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VISION: |
GOALS:
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Strategy: Achieving economic activity that builds wealth for all through expanding the export economy, job creation, diversifying the economy, and reducing the cost of living. The community's economic goals reflect an intention to (1) create economic opportunity for those working poor who currently live or work in the county, and (2) make it feasible for some young people who have left the community to return or (3) create a social and economic environment that will attract new people to move to the county. From their analysis of economic data, participants in the planning process found that virtually no unemployment exists in Miner County. Almost all working-age families depend on jobs and other sources of income, such as part-time farming. A strong feeling in the county is that each parent need only work one job to support a family. Multiple job holding and underemployment are considered major problems by many in the county, who connect it to added mental and physical stress on families and perceived increasing social problems such as youth drug and alcohol use. In 1997, total full- and part-time employment in Miner County was 1,736 and the total population age 18-65 was 1,473 persons. This means that employment as counted is 313 more jobs than the total working age population. Participants also found that average earnings of wage and salary jobholders were consistently lower in each of the years from 1990-98. Farming continues to be the largest sector of the Miner County economy, but is not providing a viable living for many. The annual income of farmers has ranked fifth lowest among seven surrounding counties from 1990-98. Although in 1997, the Census of Agriculture listed 369 farms in Miner County (a decline from 488 in 1987 and 424 in 1992), it classified only 111 farms in Miner County as having sales in excess of $100,000 (which would provide a net income of about $15,000). Of those 111 farms, 70 had commodity sales between $100,000 and $249,000; 24 had sales between $425,000 and $499,000; and a mere 17 had sales in excess of $500,000. In 1997, more than 25 percent of all Miner County "farmers" had sales of between $50,000 and $100,000; an additional 28.5 percent only had sales between $10,000 and $49,000. Net sales are usually about 15 percent of gross sales. Clearly, those farmers must supplement their income through means other than their farm sales. Economic diversification is a necessity. Another factor signaling a need for greater investment in and diversification of the economy is that from 1990-98 Miner County's total personal income increased by only 20 percent. Among the neighboring counties the next lowest increase was in Beadle County with an increase of 33 percent. The remaining five counties all had gains of more than 40 percent during the 1990s. A less-than-average rate of increase of wage and salary workers, nonfarm proprietors, and transfer payments are the major contributing factors to the lower rate increase. The latter factor is attributable to a decline in the retirement age population. A related indicator concerning the distribution of income is that in 1990 Medicaid accounted for 8.8 percent of total transfer payments in Miner County and income maintenance accounted for 3.8 percent-a total of 12.6 percent of total county transfer payment income-about $1.13 million. However, by 1997 Medicaid had increased to 12.2 percent of county's total transfer payments and income maintenance payments had increased to 8.6 percent-a combined total of about $2.58 million-an increase of 128 percent. Additionally, in 1997, about 75 percent of total county income maintenance was in earned income tax credits, foster home care, and emergency assistance. Considering that unemployment is extremely low (1 percent in July 2000) it is evident that a majority of the recipients of public assistance are employed. This strategy will enable the people of Miner County to achieve its goals of people being able to earn a living consistent with their own abilities, needs, and aspirations for quality of life, as well as having sufficient mechanisms for financial investment in the community. Activities will focus on addressing the needs and aspirations of current low-income members of the community as well as enabling skilled workers to return to or move to Miner County. Initial activities under this strategy:
Poverty reduction Miner residents have determined that there are many opportunities for increasing aggregate income and improving income distribution. The plan emphasizes that a key is to increase the extent of investment of local capital in businesses, infrastructure, housing, and other community needs. By increasing income through economic diversification, job creation, and reducing the cost of living, poverty can be reduced among those most in need. Strategy: Developing and expanding financial assets in the community through asset creation, debt reduction, and local investment opportunities. When people leave a community, their financial assets go with them. Miner County population declined 18 percent from 3,272 in 1990 to 2,684 in 1999. The rate of population loss was more than twice as great as the adjoining county with the next largest population loss. Miner County had 386 people move from the county during the 1990s and had 202 more deaths than births. Miner County citizens also realized that they were losing retirement age population at a far greater rate than any of their neighboring counties-generally the wealthiest among the population-were leaving the county and were taking their income, Social Security, Medicare, and other investments and entitlements with them. They also found that they were losing population between the ages of 18 and 44-a substantial portion of the working-age population-at a far greater rate than any of their neighbors. Another major drain on financial capital in the community is the lack of mechanisms that exist to capture that capital. The average individual deposits per year in Miner County (1990 total bank deposits per capita were $9,489) was much lower than in surrounding counties and the state as a whole. One reason for low bank deposit figures is that many Miner County residents cannot get the loans they need and therefore bank outside the county. In addition, few mechanisms exist to donate money to the community for community development purposes. No endowment funds, venture capital funds, or foundations exist in the community to encourage and facilitate giving. This strategy will enable the people of Miner County to achieve their goals of having sufficient mechanisms for financial investment in the community as well as people being able to earn a living consistent with their own abilities, needs, and aspirations for quality of life. Initial activities under this strategy.
Poverty reduction As fewer people remain in the county the tax burden increases for those left behind, raising their cost of living and exacerbating the financial plight of households already in poverty. Through the provision of affordable, adequate housing, more people who work in Miner County can move into the county and more seniors can remain in the county in housing suitable for their physical needs. Having residents remain in the county and making housing available for persons to move into the county will result in more local financial capital as well as a greater number of taxpayers sharing the cost of public services reducing individuals tax burden and therefore, their cost of living. Likewise, reversing the trend towards out-of-county property ownership will assist in retaining financial capital by adding productive assets to the county. Additionally, increasing low-income persons' access to credit will provide the opportunity for greater economic growth and development, increased retention of local capital, and a greater degree of self-determination. Strategy: Developing and nourishing human and social assets in the community through shared community learning, inclusive and informed decision-making, and effectively utilizing resources. It cannot be taken for granted that a rural setting automatically means a wealth of social capital. Young people leave and don't come back, others must work multiple jobs to make a living and interact less with community members. Providing the opportunity for people to develop skills, build relationships, learn from and support one another is a critical element in Miner County's effort to develop and retain human and social assets. As more people leave the county it becomes difficult to retain human and social capital. In addition to the loss of seniors, Miner County's school enrollment declined from 635 in 1994-95 to 558 in 1998-99. Those who have been leaving the community for education, employment, or other reasons are most often those who are taking with them the community's investment in their education and their positive attitudes toward work and family. In contrast to many other rural communities, Miner County is no stranger to the strength of community and the use of community resources to improve quality of life. Among the more impressive features of Miner County today, despite recent economic decline, is the extent to which citizens, especially youth, have taken responsibility for important community initiatives. The annual county 4-H achievement show is a major countywide event and 4-H youth play a prominent role in organizing the facilities and providing services. The Howard High School has recently been featured in a research report from Harvard University reporting on exemplary projects in rural schools that involve expanding the student learning environment beyond the school. There are also a number of courses in the curriculum that explicitly utilize the local culture, history, and economy in classroom instruction. Students are required to play a major role in procuring and generating some of their own curriculum materials. These two examples are an important start, especially in terms of the education and civic-mindedness of local youth. The community's loss is even more damaging when the richness of practical and cultural experience the youth have acquired is lost when they leave and do not return. Efforts have also been made to learn from and seniors in the community. When they leave-as they are beginning to do in Miner County-they take important assets with them as well. Newcomers, especially those who are coming to work at the local packaging plant, are another asset that the community needs to tap in order to truly provide quality life opportunities for all. This strategy will enable the people of Miner County to achieve their goals of the community valuing and enriching people and their abilities to create a cooperative community for present and future generations, as well as being able to earn a living consistent with their own abilities, family needs, and aspirations for quality of life. Initial activities under this strategy. Poverty reduction The county has lacked the resources and infrastructure to learn about their community and improve its situation through gathering and analyzing information, sharing with each other, and making informed decisions. Partial evidence of this is seen in Miner County's failure to access outside funding sources for housing development in comparison to surrounding counties, as well as the lack of economic development in the community. Increasing social and human assets by building the capacity to think and act strategically is essential to Miner County's poverty reduction and revitalization efforts. Strategy: Creating and maintaining affordable life-cycle housing through housing construction and rehabilitation of property. Despite population loss there is a shortage of housing in Miner County. Some workers employed in Miner County have not moved to the county because of a lack of appropriate housing. There is concern that a lack of appropriate housing for older citizens may be a contributing factor to their leaving the community. Data from the 1990 Population Census makes it clear why there is a current housing shortage. Of the 1,474 housing units in Miner County at that time, 67.5 percent were constructed before 1940, the highest rate among the seven surrounding counties and one of the highest rates in the Midwest. Much of the housing therefore is in disrepair and not suitable for today's family's needs. Additionally, Miner County had the lowest rate of housing constructed from 1970 to 1990. In Miner County only 16 percent was constructed during that period. Although a housing study of the current housing situation, the demand for housing, and gaps in meeting that demand is still under way, surveys and interviews with workers and residents indicate strongly a terrible lack of appropriate, affordable, decent housing in Miner County. Affordable, quality life-cycle housing (rented or owned) will enable workers, especially low-income workers, to move to Miner County and become a part of the community; enable seniors to move out of their homes into suitable elder housing; and open up appropriate homes for families of all income levels. This strategy will enable the people of Miner County to achieve their goals of being able to earn a living consistent with their own abilities, family needs and aspirations for quality of life, as well as having sufficient mechanisms for financial investment in the community. Initial activities under this strategy. Poverty reduction Having access to affordable housing and to housing that is not in need of major repairs leads to poverty reduction for low-income community members as they can reduce their cost of living and may be able to free up time for job seeking or training. The construction or retrofitting of housing was envisioned not only as meeting a major community need but also as a means to reduce poverty through economic development. Construction of housing could generate more high-wage, high-skill employment-targeted toward low-income community members-generate greater demand for building supplies and services, and would also increase total assessed valuation of homes, adding to a household's financial capital. |
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(605)
772-5153 • 109 North Main Street • Howard, SD 57349 •
mccr@alliancecom.net |