Towards a Growth Path for Towns and Cities in the Nex-Tech Footprint
Written by: Friday Otuya
For many years, Nex-Tech has supported rural communities across our service footprint. Today we continue to do so by offering advice and guidance to local leaders on innovative ways to foster development. Community Engagement Specialist, Friday Otuya, writes about an innovative engagement cycle that could lead to community progress on local issues.
In some of the towns I have visited, I have observed that our local leaders are handling multiple economic issues and challenges simultaneously. They often need the assistance of various stakeholders to arrive at solutions. Nex-Tech always seeks to help community leaders in dealing with issues. This is why we recently developed a grassroots community action cycle, that offers a point-to-point engagement pathway toward a turnaround in communities facing developmental challenges. I think when this cycle is observed, it could create the momentum necessary for local leaders to work in a focused and intelligent way toward concerted actions on local issues. That is what Nex-Tech would always like to see.
Nex-Tech Community Action Cycle:
1. Gather– Get the community together in person or remotely; concurrently, separately, or consecutively.
2. Converse– Get all stakeholders (including businesses) to discuss the issues. Bounce ideas, touchpoints, brainstorm, finalize, etc. What is/are the issues facing the town? Funnel issues into:
- What can be done about this now?
- What can be done about this later?
- What can we do nothing about and perhaps should ignore?
Stakeholders may want to make a list of the strengths of the community. Perhaps consider factors such as reliable power, water, natural gas, education, building space, housing, workforce demographics, and transportation (proximity to highways, railroads, airports, etc).
3. Create Action Points– List priorities and possible progress points. What is/are the problem(s) facing your town? Be specific and direct. Have a list, an agenda of issues, and the way forward. Identify the range of options available to stakeholders. Make it public so all stakeholders are on the same page.
4. Do/Act– Take a specific action within a specific timeframe. Make a call, send an email, mail a letter/proposal, call out for help, apply for a grant, change a city statute, etc.
5. Repeat – Return to stakeholders with outcomes and gather again… Repeat steps 1-4 continuously and constantly. The cycle should never stop. Remember time, energy and resources are limited, so make it all very focused.
- Think of the town/city as a product.
a. Product: What makes your town unique? Why should anyone care about your town?
b. Marketing and PR: How are you marketing and selling your town? How do tourists, investors, or potential residents see your town? Work on your perception.
c. AgTech: If agriculture is your main economy (unique selling point), how are you positioning your town to be part of the future of agriculture? Nex-Tech’s fiber network can help. Let’s discuss more.
d. Prospecting: Every business looks for customers. What efforts are you taking to attract new residents and businesses to your town and its surrounding areas?
- List all businesses and economic activities in your area. Research this and list the future opportunities in each of these business areas. What is the future of oil drilling, wheat farming, corn farming, cattle rearing, farm wastes, etc.? If these are the economic strengths of your areas, then stakeholders should be thinking of how to bring future opportunities in these industries here.
- Business roundtable – An event to organize for all business owners to discuss some of these issues. This is a 1-2 hour chat where we can learn from existing business – what do you need to succeed? What supply chain partners would you like to see in the area? What does the future of the town look like? Have a roundtable and discuss.
- Ask for help -You can prepare letters and mail economic development stakeholders locally, regionally, and federally. Some federal agencies, like the EDA, might also be good resources. You could outline the community’s identity, the challenges it is facing, and opportunities that can be unlocked in the area. Regional and federal stakeholders may decide to do something. Nothing is certain except it has been tried and tested.
- Makemymove.com is a website that offers incentives for new households moving into a city. Can your town or city partner with them? Could your city create its own set of incentives for new movers? It doesn’t require a website; just get local businesses to support new residents with incentives.
Connect with Friday
Friday Otuya
Community Engagement Specialist
Friday Otuya /əoTU:ya:/ drives our multifaceted community economic development efforts and is the Nex-Tech contact for all our loan and grant programs. His vision is to position Nex-Tech as the community economic development partner of choice in Kansas for federal, state, and local stakeholders. He lives with his wife and son in Hays, KS.
Call/Text
785.639.8698
Weekdays: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Email
fotuya@nex-tech.com
LinkedIn
@friday-c-otuya