News

Bottineau’s EDC holds an economic vitality meeting

By Scott Wagar

11/18/2014

Bottineau’s EDC hosted an economic vitality meeting on Nov. 12 at the Cobblestone Inn and Suites where Jerry Nagel of Meadowlark Institution in Lake Park, Minn., conducted a World Café presentation to show those at the meeting how Bottineau can improve their fiscal vitality.

The World Café is set up to allow an arrangement of conversation, which allows individuals to create and share ideas. 

On Wednesday evening at the Cobblestone, the 24 individuals that attended the meeting broke into six different groups to discuss three questions that Nagel presented to the group, which included: 

● As you think about the future of Bottineau, what excites and inspires you? 
● What are the possibilities we could explore to ensure a strong future for Bottineau?
● What can we begin now to ensure a strong future for Bottineau and what are you willing to commit to?

In question one, the different groups stated that what excites and inspires them is Bottineau’s location and natural resources, the quality of life, the area’s economic diversity and the numerous age groups.

“One of things I’ve learned about community development is only small groups of people take on all the work, they are always in the community,” Nagel said. 

“Part of the messaging for economic development in Bottineau is what inspires all of us so the community owns the work, the community steps up and participates. 

“It is pretty clear in no particular order that what is exciting and inspirational about Bottineau is your natural resources, the recreational base that you have and the location where you are,” Nagel added.

“This is something the whole community can own and be part of and inspired by,” 

When it came to quality of life, the groups stated they enjoyed the community support, safety for its residents and the education that is offered in the school district and college. 

As for economic diversity, the groups said that oil, start-up businesses and full service businesses are an inspiration to them. 

“These are key themes here,” Nagel said. 

In multiplicity of age, Nagel said that Bottineau is fortunate to have so many different age groups. 

“This is something that 95 percent of all rural communities would die for is a diverse age demographic,” Nagel said. “With young people returning and young people in school enrollment and so on, this is  good for a community. 

“I hear this (wanting young people) where ever I go. People want age diversity but do not have it.”

To find a strong future for Bottineau, the individuals who attended the meeting said that new infrastructure and getting the youth involved in the community would grant Bottineau a bright outlook.  

In infrastructure, the groups wanted to see a wellness/recreational structure which would include a new arena, football field and track. 

The groups also said that they would like to see new businesses which would include a full service truck stop, restaurants, manufacturing, new housing along with affordable housing and a new school building to educate the youth of the community.

When it came to getting the youth of Bottineau involved in the city, the groups stated they would like to see programs and organizations that would center on getting the youth involved in business, education, government and community organization. 

“In infrastructure you have to ask yourself how do you respond to business needs and how does the community be of good service to the businesses here,” Nagel said. 

“Whether surveying them to find out or creating the kind of educational programs that meet their employees’ needs or marketing targets, this will help.” 

With the youth of Bottineau, Nagel stated those who are older need to listen to the youth and get them involved in a serious manner. 

“When getting the youth involved make sure you speak to them about what they want,” Nagel said. “In one community I was in, the parents constructed a playground. When they finished, they asked the kids what they thought about the playground equipment and the kids said, ‘It’s beautiful but we don’t play with the stuff.’ Make sure you talk to your youth and find out what is important to them.

“And, can you tell me the age of the youngest city council member? I am guessing it is over 40,” Nagel added. “The youngest in Fargo is 32. When you talk about involving youth, are you sincere about it? Or, are you going to use them to stuff envelopes until they are 40 before they are out of commission and their voices die. 

“It is not just sort of venturing – valuing that voice and that voice will make a difference because if it doesn’t make a difference they are not going to show up.”

In what would provide a strong future for Bottineau and what the groups were willing to commit to for the community at the present moment, the groups stayed focused on the youth, a wellness/recreation center, a new school building and getting the community as a whole to work together on the town’s future. 

“You give to the EDC a set of four powerful themes that inpires you all as a community. Some sense where you might place some energy,” Nagel said. 

“Energy in youth leadership, energy in infrastructure, energy in responding to the needs of the businesses that are here and energy in some new business, because this is where you all think the energy is for this community and where the energy in the EDC could go.”