Welcome to Kenmare

Feature Stories (Vol. 109 No. 39--9/26/2007)

What does Kenmare have?
What does Kenmare need?
What can Kenmare do?

"Reality Survey" will create tool
for community development

By Caroline Downs

What does Kenmare have? What does Kenmare need? What can Kenmare do to attract new residents, businesses and services?

Kari Bies, executive director for the Kenmare Community Development Corporation, will be collecting the answers to those questions in the next few months as she begins the Kenmare Economic Engines Project with a target industry survey.

"This is a reality survey," she said. "My intent is in creating visible goals."

To start the project, Bies will hold confidential interviews with administrators, managers and owners in Kenmare’s health care, education and business sectors. "I’m there to hear what they want, what they need and what they see, to assist in community development," she said.

The survey will be given as part of the Northwest Venture Communities Inc. (NVCI) Economic Engines Project, which started with the communities of Bottineau and Stanley. "[We’re doing this] to create a tool communities can use to help in economic development and community development," said Mitch Monson, executive director of NVCI.

Maria Effertz-Hanson, of Velva and a community development specialist with the Souris Basin Planning Council, explained one major outcome of the study will be the opportunity to network with nearby communities. "We’ll have connecting points, not only in the city of Kenmare, but throughout the area," she said. "It could be for training or for additional services, or to create services on a bigger scale. When we’re done, you’ll be able to make those links. One business might say, ‘We need this,’ and another business will say, ‘We have this.’"

"We want to come together as a region," added Monson. "This is a way to see those linkages and build collaborations."

According to Effertz-Hanson, the Stanley and Bottineau communities completed the survey in 2006 with funding from the federal Economic Development Administration. Velva recently finished its target industry survey with support from NVCI, which is also funding studies in Kenmare, New Town, Westhope and Burke County this fall with a grant from the Northwest Area Foundation in St. Paul, Minnesota.

"That should cover a good portion of our seven-county region," said Effertz-Hanson. "As a region, we have a lot to offer. We have a lot of opportunities."

Monson estimated data from the surveys, including Kenmare’s, would be compiled by the end of January or early in February 2008.

"We should have a regional report by the end of spring," Effertz-Hanson said, "and we can make those collaborations start happening in 2008."

Steering committees in Bottineau and Stanley have already started planning projects related to their survey results. Minot State University-Bottineau is applying for a Centers of Excellence designation, while Stanley is developing more organic and value-added agriculture in the community, as well as preparing a feasibility study about future uses for the former hospital building.

"This [study] is a way to find the engine that drives your economy," Monson said. "And there’s probably more than just one. We think this is something good for the communities and good for the region overall."

Monson and Effertz-Hanson spoke with Bies in early September about Kenmare’s participation in the Economic Engines Project. With approval and support from the Kenmare Community Development Corporation, Bies plans to schedule interviews with active business, education and health care leaders beginning October 1st.

Bies also wants to hear from the general public. "I would be open to other individuals interested in participating in this survey," she said. "Any input is good and appreciated."

She emphasized that the survey will focus on goals, benefits and results for Kenmare. "It’s not to change the community, it’s to improve Kenmare," she said, "and to improve the quality of life here, to improve the quality of education, business and health care, and to improve the services we offer here, to make it more appealing for families and businesses to be in Kenmare."

Persons with further questions about the project or who would like to respond to the survey regarding Kenmare can contact Bies at 701-217-0048 or by email at kcdc@rtc.coop.

Bies, Monson and Effertz-Hanson view the Economic Engines Project as a practical tool for Kenmare and other communities in the region. "This is not just a bunch of wishes on a piece of paper," Effertz-Hanson said. "This is a very realistic look at what you can do in a community, and it’s important for a community to come out with possibilities that can really happen."