“I think it’s an exciting time in Clarkfield,” said Civic and Commerce (C&C) Vice President of Commerce Adam Isaacs. “It’s awesome to have this many people here tonight and I hope we can keep it going.”
“Keeping it going” was an integral theme at the C&C and EDA Business After Hours Dinner, which was held this past Wednesday’s to honor local businesses and citizens for their support of the community. During the event C&C members recounted recent city improvements and asked the 25 individuals present for their thoughts on how the success could be sustained.
C&C President Jeff Randall said that a brainstorming session amongst members of the organization elicited possibilities for community gatherings such as a back to school event, open swim day at the pool and barbecue and corn feed. Those in attendance chimed in to suggest the city look for ways to bring the Arts Meander to the area and to consider hosting an appreciation event for the charter school teachers.
In sum, the C&C has just under $9,000 to assist with projects. Clarkfield EDA director Berdette Schoep said the organization does not want to sit on the funds.
“Saving for the C&C is a bad thing,” he said, pointing out that the role of the organization was to help promote civic and commerce in the now.
To cap off the evening, those in attendance listened to a brief presentation from local resident and University of Minnesota Extension community economics educator Neil Linscheid.
Lindcheid’s presentation outlined Clarkfield’s place in the local economy and suggested that the community needed to work together with consistency over the long-term to develop creative niches.
“The workforce data shows that Clarkfield is connected to Marshall and several surrounding communities through a shared labor force,” said Linscheid in email correspondence. “Being near and connected to these communities shouldn't be considered as all positive or negative.”
With statistics indicating that individuals are willing to travel 40 miles to shop for goods and services, people in Clarkfield may travel to Marshall to make purchases but the inverse is also true.
With this in mind, Linscheid emphasized that towns who are able to develop a creative niche and make it work are those with strong “social capital.”
Essentially social capital is the level of positive communication within the community. When a community trusts one another, gets along and frequently exchanges energy and ideas, social capital is healthy.
“When things are really working well for a town, social capital is present,” Linscheid said.
The extension educator added that the trick is to keep the community engaged with one another long after big events, such as Heart of the Prairie Days, had ceased. “What is working and is there for a town who really succeeds ... is activity that does not drop-off when the event ends.”
In other words, the town keeps it going.
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“I think it’s an exciting time in Clarkfield,” said Civic and Commerce (C&C) Vice President of Commerce Adam Isaacs. “It’s awesome to have this many people here tonight and I hope we can keep it going.”
“Keeping it going” was an integral theme at the C&C and EDA Business After Hours Dinner, which was held this past Wednesday’s to honor local businesses and citizens for their support of the community. During the event C&C members recounted recent city improvements and asked the 25 individuals present for their thoughts on how the success could be sustained.
C&C President Jeff Randall said that a brainstorming session amongst members of the organization elicited possibilities for community gatherings such as a back to school event, open swim day at the pool and barbecue and corn feed. Those in attendance chimed in to suggest the city look for ways to bring the Arts Meander to the area and to consider hosting an appreciation event for the charter school teachers.
In sum, the C&C has just under $9,000 to assist with projects. Clarkfield EDA director Berdette Schoep said the organization does not want to sit on the funds.
“Saving for the C&C is a bad thing,” he said, pointing out that the role of the organization was to help promote civic and commerce in the now.
To cap off the evening, those in attendance listened to a brief presentation from local resident and University of Minnesota Extension community economics educator Neil Linscheid.
Lindcheid’s presentation outlined Clarkfield’s place in the local economy and suggested that the community needed to work together with consistency over the long-term to develop creative niches.
“The workforce data shows that Clarkfield is connected to Marshall and several surrounding communities through a shared labor force,” said Linscheid in email correspondence. “Being near and connected to these communities shouldn't be considered as all positive or negative.”
With statistics indicating that individuals are willing to travel 40 miles to shop for goods and services, people in Clarkfield may travel to Marshall to make purchases but the inverse is also true.
With this in mind, Linscheid emphasized that towns who are able to develop a creative niche and make it work are those with strong “social capital.”
Essentially social capital is the level of positive communication within the community. When a community trusts one another, gets along and frequently exchanges energy and ideas, social capital is healthy.
“When things are really working well for a town, social capital is present,” Linscheid said.
The extension educator added that the trick is to keep the community engaged with one another long after big events, such as Heart of the Prairie Days, had ceased. “What is working and is there for a town who really succeeds ... is activity that does not drop-off when the event ends.”
In other words, the town keeps it going.
