Hometown survival tips given at conference

They attended a HomeTown Competitiveness Academy. One of the main presenters, Dr. Tim Donahue, associate professor of business at Chadron State, said the program was similar to a church revival meeting. He said it was designed to help the participants do some soul-searching about their hometowns and think about what can be done to improve them.

“We want to get people excited about the possibilities that exist to make their businesses and their communities better and more attractive,” Donahue said.

The academy was sponsored by Chadron State, the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, the Heartland Center for Leadership Development and the Nebraska Community Foundation.

The participants were from Chadron, Crawford, Callaway, McCook and Shickley in Nebraska, Rawlins County, Kan., and Baca and Phillips Counties, Colo.

HomeTown Competitiveness goals include mobilizing local leaders, energizing entrepreneurship and attracting and engaging young people in business and community development. It also encourages establishment of a community foundation that can be used as a vehicle to encourage senior citizens and their families to remember their hometown when they make estate plans.

Considerable time was spent on entrepreneurship. One of the speakers, Milan Wall, co-director of the Heartland Center, said there’s a need to roll back the calendar a century to what he called “the golden age of entrepreneurship.” That’s when the High Plains were being settled and nine out of 10 people were in business for themselves.

Since then, he said many have come to believe the road to success is to work for a large corporation. But with numerous mergers and layoffs by Fortune 500 firms, that notion is changing. He said most new jobs are again being attributed to entrepreneurship.

“The pioneers were able to build communities out of nothing. We should be able to sustain them from something,” Wall added.

Donahue said people who are creative thinkers and energetic can develop a successful business. He added there are numerous state and federal agencies available to help draw a business plan and make financial arrangements, but marketing is another important key to success.

“In order to be successful in business, you have to be excited about it and have a passion for it to make it work,” the Chadron State professor said. “At one time, every business was a concept in somebody’s mind that they developed and made work. They started a business because they saw a perceived need. But you also have to be enthusiastic and think about how you can convince others to buy the products or services you are going to offer.”

It was noted throughout the conference that an essential way to keep a community on the map is to find ways to transfer existing businesses to new owners once the old owners are ready to retire. Often, the “Going Out of Business” sign is placed in the window before most people in the community know the owner was planning to quit.

Heavy emphasis was placed on involving youths in entrepreneurship and community projects. Several speakers noted that young people often have new ideas, additional energy and are more “in tune with the trends” than adults.

Such involvement may also encourage youths that they are important to their hometowns and inspire them to check into existing opportunities close to home.

“We need to encourage young people to become involved in their communities, let them know they are appreciated and even reward them for their contributions,” said Wall.

He added that with high speed internet and UPS, it is possible to operate a business in a small town just as effectively as in a city.

Wall also said that more and more people are willing to sacrifice economic opportunities for the less-hectic quality of life available in small towns.

“If people are satisfied with the education, health services and quality of life they are experiencing in their hometowns and have family nearby, they are often willing to stay put,” Wall said. “We’re also seeing a number of people moving back to their hometowns for these reasons. We need to keep these pathways open. Often if they know about an opportunity to make a living in their hometowns, they’re eager to return.”

Numerous examples were given during the academy of how HomeTown Competitiveness practices have revved up communities in the region. For instance, it was reported that as of early this year, seven new businesses had sprung up and two business transfers had occurred in the small town of Mullen, Neb. (population 550), creating 18 jobs.

Wall urged the academy participants to continue brainstorming after they return to their homes, organize steering committees and focus groups and perhaps hold a town hall meeting to enlist others to help put HomeTown Competitiveness practices in place.

Joy Omelanuk, executive director of the Chadron Area Chamber of Commerce, was among the five representatives from Chadron attended the academy.

She said she and the other participants from the community plan to review the materials they received and the notes they took. Then in the near future they plan to get together to discuss ways they can help implement what they learned and enlist others to help.

“I believe there are a lot of ways we can build on the information we received,” said Omelanuk. “It integrated with my job really well. There are some people who are already looking into beginning a community foundation.”

Omelanuk said she was pleased that Crawford also participated in the academy because she believes there are several possibilities in which the communities can work together to promote tourism in the area.

The chamber of commerce executive director said she and others in the Chadron group plan to participate in the Ogallala Commons Fall Conference that will be at CSC on Wednesday, Oct. 11 to build on what they learned this past week and perhaps gain some additional information that will be useful.