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The Twittering Farmer

July 3rd, 2009 by Mike Knutson

We often assume that Twitter is a “Gen Y thing” and that rural places haven’t gotten into the social media craze.  But a CNN article titled “Twittering from the tractor” provides a glimpse of how some Midwest Farmers are embracing technology. 

So what’s the value Twitter and other social networking tools offer farmers?  The article discusses some knowledge sharing applications currently being used by farmers, but I think the article captures the real value these technologies offer people in rural places with the following:

The biggest draw of smartphones and online social networks is that they provide human connections to people for whom farm life can be lonely, said Chuck Zimmerman, publisher of an agriculture news blog called agwired.com.

Yes, farmers are social creatures.  That’s why rural community cafés are often filled with farmers who come to town each morning for a cup of coffee.  I’m not sure that the majority of farmers are going to embrace this type of communication, but we’ll probably see more of it in the future. 

And let’s keep in mind, nobody tweets without broadband internet, and blackberries are a waste of money if the closest cell tower is 45 miles away.  Those are real issues limiting technology’s use in some rural communities.

Tags: farmers, social networking, Twitter
Posted in Agriculture, Community Development, Quality of Life, Rural | Comments ( 0 )

Where am I supposed to live?

June 30th, 2009 by Morgan Andenas

I don’t want to buy a house, since I don’t know what I’ll be doing a year or two from now.  An apartment, a condo or maybe a town home with charm is what I’m looking for.  I don’t want anything that looks like my grandma just moved out, but something nice.  I don’t want to take care of a big yard either - I have too much other stuff going on.  Do you have anything like that?

Is your community appealing to young professionals who are coming to you sans children?  Are you thinking about the needs of those who are fresh out of high school or college?

According to the Urban Land Institute, Millennials are the largest generation since the Baby Boomers at 75 million strong.  They also say my generation is, “making a mark that is as different as it is powerful.”  So, what does that mean?  Industry experts suggest that Millennials will want housing that reflects themselves: unique, diverse (about 39% of this generation is non-white), social, and green. 

What do Millennials want?

Millennials want something that they can handle.  Most do not have the money to fix up an older house.  Instead, they want something they can move right into, where the only improvement is a new coat of paint.  Also, these potential buyers or renters are usually in entry-level positions without a large amount of job security.  They might feel buying a house does not make financial sense if there is a possibility of moving on in a few years.

So, what can you do to attract young buyers or renters to what you already have? 

• Rent your house instead of selling it. Many college students are used to renting a house or apartment with friends while in school. They might love the idea of still being able to rent, but living in a larger space than an apartment can provide.
• Critically looked at your place from the outside, as well as the inside. Try taking pictures of different rooms and from the curb. Once you have them in front of you, ask yourself, “If I was coming here for the first time on a limited budget, would I like what I see?”
• Invest a couple hundred dollars in small projects like paint, accessories and a little landscaping. You would be amazed at the difference. Check out HGTV for great shows about updating your place on a small budget.

What can a developer do to invest?

• Consider rehabbing an old building. It is probably brick, which younger people often love to have exposed in their apartments. The building will come with a character and attitude of its own. Plus, it is a great green alternative to new construction.
• Build as close to the action as possible. The last thing young people without children want is to be on the edge of suburbia. Try and get them as close to food, shopping and entertainment as possible.
• Think about green investments. Research says that nine out of ten Millennials care about sustainable design. It may be possible to attract more young people to your house or complex by boasting the greenest facilities in town.

Most people know that Millennials are socially different from other generations, but do communities understand that they also looking for different housing?  I believe that creating certain types of housing in smaller communities will help lead my generation back.  As Kevin Costner says, “If you build it, they will come.”

 

Photo credit:  Anthony Easton:Flickr

Tags: curb appeal, Housing, millennials, Rehab, renting, urban land institute, young professionals
Posted in Community Development, Gen Y, Housing, Rural | Comments ( 0 )

Chris Gibbons on Social Media

June 29th, 2009 by Mike Knutson

The following is the second part of an interview I had with Chris Gibbons at the 7^th Annual Economic Gardening Conference.  View Part 1 here. 

 

Many businesses recognize that they could benefit from a social media strategy, but they are also often overwhelmed by the subject.  In this short interview, Chris Gibbons provides three examples of businesses his economic gardening program has worked with on developing a social media strategy.

 

 

Gibbon’s three mini case studies identified the value of an economic gardening program.  Small businesses may recognize the need, but are puzzled about where to turn. 

Economic Gardening leverages a broad range of intellectual capital and practical experience to assist entrepreneurs in figuring out what makes sense for their business.

Tags: Chris Gibbons, Economic Gardening, entrepreneurship, social media
Posted in Economic Development, Rural, Training and Events | Comments ( 0 )

Marketing Matters for you

June 26th, 2009 by Mike Knutson

For those who didn’t already know it, the importance of a strong marketing effort was driven home at the 7^th Annual Economic Gardening Conference. If you heard the message and want to strengthen your marketing efforts, I’d encourage you to check out the following free webinars by the Small Business Administration in South Dakota.

Titled “Marketing Matters,” the training is divided into 4 one-hour training sessions that you can access from your home or office. 

• July 9: Roadmap to Marketing Success: Simple Steps to Writing a Successful Marketing Plan. This session will discuss how to bring advertising, communication and public relations together into one cohesive strategy.
• July 16: Google Matters: How Does Your Web Site Measure Up? Learn how to provide content that your customers want and increase traffic to your site.
• July 23: The First Impression: Building a Positive Customer Experience. Stand apart from your competition, increase sales, build loyalty and improve your reputation without spending more on advertising.
• July 30: Social Media Marketing: How to Start Your Online Conversation. This seminar is an introductory discussion about conversational marketing in a digital world.

 If you are interested, check out the following link and learn how you can sign up.  Learn more here.

Note:  Although it’s free, phone lines are limited to first-come-first-serve basis.

Tags: branding, entrepreneurship, marketing, social media
Posted in Economic Development, In the News, Rural | Comments ( 1 )

The “Buffalo Commons” Revisited

June 24th, 2009 by Nicole Lauck

The Buffalo Commons, a 1987 article by Frank and Deborah Popper, is a proposal to abandon the Great Plains and return the area to native short-grass prairie. As you might have guessed, the Poppers’ idea has been less than welcomed by residents of the Great Plains. Their idea has recently been challenged by a University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) study that suggests young people and families are returning to the plains.

UNL undertook their study ( “Today’s Buffalo Commons - Not what you might expect” ) to explain the unexpected population increase in the Nebraskan panhandle. They found that the area had an encouraging influx of new, young inhabitants.

How can we bring this encouragement to other areas? The study not only points out facts, but brings hope to rural areas. There can be in-migration. People will come. However, it is going to take some active recruiting and providing ongoing support for new families once they arrive.

Whatever a community’s views and actions toward newcomers may be, towns need to realize that they need people. Accepting and welcoming new, young people will bring life and vitality to a community. A new generation will thrive in rural areas; they are looking for places to raise families (which is good news for rural schools too).

Small towns can get the entire community involved in the recruitment process. Tell young friends and family all the great things that are going on in your small town. Yes, young people need jobs, but they are looking for a “community” to call home - not just a workplace.

If we were to do a similar study, what would we find about your community? It’s time to tell the Poppers and ourselves that people are coming here to live. Rural life on the plains is flourishing; we just need to think about attracting people in new ways.

 Other resources

• “Today’s Buffalo Commons — Not what you might expect” website at Center for Applied Rural Innovation (CARI), University of Nebraska
• “Engaging your Community to Attract and Retain New Residents” a presentation by the CARI team at the NACDEP Conference
• “Plains Sense:  Frank and Deborah Popper’s ‘Buffalo Commons’ is creeping toward reality” at High County News

Tags: Buffalo Commons, Nebraska, people attraction strategy, university of nebraska
Posted in Community Development, In the News, Quality of Life, Rural | Comments ( 2 )

Chris Gibbons on Economic Gardening

June 23rd, 2009 by Mike Knutson

Chris Gibbons took the time for a short interview on the subject of “economic gardening” last week at the conclusion of the 7^th Annual Economic Gardening Conference.  If you are like some of my friends who thought economic gardening was about growing vegetables in the garden, you’d better watch this short video.

 

 

 

OK, so economic gardening is a strategy for economic development that involves planting seeds for economic growth by helping entrepreneurs. 

Some people hear that and probably say, “Oh, it’s about helping business owners write business plans and making sure they get low interest loans.”  Well, that’s probably helpful, but people who dig into what Chris advocates understand it’s much more. 

Although the definition varies by location, Chris’s version of economic gardening involves a fairly sophisticated process of market research analysis, competitive analysis, and marketing strategy development - information most businesses don’t have access to.   

Why Economic Gardening?

As the Littleton website describes, economic gardening “was based on research by David Birch at MIT that indicated the great majority of all new jobs in any local economy were produced by the small, local businesses of the community.”  That was true in 1987 when Chris developed his program, and it’s true today.   

I talked to Chris and others at the conference about what it would take to create an economic gardening movement in South Dakota.  By “movement” I’m talking about something more than a program, although that would be a great start. 

If it’s going to succeed, economic gardening has got to be something people and organizations are passionate about.  I can’t help but wonder if that isn’t part of the problem being described about this program in Florida.

At the end of the video Chris points us to Wyoming’s model because he believes a regional approach would work best in a rural state like South Dakota.  Makes sense to me.  Hopefully, others will help us build on that conversation.     

 Other Economic Gardening resources

• “Entrepreneurial Community of the Month: Littleton, Colorado” by the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship.
• Economic Gardening Resources on the Littleton City website
• “Economic Gardening: Next Generation Applications for a Balanced Portfolio Approach to Economic Growth” a report for U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy

Tags: 2009 EG Conference, business plans, Chris Gibbons, Economic Gardening, entreprenuership, marketing
Posted in Economic Development, Rural | Comments ( 2 )

What am I supposed to do in this town?

June 22nd, 2009 by Morgan Andenas

If I came to your community, what would I do?
Even though I enjoy a drink with friends, I don’t feel like spending every night at the bar.  Where else can I go to socialize with people my age with my interests?  I don’t have any kids, so I can’t make friends with other parents from daycare.  There really aren’t any young people where I work, either.  Do you have any suggestions?

What would you say to these young professionals who are coming to you sans children or families?  It seems like small communities (those under pop. 3,000) spend all their time and resources trying to attract young families and keep its older members.   But, how many communities are thinking about those who are fresh out of high school or college?

Mike has posted before about Young Professional groups around the region, and I think they are incredible.  Many young people have come from a college town (population at least 5,000) and like the buzzing social scene where they can find thousands of like minded people in an instant.  These YP groups do for a community what a college does for its students: provide activities and resources for them to get together to make connections or help advance their career.

Help us get to know each other

I found an application for the Solomon Schechter Awards for Outreach to Young Adults from the Ahavath Achim Synagogue in Atlanta, GA.  They were facing a withdrawal of young adults (age 20-35) without families.  Sound familiar?

They made an active decision to reach out with specific events tailored to people aged 20-35.  They started with a Habitat for Humanity project that drew about 60 people; the basis for their e-mailing list.  That lead to a monthly “parlor - type discussion” in a rabbi’s home, a monthly contemporary service at 7:30pm with appetizers and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, trips to concerts, and other purely social parties.  They now have an e-mailing list of 600 and the monthly events are attended by 100-200 people.

Sure, Atlanta is a big city, but don’t put down what they accomplished.  This congregation had over 900 members, just like a lot of our small towns.  A whole community could be a model after this congregation.  They can modify the synagogue’s events and tailor their own to help bring back the young people.

Invite us in

We probably will not invite ourselves to serve on your city council, nor invite ourselves into an already made community like a congregation.  Instead, invite us to volunteer at the church, school or other function.  If we say yes, you have another volunteer who feels needed.  And if we say no, you have at least invited us into your circle.  The more you help us connect to other people, the more willing we will be to stay.  If small towns do not start projecting their want for young ideas and young involvement, they will continue their history of decline.  What image is your town projecting?

Photo credit: Susan Lloyd Image - flickr

For an interesting article about “the quarter life quandry” and how some towns are keeping young people involved, check out Facing a Midlife Crisis … at 25.

Tags: ahavath achim synagogue, community involvement, Gen Y, Habitat for Humanity, Outreach, young professionals group
Posted in Community Engagement, Gen Y, Rural Life | Comments ( 0 )

Collaboration means sharing

June 19th, 2009 by Mike Knutson

This may sound like an oxymoron, but collaboration works best when people are sharing.  I bet most people would agree with that simple statement.  But if that’s the case does technology make sharing so difficult?

Sending is confusing

In our presentation yesterday, we highlighted the difficulty of using online sending tools like e-mail:  One person sends out an e-mail to seven collaborators.  If collaborators only respond once, the collaboration is manageable.  But when it goes on for days with multiple e-mail engagements, collaborators often spend more time trying to figure out who said what and when than they do working on the project. 

Sharing

A better method involves the use of online sharing tools.  These tools create a central repository where documents, messages, and/or resources can be housed. This repository is usually on a third-party server, meaning collaborators have access to information from anywhere they have Internet access.

Why’s that less confusing?  Collaborators are able to follow the entire conversation without referring back to separate emails.    Collaborators are also able to be confident that they have the latest version of a document the group is collaborating on.

The Rural Learning Center began using this principle a couple years before it fully understood the share principle.  We’ve  been using Basecamp as an on-line project management tool, both internally and with their work in rural communities.  (Thanks Joe Bartmann).

Inc. Magazine tells us we’re right about this

Last night, I sat down to read the June issue of Inc. Magazine and discovered an article focusing on the importance of using web-based sharing tools.  If I’d only read it one day earlier, I could have included some of its main points in our presentation. 

Since I am too late to “share” this information in our presentation, I figured I’d highlight a few key points from the article and hope the conference attendees were bit by the social media bug and find the ReImagine Rural blog.

Titled “How to choose the right collaboration software for your company”, the article made the following points along with a few of my comments in parenthesis:

• E-mail is still king for communication, but more small and mid-sized businesses are taking the time to learn how to use on-line collaboration tools.
• Some of the emerging “low-cost” tools businesses are considering include Basecamp, Box, Huddle, Jive, and Socialtext. (I’ve only used Basecamp, which I like, but
• The best tool(s) for your company are those that match your employees needs. If they are not on-board, it will be a waste of your time and money.
• Organizations should not let a fear of security prevent them from considering tools where company information is stored on someone else’s server. Security for these tools has improved quite a bit.

 I really appreciated the article because it cuts right to the chase of why businesses and organizations should strongly consider adopting sharing tools for their collaboration.  This is definitely something rural communities need to understand.

 Unfortunately, we still have a major barrier:  How do encourage the many volunteers that make up our community organizations of the value these tools offer?  That’s a question we need to spend more time thinking and talking about.

Tags: Basecamp, collaboration, social media, web 2.0
Posted in Community Engagement, Rural, Training and Events | Comments ( 0 )

Growing Economic Gardening in South Dakota

June 18th, 2009 by Mike Knutson

What would it take to create an Economic Gardening movement in South Dakota? 

That’s the question we posed at the end of our presentation at the 7^th Annual Economic Gardening Conference in Fort Sisseton. 

It seemed to be a fitting conclusion to our presentation because the most social networking is best when it’s focuses on people come together to create a movement. 

 

 

If you have any thoughts about economic gardening and how to make it a movement in SD, I hope you will let us know.

Tags: Economic Gardening, entrepreneurship 2009 EG Conference
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments ( 0 )

So what do you think of Social Media

June 18th, 2009 by Mike Knutson

Today is a big day for Lindsey, Jim and I.  We’re speaking on the subject of social networking at the 2009 National Economic Gardening Conference.  It’s a big deal for us.  We believe social media has tremendous potential for community and economic development work, But we don’t consider ourselves to be either economic gardening or social media experts.  So the conference is still about learning. 

For that reason, we believe it’s important for us to engage people in conversation between sessions so that we can gain from their experiences.  We started that process last night at the conference social by asking people, “So what do you think about social media in your line of work?  (Keep in mind conference attendees come from a variety of professions.) 

 Here are a few of the responses. 

 ”Everybody keeps telling me I need to get into it, but it seems to take away from my real work.”

 ”I got onto Facebook because my kids have it;  but I don’t see myself using it professionally.”

 ”I’m working with some people who use it in their business, and they think it’s a great marketing tool.”

 ”I’m still finding my way, but I know it’s important because it’s how kids communicate.  If we want them to be a part of our rural communities, we need to figure out how we can use it in our work.”

 This last statement struck me, and is one that I want to emphasize in our presentation today.  We need to be willing to get out of our comfort zone and try different social media tools because it’s how young people communicate.

Photo Description:  Don Macke, Lindsey Karlson, and Jim Beddow at the Wednesday evening reception.

Tags: Economic Gardening, entrepreneurship
Posted in Economic Development, Rural, Training and Events | Comments ( 0 )