Randy Parry's presentation at the USDA Rural Development Training in Rapid City, SD on February 24, 2010.

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

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

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

19. A Learning Journey Of Change

20. Miner County, SD

21. Highest outmigration of youth in SD Highest percentage of elderly in SD 61st out of 66 counties in median home value Our Context

22. income 1990 2005

23. Miner County Historical Population Trend

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

25. Grassroots Effort Multi-Dimensional Approach Collaborative Partners Our Story

26. Kids spark community understanding Leadership from within Strategic community plan Grassroots

27. Vision What do we want to: Look Like Be Like 3-5-10 years from now Transformation vs. Revitalization

28. Multi-Dimensional Solutions Creation of a Long-Term Strategic Plan Do away with “Silo Mentality” Leadership Broad-based Informed Decision Making Develop Regional Collaborations Invest & Support Local Develop a New Economy--Economic Engines Create Life-Cycle Housing

29. Economic Development Housing People & 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 Entities Business and Industry Educational Entities Funding Entities Government Entities Partners

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

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

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 Development An early collaborator Networking—Information Exchange Coordination—Altering activities to achieve a common purpose Cooperation—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

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

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

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 skills A Diversified Economy

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

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

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

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

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/EMS www.energyms.com

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

74. Currently, 60 employeesKnight & Carver Wind Group www.knightandcarver.com

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.

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.

85. Seeking LEED Platinum certification

86. Total facility cost= $6.3 million

87. Public/Private Partnership

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

90. Solar

91. Wind energy

92. Energy efficiency technology

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

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 => Trust Actually, 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 Dialogue Deep Dialogue—Host Connecting the Dots—Broker Resources for Action—Provider Connecting the dots Resources for Action Where We Intend to Go:ReImagine Rural www.rurallearningcenter.org

104. Keys to the Future Attitude: Confidence in the Future Business Development (People/Ideas/Passion) Agriculture (Production/Processing) Manufacturing/Processing Wealth Transfer/Investment (Area Foundation) Government Senior Services Visitor (Recreation/Tourism) Impact Other EconomicIssues “Sense of Community” Faith/Churches Recreation Safety/Support Location Dining/Social Arts/Culture Community Appearance Other Quality of Life Education Healthcare Housing Infrastructure Perspective: “Community” As Region

105. Individuals Organizations Communities Organizations Regions Individuals Communities Regional Relationships The Rural Learning Center Regions Relationships: The Rural Learning Center

106. Imagine… Reimagine Rural is a place where our children do not wish to flee but where they dream to return It 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 Commitment Collaborative Hard Work Collaborative Communication Collaboration of Partners in Strategic Planning Collaborative Implementation Collaborative Work For Positive Rural Policy Changes

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