One Montana A Rural-Urban Partnership for Sustainability in the 21 st Century

1. One Montana A Rural-Urban Partnership for Sustainability in the 21st Century

2. “The pragmatic answer does not involve dividing rural from urban.Urban and rural Montana places are tied together in a regionally interdependent economy, and the development of that economy has to be tied together as well.” •   Rosalie Sheehy Cates, Western Montana InBusiness Monthly, 2006

3. “We believe that through regional collaboration we can bridgethe rural-urban divide…It does not have to, and can no longer,be a zero sum game.Our fates are inextricably linked.” • Adolfo Carrión, Jr., White House Office of Urban Affairs, 2009

4. We all want the same things: Personal Well-Being Economic Stability A Healthy Planet for the Future A More Prosperous and Sustainable World for our Children and Grandchildren

5. What is One Montana?

6. Mission: from DIVIDE to CONNECT To change the way we thinkand act about rural and urban communities

7. Creates collaborative civil discourse in our society Builds on the success of grassroots programs to resolve local issues Builds and sustains basic trust between rural and urban Montanans to address larger issues in the state One Montana is a statewide program that:

8. Who will be Involved?

9. Tribal Communities and Tribal Colleges State and Local Governments The Montana University System Private Sector Citizens and their Communities Nonprofit and TradeOrganizations

10. Examples of SuccessfulRural-Urban Partnerships

11. Montana Constitutional Convention

12. The Blackfoot Challenge

13. Stillwater Mining Good Neighbor Agreement

14. Horizons Community Leadership Program

15. Current Rural-Urban Efforts

16. Online Education

17. Telemedicine

18. Locavore Movement

19. Broadband Access

20. Agritourism

21. …but a great deal more work is needed for sustainable success

22. Effects of condensed population in seven largest cities Retention of productive agricultural land and open space Sustainable sources of energy and water Access to quality health care, education, and internet Fair governance for both rural and urban citizens Sustainable local food systems Sustainable economic development opportunities Rural-Urban IssuesFacing Montanans

23. Putting It All Together:A Sample Local Project 23

24. 1. Identify and Prioritize Project At the request of a rural community, One Montana resources help them to identify a healthy local food system as a priority in order to: provide more markets for their farmers enhance the community’s economy help maintain open space for everyone’s benefit 24

25. Leveraging One Montana resources, the community: Builds relationships with urban markets for their products (restaurants, schools, hospitals, farmers’ markets, retail stores, etc.) Exchanges information on opportunities, challenges, desires, and needs Collaborates on possible solutions Partners on funding sources for implementation 2. Bring Rural and Urban Players Together 25

26. Building on this collaboration, rural and urban partners create: A growers cooperative to provide a reliable, consistent supply of the products that urban markets want A marketing plan that stimulates increased demand from consumers for local foods An online purchasing system to streamline the buying/selling process A distribution system that accommodates both growers’ and markets’ interests 3. Create Solutions 26

27. Rural farmers sell more, earn more, and can stay on the land Rural economies thrive from the increased economic activity derived from local farmers Urban markets gain increased revenue from demand for local foods Urban consumers enjoy fresher, tastier foods and… 4. Reap Benefits 27

28. Rural and urban communities gain: increased appreciation for each other and for the power of rural-urban partnerships increased trust and goodwill towards each other a model they can use to tackle bigger issues successfully confidence in their ability to continue to solve problems interdependently for everyone’s benefit …the “priceless” factors: 28

29. Implementation

30. Establish Coordinating Committee – to oversee staff, strategize, support, promote, and help fund One Montana efforts Operates out of University System, possibly the Office of Higher Education Creates and maintains an interactive One Montana website Seeks “new” monies from private, corporate, and foundation sectors, and possibly Federal sources Step-by-Step

31. Builds grassroots support for One Montana: Community presentations Town meetings Possibly through Leadership Montana? Helps One Montana projects to achieve success: Prioritize community-based projects Help obtain funding Provide technical assistance Step-by-Step (continued) • Holds an annual statewide meeting to: • Further One Montana’s agenda • Celebrate ongoing successes • Expand scope of successes

32. Select small-scale, local projects with a good probability of success ex. Mineral County Challenge Strategy #1

33. Strategy #2 Building on the trust gained from these successes, take on larger issues facing our state ex. tax reform, hunter access, etc. 33

34. Strategy #3 Use these successes to cultivate new community leaders “from the grassroots to the grasstops” ex. Leadership Montana, etc. 34

35. Strategy #4 Continue to build the infrastructure needed to nurture and sustain One Montana 35

36. A Vision Realized… • Online education provides equitable and quality education to all Montanans and increases enrollment for state colleges • Sustainable local food systemshelp family-scale ag operations stay in business and offer fresher, tastier, more varied food choices to urban consumers • Far reaching broadband access allows rural residents to pursue successful rural entrepreneurship and increases revenues for urban telecommunication companies • Private lands hunting programs increase access for hunters and diversify cash flows for family-scale farmers and ranchers • Telemedicineimproves rural access to quality healthcare and expands the professional experience of urban practitioners • Civil discourse leads to a fair and equitable decision makingprocess at the local and state levels for all Montanans

37. Montana’s overall low population = good chance of success Montana’s identity and community has a history of putting aside differences (1972 constitution) Montana has a distinct rural-urban divide Montana will be greatly affected by national issues of climate change, energy development, water demand, healthcare, education, and poverty One Montana as a model for the country – why?

38. What can you do to promote One Montana?

39. Using your own resources, how you can you furtherOne Montana through your profession, personal interests, networks, position in your community, etc.?

40. Today… Write down five rural-urban connections you can make to further your goals.(e.g., contact your professional equal in an opposite community about their approach to the same or similar problem)

41. During the next month… Meet with at least four people in your community or profession to share the One Montana approach.

42. During the next two months… Write a letter to the editor or an op-ed piece for your local paper discussing how the One Montana approach might be used to solve a local problem.

43. During the next three months… Help us schedule a presentationof the One Montana program with at least two groups in your community.

44. Or… Use your skills and expertise to promote One Montana in your own way

45. “Urban and rural Montanans must learn to work together or our children and grandchildren will pay an unbearable price.” • “Our Shared Fate,” Aspen Institute (2009)

46. This presentation was made possible through the generosity of: Rural Landscape Institute David and Lucile Packard Foundation Undaunted Stewardship MercuryCSC

47. Bill Bryan, Executive Directorbillb@rurallandscapeinstitute.org406.522.7654The Rural Landscape Institute7 East Beall StreetBozeman, MT 59715www.rurallandscapeinstitute.org