us ReImagine Rural and become the Architects of Change