 National Association of Counties * Washington, D.C. Vol. 31, No. 17 * September 13, 1999 Previous story | Table of Contents | Next story Western counties aim to corral growth
Seven counties from six western states will be the first counties to participate in the Western Community Stewardship Forum, a partnership between NACo and the Sonoran Institute. The participating counties are: Cochise and Custer counties, Colo.; Bear Lake County, Idaho; Jefferson and Stillwater counties Mont.; Rio Arriba County, N.M.; and Lincoln County, Wyo. There were 25 applications from nine states. The Western Community Stewardship Forum was created to address the increasing need for innovative community-driven solutions to land-use issues. The forum is targeted to non-metropolitan counties experiencing rapid population growth in 11 western states. Counties, communities and individuals that participate in the Western Community Stewardship Forum will have the opportunity to preserve the western way of life while growing their economies into the next century. The counties will send teams workshop in Park City, Utah Oct. 21– 23. The workshop will focus on the challenges facing rapidly growing rural communities in the west. Community-driven solutions that respect individual property rights will be a foundation for exploring regulatory and non-regulatory tools for managing rural land-use change. At the conclusion of the workshop, the “county team” will develop a stewardship agreement to establish the focus of their forum efforts during the following year. This agreement will also outline the technical assistance services NACo and the Sonoran Institute will provide during that period. The next application period for eligible counties will begin Sept. 20, with a deadline of Dec. 15. Application packets will sent to all 225 eligible counties. The second workshop will take place in Red Lodge, Carbon County, Mont., April 12–14, 2000. If you have questions, please contact Jerry McNeil, NACo project leader, at 970/215-5959 or e-mail j.t.mcneil@worldnet.att.net. |