Taking Action for Economic Development
In Fremont County
A Positive Approach for the Common Good
Building on the Economic Development Strategy that Fremont County has engaged Richard Gardner to direct and facilitate, national consultant and author Luther K. Snow led three workshops and a community presentation across Fremont County September 25 – 27.
§ These workshops focused on action, and how positive and appropriate development gets done in the community. Snow is a developer of Asset Mapping, which is about building on our assets and strengths, rather than our needs and deficiencies. Snow’s workshops demonstrated for participants the power of the asset-based approach, which he says is already at work in Fremont County whenever we are successful.
Snow remarked on the unique and abundant assets of Fremont County. He noted how diverse the County is, that it represents a kind of “microcosm” of the kinds of different rural situations we see nationally. He observed that the work of community participants on the Economic Development Strategy facilitated by Dr. Gardner have produced excellent results, from a simple but elegant statement of realities, values, and vision, to specific and concrete goals and objectives for economic development across the diverse communities of the County.
Snow’s Asset Mapping message is that we create economic value and community success when we follow an “open-sum” dynamic, which is based on the understanding that “my gain is your gain is our gain.” Sometimes we fall into traps of negative, fixed-sum thinking, on the idea that “my gain is your loss.” This can create conflict, division, apathy, and decline for all.
But we can avoid these traps by focusing on our assets. This leads us to connect our assets with each other to get things done together that we could not get done on our own. From these opportunities we create new assets, and new relationships, and the understanding that we all contribute and gain from the larger whole, from the positive success of our communities. This strengthens the open-sum dynamic, that idea that “my gain is your gain is our gain,” which in turn strengthens relationships and creates new assets, in a kind of “snowball effect.”
§ For example, in Fremont County, Island Park benefits from a stronger Ashton, and Ashton benefits from a stronger Island Park, and both benefit from the success of St. Anthony, and vice versa.
Attached is a write-up of the asset-based action strategies that participants came up with together at these sessions. Participants at each workshop focused most directly on immediate local community actions that we feel moved and empowered to work on from our own interests and desires. Because we took an asset-based approach, these actions add up to and strengthen a larger agenda for all of Fremont County.
Participants were given the opportunity to "vote with our feet," to sign-up and indicate our interest in further exploring one or more of these actions. Those individual interests are also indicated in this write up.
§ We expect that some of these actions may “take off” because of participant’s own interests and affinities. Others may change shape or lead to completely new actions. And others may continue to percolate. This is the nature of voluntary community action. You cannot force people to volunteer, Snow reminded us, you can only model positive community action and create opportunities for folks to contribute the common good.
What is most important here for the Fremont County Economic Development Strategy, and the real product of our Asset Mapping workshops, is not the projects but the dynamic. To the extent that participants recognize our assets, find affinities with others, and act from an “open-sum” dynamic, then Fremont County will be strengthened for the larger interests of its people. Approaching our assets together, we have no where to go but up!
Luther K. Snow
for Dick Gardner and Fremont County
October, 2007
Asset-based Action for Community and Economic Development
Immediate Opportunities that Capture the Interests and Affinities of Participants
Island Park
9/25/07
Ellen Romrell, Paul Romrell, Randy Miller, Thomas A. Nuebel, Judy A. Nuebel, Chan Atchley, Jim Hobbs, Ron Larsen, Dick Gardner, Luther Snow
Fremont County Asset Mapping for Economic Development report, Luther K. Snow with Dick Gardner,
October, 2007, page 1
Develop Destination Tourist Stops. Fremont County has quietly evolved from being a “pass through” on the way somewhere else to becoming a destination itself. We can build on this strength by offering related stops for tourists and visitors while they are here. Sparking assets include:
· Sand
· Snow
· On the way to Yellowstone
· Existing tourism
· Henry’s Lake
· Mesa Falls
· $ people spend on camping and fishing
· ATV Guided Tours
Randy indicated an interest in exploring this action.
Develop “Cabella’s” A related and somewhat fanciful idea opened real strategic interest: discussion of a “transfer station” for Cabella’s led to thinking about Cabella-type business and connections in the area. Sparking assets include:
· $ people spend on hunting
· Existing fly fishing shops
· Natural spring source water
· R.V. Dealership
· On My God Beauty
· Growing part-year residents
· The people
Build a snowmobile/ATV bridge across Henry’s Lake outlet. Everyone can agree on snowmobile and ATV safety, and the current situation where these vehicles have to travel out on the highway blacktop is unsafe. Some kind of bridge could be a community-building effort. Assets include:
· Henry’s Lake
· Safety
· Snowmobilers
· ATVs
· Neighbors
· Old railroad cars
Judy, Ron, Tom, and Randy have an interest in this.
Exciting Winter Employment/Strengthen Winter Fesitval. The growth and success of the 2nd Annual Winter Festival in very cold weather demonstrates strong promise for the future. Building on the summertime idea of ATV tours, Winter Festival activities could be expanded to include winter tours, lodge events, food, crafts, and more fun. Sparking assets include:
§ 500 miles of snowmobile trails
§ Food
§ Food
§ Lodge
§ Volunteers
§ Lots of snow
§ Part-year residents growin
§ Ellen quilts
§ Rentals
§ Catalog clothes
§ People
Randy and Ron stepped up on this one.
Island Park Quilter’s Guide Natural Scenes Project. Quilts featuring beautiful Island Park sights and natural sights could be a natural focus of the Quilter’s Guild, and these quilts could be sold at local lodges, perhaps as a fundraiser for a nature-related asset like Harriman Ranch. Assets include
· Appreciation of open spaces and natural places
· Ellen ‘s unique handwork
· View
· Natural beauty
· Harriman Ranch Building
Ellen indicated an interest in this action
Bears. Thinking about how to turn recent bear sightings into an asset of appreciating wildlife! Assets include
· Bears
· Birdwatching
· Wildlife tours
Eco Tours. What about business development that strengthens and protects natural resources? Eco tours offer visitors and the community the best of both worlds, and we have an entrepreneur experienced in eco tours operation at Yellowstone here in the community in Jim Hobbs. Assets include:
· Experienced eco tours operator
· Two Top mountain
· Clean water
· Home town pride
· Open space
· Sense of place
· Henry’s Lake Flat
· Snow
· Water
Ron, Jim, Judy, Randy, Paul and Chan signaled their intention to pursue this idea.
Developing a Grocery Store/ Retail Focus in Island Park. The world’s longest Main Street can still use a retail focus, and existing convenience grocery stores provide a foundation for an expansion that would serve diverse markets. Assets include:
· Existing food stores
· $ people spend on food
· Changing retail business
· Hispanic community growing
· Part-year residents growing
· Retirees and Lone Eagles
· Water
Tom, Randy, and Judy stood with this idea.
Growing Community Entertainment. There is a niche for relaxed entertainment, music, performance, in and around local lodges, restaurants, and resorts. Assets include:
· Entertainment during dining
· Spiritual values and renewal
· Volunteerism.
· Ponds Lodge
· Philips Cabin/Homes
· Beauty of Island Park
· Trees
· A River Runs by it Lodge
· Relaxed pace of life
· My extended freedom
· Musical groups
Entrepreneurship Mentoring program. We have experienced entrepreneurs and a growth of new entrepreneurs – why not connect them for mentoring and strengthening the entrepreneurial climate? Assets include:
§ Judy is an entrepreneur
§ Entrepreneurship Development
§ Men’s / boys toys
§ Volunteerism
§ Changes in retailing
And we see an abundance of additional assets including:
§ Sawtell Peak
§ Commuters
§ Animals
§ Horse Rides and chuckwagon dinners
§ Sense of place
§ Spiritual values and renewal
§ Retirees
§ Non-labor income
§ Lots of moving water
§ Randy knows everything!
§ Value-added agriculture
§ Chan is an active community member
§ New subdivision on 355 acres
§ Paul works hard at keeping development on track
§ Paul is a community leader
§ $ spent on annual snowmobile/snowvan family event
§ Strong spiritual values
§ Value-added agriculture
§ Freedom to be self-employed
§ Mike lawson’s new lodge
§ Henry’s fork lodge
§ Expanding RV Park
§ Jim is the best carpet cleaner around
§ Volunteering
Fremont County Asset Mapping for Economic Development report, Luther K. Snow with Dick Gardner,
October, 2007, page 1
Ashton
9/26/07
Christy Kantack, Aldon Bowles, Cathy Koon, Susan Baker, Linda Janssen, Chan Atchley, Teddy Stronks, Barbara Bungold, Peter Young, Le-Anne Bolten-Lewis, Dick Gardner, Luther Snow
Fremont County Asset Mapping for Economic Development report, Luther K. Snow with Dick Gardner,
October, 2007, page 1
Replenish and expand landscaping company. We can strengthen and expand landscaping business by investing in the beautification of our own town. Assets include:
§ farms
§ tourism
§ fish
§ natural assets
§ hometown pride
§ trees on Main Street
§ Trees
Aldon indicated an interest in following up on this action idea.
Fishing Information. We've got a successful town newsletter which benefits from good information, and local fishing businesses interested in getting the word out about fishing conditions and opportunities. Put them together in affinity and we could broker a fishing information spot or column in the newsletter produced by a fishing related business. Assets include:
§ The money that people spend on fly fishing gear
§ Premere Fly Fishing
§ Henry's Fork River
§ River's and Streams
§ Tourism
§ Royce Klinger
Le-Anne said she'd work to help suggest this connection.
Farm Tours. Fremont County is strong in both tourism and farming. We could strengthen both by offering Farm Tours. Assets include:
§ sense of place
§ tourism
§ transportation
§ Mesa Falls Scenic Byways Advisory Committee
§ Potatoes
§ Potato growers
§ The money we spend on gas
§ the money we spend on food
§ what we spend on lumber and hardware
§ value-added agriculture
§ view of Tetons
Susan and Chan are looking at this one.
Strengthen Youth in community, and strengthen community. We have a community center in Ashton that gives adults an opportunity to work with youth in some exciting and positive ways,. And a Mayor's Youth Committee and youth-led efforts can contribute energy and innovation to our community. Assets include:
§ community improvements
§ Mayor's Youth Committee
§ volunteers and community attitude
§ hub of activity for recreation
§ Pathfinders (antiques)
§ $ spent on entertainment
§ $ spent on vacation
§ $ spent on food
§ $ spent on haircuts
Linda, Teddy, and Aldon signaled their interest in this activity.
Mobile catering for events. We've seen food trucks and mobile catering. In Fremont County, encouraging such businesses could expand entrepreneurship while strengthening community events and recreation. Assets include:
§ Growing Hispanic Community
§ rise in self-employed
§ community events
Linda and Chan are motivated by this idea.
Start a community-owned store. We could take advantage of the low incomes to encourage entrepreneurship and local shopping in a community-owned store. Assets include:
§ Fremont County income quite low
§ spiritual values
§ Entrepreneurship development
§ sense of community of the people
§ Fremont County income
§ trees on Main Street
§ community improvements
§ small, community-oriented
§ Rotary
Susan and Aldon stepped up to this one.
Develop a mall. The old high school property would make a good location for commercial and retail development. Assets include:
§ hardware
§ Brad Purcell property (old high school)
§ $ spent on restaurants and eating out
§ locally-owned businesses
§ entrepreneurship development
§ clothes
§ parts and supplies for farm
§ Ashton Chamber
Develop the Community Center. We already have a community center building and a committee dedicated to developing it. We can strengthen this effort by pointing out affinities with existing local groups and associations and events. Assets include:
§ Mesa Marathon
§ people supportive of community
§ community Center available for gatherings
§ sense of place
§ sense of place
§ self-employed
§ good location
§ Republican Women
Teddy and Linda indicated an interest in this approach.
Hess Museum. The Museum could help support community programs, and could be a focus for community-building activity. Assets include:
§ Hess Museum
Teddy Stronks is committed to building on this.
Mesa Falls Marathon. The Marathon is a growing event that can promote the diverse aspects of the community. Assets include:
§ Marathon organizers
§ Mesa Falls
§ tourism
§ dog sled organizers
§
Teddy Stronks is also committed to building on this activity.
Many other assets abound to build on and consider, including
§ location at US 20 and SH 47
§ beautiful view
§ EMTs + Fire Departments