Yes, he was preaching to the choir. But even a group whose mission is to promote Iola needs a pep talk every once in a while.
So it was that David Toland, Iola’s face for economic development, gave members of Iola Industries a primer on what makes a successful community.
As executive director of Thrive Allen County, Toland was granted a two-week sabbatical. Over the course of 11 days he drove 3,800 miles and visited 14 states primarily in the south and east.
“It was a time to refresh my personal well of ideas,” he said. “I felt I was running short on creativity.”
Another goal, which fit into his role as a part-time economic development director for Iola and Allen County, was to see what successful communities had in common.
By journey’s end he was able to list 10 criteria:
1. Successful communities strut their stuff. They advertise with good signage.
“If someone is driving from Wichita to Branson on U.S. 54 do they know we have an 80,000-square-foot building for sale in the heart of Iola?”
Nothing to an outsider indicates the former county hospital has been vacated, other than weeds sprouting from an empty parking lot.
2. Public education and economic development are closely linked in communities with thriving economies. Available, trained labor is the biggest driver to a business locating and staying in an area. Good schools are critical to a community. The success of each is contagious.
3. Learn to work with what you’ve got. Even very small communities project success if they capitalize on their assets.
4. Sometimes all you have to work with is history. Use it. Whether it’s streetcars, old theaters, or Buster Keaton being born on the roadside, promote it and make it your own.
5. Successful communities get behind a cause throughout their businesses, schools and industries. Toland recalled in one particular town, “everywhere I went they were pushing the same message. It was great.”
6. Successful communities look good. “Public investment in infrastructure attracts private investment,” he said, noting attractive streetscapes help bring shoppers, tourists and new business.
7. Trails are huge economic drivers. A study conducted in Missouri showed the typical trail user is in her 40s, has a college education, and has disposable income. Rocheport, Mo., a tiny town on the banks of the Missouri River, in recent years has become a thriving tourist destination all because it has capitalized by being on the route of the Katy Bike Trail.
“It has five B&Bs and four restaurants, but no industries,” he said. “All they do is cater to trail users.”
