Economic Development - It happens in Rural Communities too!

November 11th, 2009 by Mike Knutson

Prairie Business Magazine just released a story touting recent job creation activities in small, rural communities of the Upper Midwest. The article’s message: small, rural communities can enjoy job growth if they are focused and work at it.

There’s a lot of good advice for communities in the article. What caught my attention, however, was how Marshall, MN is using the web and social media as a part of their economic development plan. Mark Hanson, economic development director with the City of Marshall, MN is quoted in the article saying:

“Cities like Marshall don’t have a lot of money to spend on marketing and advertising. We have to find the best ways to spend what we have. We have decided to stop printing brochures. The website is less expensive and we can continuously update it.”

Brochures, no! Website, yes…and Facebook and Twitter too!

When I took a quick a quick peek at Marshall’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, I was impressed: mostly updates on events and news articles, with a few video’s added for extra flavor. Through it we get a more authentic look at Marshall than if we were looking at a flashy brochure.

We’ve previously listed other communities that have created Facebook Pages (Energize Clinton County (OH), Webster, SD and Miller, SD) as a part of their economic development strategies. We definitely think it’s a move in the right direction.

As more and more communities embrace this strategy, however, we need to start asking: How has creating a Facebook page made an impact on your community? What is the measurable impact? Any new businesses come to town? Do you see community problems getting solved on-line? What’s actually happening? If you have some answers, we hope you will share.

Note: Congratulations to the South Dakota communities of Milbank, Watertown, Arlington, Eureka, Britton, and Roslyn on the recent opening of Link It Software offices.

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