
Error message
In order to filter by the "in queue" property, you need to add the Entityqueue: Queue relationship.-
County NewsBy the time the Rosebud County, Mont. community of Colstrip called on the Southeastern Montana Development Corporation (SEMDC) in 2015, the economic situation was beyond urgent.Even a ‘Colstrip’ has economic options
- BRECC
February 21, 2023February 21, 2023, 3:15 pm
-
County News Article
Even a ‘Colstrip’ has economic options
By the time the Rosebud County, Mont. community of Colstrip called on the Southeastern Montana Development Corporation (SEMDC) in 2015, the economic situation was beyond urgent.
With a population of just over 2,000, Colstrip was built on coal mining and power generation, industries which employ hundreds and contribute significant tax revenue.
Learn more
NACo invites all those interested to join the BRECC National Network
But downsizing in the industries impacted Colstrip in the late 20th century, and diversification wasn’t “an” option, it was “the” option.
Jim Atchison, SEMDC’s executive director, stressed that despite the community’s place in the broader trends of America’s energy transition, Colstrip’s story was still being written.
Atchison spoke during the Jan. 26 convening of the Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities (BRECC) National Network. NACo’s BRECC Initiative is a community of practice supported by funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, and over the next two years, the BRECC National Network will hold a virtual learning series, featuring a live webinar every other month for local leaders who are on the ground in coal country, working to increase economic resilience and position their communities for a bright future.
Responding to community concerns, SEMDC released the Colstrip Economic Diversification Strategy in 2017. It contained six goals and 17 strategies, boiled down into five major projects:
- an expansion of broadband capacity
- the development of an industrial park, called the Colstrip Energy Park
- the creation of a Business Innovation Center, slated to begin construction in the coming months
- the development of a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) site selector tool, and
- the launch of a regional marketing campaign, which has helped attract new residents to Colstrip, including remote workers.
There are spinoff opportunities in this approach. SEMDC is exploring the potential of “value-added energy,” modeled on value-added agriculture. By capitalizing on a fuller range of Colstrip’s assets, like rare earth resources and sites amenable to renewable energy, the city can evolve from a coal hub into an energy hub.
Momentum is key in economic revitalization programs. “When people found out what we were doing,” Atchison told attendees, there “was a ‘wow’ factor.” Moreover, in the past couple of years, SEMDC redoubled community engagement efforts — and efforts to engage state officials. In early 2023, for example, representatives from SEMDC attended a well-received legislative reception in Montana’s state capital of Helena.
Atchison emphasized that “successful economic development is a team sport.” Economic revitalization is a long-term undertaking, and SEMDC has found that relationships begun early in the diversification process are now coming to fruition.
“You never know who you meet and, [in] those relationships you’re creating today, what benefits they’re going to bring you four or five years from now.”
By the time the Rosebud County, Mont. community of Colstrip called on the Southeastern Montana Development Corporation (SEMDC) in 2015, the economic situation was beyond urgent.2023-02-21County News Article2023-04-11
By the time the Rosebud County, Mont. community of Colstrip called on the Southeastern Montana Development Corporation (SEMDC) in 2015, the economic situation was beyond urgent.
With a population of just over 2,000, Colstrip was built on coal mining and power generation, industries which employ hundreds and contribute significant tax revenue.
Learn more
NACo invites all those interested to join the BRECC National Network
But downsizing in the industries impacted Colstrip in the late 20th century, and diversification wasn’t “an” option, it was “the” option.
Jim Atchison, SEMDC’s executive director, stressed that despite the community’s place in the broader trends of America’s energy transition, Colstrip’s story was still being written.
Atchison spoke during the Jan. 26 convening of the Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities (BRECC) National Network. NACo’s BRECC Initiative is a community of practice supported by funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, and over the next two years, the BRECC National Network will hold a virtual learning series, featuring a live webinar every other month for local leaders who are on the ground in coal country, working to increase economic resilience and position their communities for a bright future.
Responding to community concerns, SEMDC released the Colstrip Economic Diversification Strategy in 2017. It contained six goals and 17 strategies, boiled down into five major projects:
- an expansion of broadband capacity
- the development of an industrial park, called the Colstrip Energy Park
- the creation of a Business Innovation Center, slated to begin construction in the coming months
- the development of a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) site selector tool, and
- the launch of a regional marketing campaign, which has helped attract new residents to Colstrip, including remote workers.
There are spinoff opportunities in this approach. SEMDC is exploring the potential of “value-added energy,” modeled on value-added agriculture. By capitalizing on a fuller range of Colstrip’s assets, like rare earth resources and sites amenable to renewable energy, the city can evolve from a coal hub into an energy hub.
Momentum is key in economic revitalization programs. “When people found out what we were doing,” Atchison told attendees, there “was a ‘wow’ factor.” Moreover, in the past couple of years, SEMDC redoubled community engagement efforts — and efforts to engage state officials. In early 2023, for example, representatives from SEMDC attended a well-received legislative reception in Montana’s state capital of Helena.
Atchison emphasized that “successful economic development is a team sport.” Economic revitalization is a long-term undertaking, and SEMDC has found that relationships begun early in the diversification process are now coming to fruition.
“You never know who you meet and, [in] those relationships you’re creating today, what benefits they’re going to bring you four or five years from now.”
Hero 1
About Maxwell Johnson (Full Bio)
Maxwell Johnson is a Resilient Economies and Communities intern in NACo’s Counties Futures Lab.More from Maxwell Johnson
-
Blog
White House and USICH launch initiative to tackle unsheltered homelessness
On May 18, the White House and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) launched the ALL INside initiative to address unsheltered homelessness. -
Webinar
Crafted by Communities: A Framework for Economic Transition
May. 25, 2023 , 3:00 pm – 4:00 pmThis BRECC National Network session, entitled Crafted by Communities: A Framework for Economic Transition, will present three pillars for coal community revitalization and share resources from the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE). -
Blog
Looking beyond economic assets to find your community’s 'sweet spot'
“Building a strong and resilient economy starts with creating a great community where people want to live and work.” This was the key takeaway of a study published by Community Builders, a non-profit organization specializing in creating more livable -
Blog
New Economic Recovery Corps Will Place Economic Development Fellows Nationwide
NACo is pleased to partner with the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) to launch the -
Blog
Senate and House reintroduce legislation to strengthen the LIHTC
On May 11, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2023 was reintroduced by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Reps. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), Don Beyer (D-Va.), Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.). -
Blog
EDA opens applications for Phase l of Tech Hubs program
On May 12, the Economic Development Administration published a Notice of Funding Opportunity for Phase I of its Regional Technology and Innovation Hub program. Counties may not apply as sole applicants but are eligible to apply within a consortia.
-
Webinar
Creating Inclusive Pathways to Higher Education and Employment for County Residents
June 21, 2023 , 3:00 pm – 4:00 pmPost-secondary education can be a pathway to gaining the degrees, credentials and skills needed for family-sustaining employment.06213:00 pm<p>Post-secondary education can be a pathway to gaining the degrees, credentials and skills needed for family-sustaining employment.
-
Webinar
Exploring Outdoor Recreation as a Component of Economic Diversification
July 27, 2023 , 3:00 pm – 4:00 pmJoin the BRECC National Network for a conversation on outdoor recreation as a viable component to build a robust, diverse local economy. Learn more about research trends linked to outdoor recreation economic development, small business ecosystems and resources that could support coal communities.07273:00 pm<p>Join the BRECC National Network for a conversation on outdoor recreation as a viable component to build a robust, diverse local economy.
-
Basic page
Community, Economic & Workforce Development Steering Committee
Responsible for all matters pertaining to housing, community and economic development, public works, and workforce development including the creation of affordable housing and housing options for different populations, residential, commercial, and industrial development, and building and housing codes. Policy Platform & Resolutions 2022-2023 2022 NACo Legislative Prioritiespagepagepage<p>Responsible for all matters pertaining to housing, community and economic development, public works, and workforce development including the creation of affordable housing and housing options for different populations, residential,
Related Resources
-
Blog
White House and USICH launch initiative to tackle unsheltered homelessness
On May 18, the White House and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) launched the ALL INside initiative to address unsheltered homelessness. -
Blog
Looking beyond economic assets to find your community’s 'sweet spot'
“Building a strong and resilient economy starts with creating a great community where people want to live and work.” This was the key takeaway of a study published by Community Builders, a non-profit organization specializing in creating more livable -
Blog
New Economic Recovery Corps Will Place Economic Development Fellows Nationwide
NACo is pleased to partner with the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) to launch the
-
Reports & Toolkits
Housing Affordability for America's Counties
Housing is one of the basic needs for healthy, safe and vibrant communities. Some research estimates a housing shortage of more than 3.8 million units across the country. County voices are instrumental in community planning, land use, zoning and enacting policies and other regulations that affect housing. -
Reports & Toolkits
County Economic Trends
County Economies Grew by 5.9 Percent Between 2020 and 2021 Percent change in county GDP between 2020 and 2021. -
Policy Brief
Restore Funding for HUD's Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program
Urge your Members of Congress to restore funding for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) program to at least $2.1 billion as Congress begins to consider funding for FY 2024. The HOME program, funded through the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) appropriations bill, was cut by 50 percent between FY 2010 and FY 2016. Although the HOME program has received annual increases or level funding since 2016, funding levels remain short of the $1.8 billion FY 2010 level.
Related Events
-
21Jun2023Webinar
Creating Inclusive Pathways to Higher Education and Employment for County Residents
Jun. 21, 2023 , 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
More From
-
ARPA Impact Report: An Analysis of How Counties are Addressing National Issues With Local Investments
With American Rescue Plan funds, counties are strengthening America’s workforce, addressing the nation’s behavioral health crisis, expanding broadband access, improving housing affordability and building prosperous communities for the next generation.
Learn More