Summit of Northwest State Rural Development Councils June

Summit of Northwest State Rural Development Councils June 15 -16, 2016 • 45 total participants • Costs shared equally by the three state rural councils • Idaho participants: Rep. Caroline Troy Erik Kingston Joe Herring John Meyers Trent Clark Wally Hedrick

Summit of Northwest State Rural Development Councils June 15 -16, 2016 • Idaho participants Elli Brown Jerry Miller Roy Valdez Lori Porreca Howard Lunderstadt Lorie Higgins Julia Oxarango-Ingram

Summit of Northwest State Rural Development Councils June 15 -16, 2016 Thurs. , 6/16 Highlights A core strength identified by all 3 NW rural development councils: • The diversity, inclusiveness, and expertise within our organizations and the capacity to be aware of and track rural development programs and services at multiple levels

Summit of Northwest State Rural Development Councils June 15 -16, 2016 Thurs. , 6/16 Highlights Areas for improvement identified by all three states: • Bring greater clarity about our unique niche or mission, goals, program activities, and desired outcomes • Develop and diversify funding • Increase outreach and marketing to let rural stakeholders and partners know what we’re about

Summit of Northwest State Rural Development Councils June 15 -16, 2016 Top challenges in Northwest Communities • Lack of leadership, capacity development, burnout, staffing • Fear, social-cultural divisions, outdated thinking, lack of vision, apathy, cynicism

Summit of Northwest State Rural Development Councils June 15 -16, 2016 Top opportunities in Northwest Communities • Rural advocacy; elevate the rural voice regarding policy; there is no unified voice for rural interests. • Addressing/developing the rural-urban connection What’s next: write summit report, each state to continue developing ideas from summit, reach agreement on goals and related actions the three councils will pursue together.

Community Reviews Accomplishments from 2015 Reviews Lost Rivers Valley • Developing a stronger working relationship with INL • Butte County Pretty City Committee formed to coordinate blight reduction, community clean-up efforts, etc. 24 unmaintained properties cleaned up to date. • LRED, City of Mackay, and Mackay Mine Hill Preservation group have come together to market the area as a destination for ATV riding. • Related names have been trademarked. (e. g. “Lost Rivers Valley – ATV Capital of Idaho” • Creation of new visitor center in Mackay Business Center • Interpretive and directional signage

Community Reviews Accomplishments from 2015 Reviews Lost Rivers Valley • 2 new businesses being incubated at the Butte Business Incubation Center in Arco • New or expanding businesses: nursery, coffee shop, RV park, feed/farm store, gas/convenience store. Note: Arco branch of Wells Fargo has closed. • Proud Source Water is a new business coming into the Valley due to recruitment efforts • Capital improvements: new $500 k track and fairgrounds (Arco); downtown building facades, new city park and other park improvements (Mackay) • Change the Name Committee (Craters of the Moon project)

Community Reviews Accomplishments from 2015 Reviews Preston • Significant leadership change; city has added 2 new staff • Improved relations and communication between city and business leaders • City and County working to complete area of city impact agreement

Community Reviews Accomplishments from 2015 Reviews Preston • Development of promotional videos (for tourism and business recruitment marketing) • New or expanding businesses: Trails West (trailers), Lewiston State Bank, Advantage Plus Credit Union, hospital, coffeeshop, medical/dental offices; all 3 businesses at City’s industrial park are expanding. • City has received 12 business license apps. In the last 12 months.

Community Reviews Accomplishments from 2015 Reviews Preston • New splash pad opened in June. • ITD is repaving and restriping State Street this summer. Will result in improved conditions for walking & biking • Grant submitted to Dept. of Commerce to extend fiber optic broadband to industrial park

Community Reviews Accomplishments from 2015 Reviews Fairfield • Soldier Mountain ski area sold, keeping the facility in operation and preserving up to 70 local jobs. • $25, 000 micro grant from Dept. of Labor for 3 D printers, Auto. Cad, and related training. Involved partnership with school, City, and local employers. • $375, 000 CDBG grant from Dept. of Commerce for Soldier Road improvements (downtown) • $300, 000 grant from ITD for pathway development

Community Reviews Ongoing and Upcoming Community Reviews • Kootenai (report to be completed September • Cascade (report to be completed October) • Athol (October 2016) • Kimberly (March 2017 • Plummer (June 2017)

Other Program Commitments USDA Cooperative Agreement • Total funding is $50, 000; we have received $27, 000 • Supports community reviews and our leadership role in the NW rural council collaboration • Project period ends September 2017

Other Program Commitments State Funding ($50, 000) • Post-community review follow-up support • Assess community review outcomes and identify best practices • Participate in Capital for a Day (next one: Downey, Aug. 15) • Prepare annual report to Governor and Legislature • Broaden participation in IRP

Other Program Commitments INL Technology-based Economic Development Grant ($20, 000) • Elevate the conversation about STEM, workforce development, education, and attracting talent in the context of community reviews • Increase efforts to document community review outcomes (e. g. with respect to job creation)

Other Program Commitments Monsanto Fund Grant ($10, 000) • Complete an assessment of existing broadband conditions and opportunities in advance of Capital for a Day events • Present broadband information during Capital for a Day events • Prepare summary of broadband-related issues that come during Capital for a Day events and identify follow-up actions and available resources.

Financial Picture • See expense report • Raised $445 through Idaho Gives Day in May (Thanks to donors!) • IRP now has two accounts managed by RIVDA: - Balance of $12, 559. 96 in IRP funds at RIVDA (this balance does not include $10, 000 Monsanto grant) - Balance of $4, 706 in USDA Cooperative Agreement account at First Federal Savings (this balance does not include $16, 900 disbursement we expect to receive any day.