September 13, 2009

I’m on the tarmac at Kansas City International looking out my airplane window at a herd of cattle lazily chewing grass in the late afternoon sun.  Kansas City is not considered a rural economy, yet it sits isolated by miles of farmland in the middle of the country.  Last week I attended the Missouri Governor’s Conference on Economic Development which covered topics from economic to workforce development.  It was clear that small businesses in the “country” have similar needs to those in the “city” like access to bridge and short term loans.  But they have other needs too, including the much needed availability of broadband services and the need to lure people off of the interstates to consider living and working in rural areas.

Two areas of the country I have recently come across have or are exploring new ways to grow rural economies:  South Central Idaho and South Eastern Minnesota.  Both groups assessed their assets and created regional innovative collaborations to change the landscape.

South Central Idaho consists of the counties of Camas, Blaine, Gooding, Lincoln, Jerome, Minidoka, Twin Falls, and Cassia. The Snake River Canyon, Shoshone Falls and other natural wonders combine with a moderate climate to make the area attractive to tourists and retirees alike. The area has long been agriculturally based, thanks to the 1905 effort to build canals that carry water from the Snake River to the Milner Dam.  Towns like Twin Falls grew so rapidly when water became available in this desert region that it earned the name “Magic Valley.” 

With little change in the crop based economy, other than a surge in dairy and cheese processing in the 1990’s, the region needed a new focus for the future.  In 2000 a study evaluated the assets of the region and suggested that in addition to agriculture and food processing the area could support light manufacturing and technology. The region of population 176,400 would accomplish more by standing together than by standing alone. 

Collaborative groups like the Southern Idaho Economic Development Organization led by the College of Southern Idaho and Region IV Development Association (RIVDA) assisted in the development of Ready Teams to find and attract the right companies. Hard work resulted in the diversification of the economy with new industry clusters including recreational vehicle manufacturing, a large computer tech-center, plastics extrusion and metal machining.

Read more: One, Two, Three

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