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Posts Tagged ‘sales tax’
Why does “Rural” matter?
September 2nd, 2009
In our part of the country, most rural communities have experienced 50-80 years of economic decline. This decline often leads to feelings of despair and hopelessness.
A Sense of Hope
At the Rural Learning Center (RLC), however, we have a sense of empowerment and hopefulness. We base that optimism in part on the progress being made in Howard, South Dakota and surrounding Miner County, where our work began.
Two of the most compelling signs of that progress include the Howard municipal sales tax revenues and the construction of the second phase to the Rural Learning Center.
How did you get started in Miner County?
As Randy Parry, President of the RLC, indicates in the video below titled “How did you get started in Miner County?” our work began with high school students studying local sales tax trends. Seeking to make an impact, these students shared their learning with the citizens of Howard. Their efforts as well as the innovative community development work that followed sparked an “invest in local” movement resulting in significant business investment that translated into record sales tax revenues. (see image above)
Today, we are celebrating the groundbreaking for Phase II of the Rural Learning Center in Howard. Dignitaries from around the country will be in attendance to help us celebrate and “reimagine” the possibilities for our rural places.
Why does Rural Matter?
But as we do, I think it is important that we reflect on why rural communities matter and why the Rural Learning Center is important to their futures.
To help initiate that conversation, I’ve produced a short video in which I asked Rural Learning Center employees those very questions. I hope it spurs you to reflect and share your thoughts on the subject.
Tags: groundbreaking, Howard SD, miner county sd, Rural Learning Center, sales tax, youth engagement
Posted in Community Development, In the News, Rural, Youth | Comments (3)
More on the Clark Variety Store
May 24th, 2009
The Clark Hometown Variety Store received more good publicity today in a story published in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Titled “Buying a store sells Clark on small-town power“, the article describes how the residents of Clark, SD (pop. 1300) banded together to create a cooperatively-owned variety store.
If faithful readers of ReImagine Rural think the story sounds familiar, it should. Back in February 2009, I posted about the store, emphasizing the importance of small retail operations like this in small, rural communities. They are often just as much a part of a community’s “infrastructure” as streets, cell phone service, and broadband internet.
The Argus Leader identifies that cooperative-owned stores like this are on the rise, but they missed an opportunity to provide another “local” example of the phenomena it in action. After all, the community of Menno, SD took similar initiative to maintain the presence of a grocery store in their community.
The story also raises the question: What is happening to Clark’s city sales tax revenues? Most people are not aware of how important city sales tax is to the operations of a municipality in South Dakota. My guess is that Clark has seen a rise in its revenues since the store opened. It would be fun to see.
Other stories about the Clark Hometown Variety Store
- “S.D. residents buy shares to open town’s only general store” in USA Today (basically the same story as in the Argus Leader, but the comments are very interesting)
- “South Dakota Town Creates Community-Owned Variety Store” at the New Rules Project (Check out their link to a “how to guide” for creating community owned retail operations)
- “Hometown Variety” at Tim Manners blog
- “Small-Town Socialism: Clark Opens Community Store” at the Madville Times
Tags: Buy Local, Clark SD, grocery stores, Menno SD, retail, sales tax, South Dakota
Posted in Economic Development, In the News, Quality of Life, Rural | Comments (0)