O-SenseA generation ago, the timber-rich counties in the First Congressional District were among the most prosperous in Idaho. That’s no longer the case and it breaks my heart knowing that the U.S. government was a major cause of economic decline.
But Idahoans don’t give up. An outstanding example comes from Valley and Adams counties, where a push for economic development has captured national attention.
Newly branded as the “West Central Mountains – Idaho’s Adventure Corridor,” the region is among eight finalists in the America’s Best Communities competition. The volunteer-driven effort has already received $150,000 to fund economic development planning from the contest’s sponsors, Frontier Communications, DISH Network, CoBank and The Weather Channel.
Winners will be announced in April, based on which community has done the most to foster long-term growth. The top prize is $3 million, with $2 million for second place and $1 million for third.
Sherry Maupin, the group’s spokesperson, is a vice president at Idaho First Bank in McCall and president of the nonprofit Valley County Economic Development Council. She’s optimistic about the area’s chances.
“Among the finalists, we are the smallest population base and the largest geographical area,” Maupin said. “We are truly rural America.”
The development strategy includes six elements: jobs; housing; transportation infrastructure; education, culture and recreation; health and well-being; and regional communication. Maupin said many aspects of the plan have been implemented, including small business summits, job training and establishment of a housing trust.
Among the successes are The Springs, a 72-unit affordable housing project built by a public-private partnership, and the expansion of employee housing by the Whitetail Club and Shore Lodge to over 100 beds.
The strategy aims to improve on the region’s special qualities. As the 119-page development plan puts it, “Our intent is not to reinvent our area but to effectively build on what makes our community so desirable.”
More than 350 communities applied when the America’s Best Communities competition opened in 2014. The contest’s sponsors expect a ripple effect, with crowdsourced ideas serving as a model for small- and medium-sized communities across America.
Competing for the prize has united economic development efforts in Valley County and the Meadows Valley area of northwest Adams County. Maupin said the plan will be implemented whether or not the area wins, though the pace of implementation will accelerate with $1 million or more in prize money.
“You know what?” Maupin said. “We’ve already won. We were working independently, now our region is functioning as a region to build a sustainable future.”
Win or not, I congratulate Maupin and the hundreds of volunteers who’ve participated in helping make one of America’s best places a little better.
