Medora Uses HTC to Build a Stronger Community

Medora, North Dakota, shines in the HomeTown Competitiveness (HTC) Program. This community has stood out in North Dakota for various reasons. The scenery, the entertainment options, and their golf are just a few things that put the community in the spotlight. As Medora begins the tourism season, the town is planning internal actions that are worthy of attention. Medora has decided to use their HTC funding to create Community Days 2009. This two-day agenda will include a day of socializing and team building and a day to listen to nationally accredited speaker, Boaz Rauchwerger.

Last fall, community representatives recognized how the population is very tied up in their individual work. This has developed a strong base of community assets but hasn’t allowed for building relationships among the population. The HTC Medora committee decided to create an agenda that was strictly for the residents and allowed people to get to know each other on a more personal level. The events are two separate days and will be held at locations that are of interest to the community. Life-changing speaker, Boaz Rauchwerger, will speak at the newly renovated Roughrider Hotel. The second event, the Community Ropes Day will be held at Badlands Ministries, which houses a team building ropes course and has recently moved to a new, beautiful location. The Ropes Day will have residents on the high and low ropes, singing camp songs, and mingling in a way that hasn’t been available before.

The participation in these events demonstrate the commitment Medora has to a sense of community, which will add further to the Medora experience that thousands of people come to see each year.

For more information about this event, contact Amanda.Moser@dickinsonstate.edu

Amanda Lynn Moser
HTC Project Coordinator

Live from Nebraska City…HTC Youth Training!

Last week, I was able to attend “HomeTown YouthForce: Engaging the Entrepreneurial Generation,” a training session which was put on by the Heartland Center for Leadership Development. Held at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center in Nebraska City, Nebraska, the training kicked off on Monday. Attendees came from all over, including Indiana, Texas, Mississippi, Wyoming, Kansas, and Canada. Not only were great ideas presented by an experienced staff in economic and community development; but, the networking provided real world examples of how communities had further developed their youth in leadership and entrepreneurial roles.

The experiences that were shared included “Entrepreneurs in Action” which allowed youth to develop and explore their own entrepreneurial endeavor while receiving community funding and professional mentoring. An innovative youth leadership development program that was shared was a youth philanthropy group which is able to respond to community needs by allocating funds to various sectors of the community. Youth Entrepreneurial Summit or “YES!” has been able to inspire creative minds in their community and become involved in the community and local business.

The quality of products and youth demonstrate the success of these programs and opportunities.

If you’d like to find out more, including contact names or website links—contact me via phone or email, 701-483-2830 or Amanda.Moser@dickinsonstate.edu.

Amanda Lynn Moser
HTC Project Coordinator
Strom Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation