How do we define prosperity? Is it the inscrutable point of the stock exchange? Is it the national wealth through the gross domestic product? Perhaps, however, these metrics rarely take into consideration how individual communities are doing.
So, since the beginning of August, I have been calling township leaders from New York to Mississippi to see how everybody is doing.
Methods
The first step was to select the candidates. This was done in relative proportionality from state to state, determined by the Appalachian Regional Commission’s representation of the Appalachian region.
I then used the internet to collect email addresses and phone numbers for city and county offices, I called 110 in total with 5 dysfunctional lines. I accepted responses from Mayors as well as city clerks.
Each leader was asked the following 4 Questions:
- What does your community currently need?
- How do you think your community will change in the next ten years?
- What should everyone know about your town?
- Who in your community do you take the most pride in serving?
27 leaders responded, and one refused.
Selected Responses
The ten pages of responses are quite difficult to consume, if you would like to read all 108 responses, click here! Reproduced below are examples that were representational and emotionally impactful. These responses were mostly transcribed over the phone.
1. What Does Your Community Currently Need?
Robert Halfacer of Clemson, SC
We need everybody to work together, we need to work together when COVID hit, we came together and partnered together to keep people safe. It’s crucial to work together through this difficult challenging time. We need to work together to get through this and to do the right thing.
Bob Scott of Franklin, NC
A massive infusion of money for infrastructure repairs. We also need the north con legislature to realize that the entire state is not rural, we have municipalities as well, there’s a deep rural/ urban divide growing every day. I could spend 5 million on streets, sidewalks, water, and upgrades.
Sam North of Dahlonega, GA
We need a grocery store. 32,000, and we’re still trying to entice a major grocery store to serve us. That’s the community’s most sought-after development.
Mackenzie Spencer of Charleston, WV
There isn’t a city or town in the State of West Virginia that doesn’t need improvements to its infrastructure. We have a priority list of projects that need maintenance or replacements over the next several years. We are working with our congressional delegation to receive federal monies to work on these projects.
Harold E Slone of Louisa, KY
We need more jobs, more opportunities, more well-paying jobs that can keep families together. We’re fortunate to have a hospital, we’ve become a medical hub. It’s contributing to our growth in the medical field. We need the infrastructure to support that. We need housing the most. If we don’t have housing we can’t grow anymore. We have no housing available.
2. How Do You Think Your Community Will Change in the Next 10 Years?
Jerry Barilla of Steubenville, OH
Hopefully, we can see a positive change in employment. Once the steel industry left, we were devastated. We’ve relied more heavily on the medical and education systems for jobs. We are looking for more small-scale manufacturing. Giving people a job instills pride and self-worth, and that helps our community prosper. We need to focus on job creation.
Mackenzie Spencer of Charleston, WV
Charleston is receiving $36.8 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding that must be spent by the end of 2024. This is the largest sum of federal money that the city has seen at one time. It can, and will, change the landscape of Charleston dramatically not just in the short term, but long term as well. When we found out we would be receiving this money we began a community listening tour to hear ideas directly from citizens in every corner of Charleston.
The ideas varied greatly – from infrastructure improvements to additional social services to youth activities. My office is working directly with Charleston City Council to create an action plan and priority list for funding that will ensure lasting change for our Capital City
W. T. Daniels of Greenville, TN
I certainly hope it’s for the better. 12 years ago, we changed the form of our government from a weak mayor to a city administrator.
The change to a city administrator who works for the city council and is elected by the people helps. Representational democracy has been a positive change, and it has provided downtown revitalization and economic development. We’ve been using the extra tax money for education and refocusing on what we should be doing to educate our kids.
3. What Should Everyone Know About Your Town?
Allen Joines of Winston-Salem. NC
We are a city that has rebuilt our economy based on knowledge-based industries and most recently based on innovation and rapid change. We tied with Austin, Texas as the highest percentage of new business start-ups.
Bob Page of Hamilton, AL
We laid our senior center leader to rest recently, and we’ve got a lot of respect for our older leaders here, and we’ve built a new center for elder recreation, we’ve had to close it for COVID, but we’re excited to recruit new people into the senior’s program.
I’m trying to find ways to retain our smart young talent.
We cater to our graduating seniors and college graduates, so they can stay home and make a living. So my goal is to bring high-tech jobs to our industrial park. We have 500 acres of beautiful land for good jobs for the young. We’re working hard with an eager young council, they see the future as bright in Hamilton.
Randy Datsko/Danea Coss of Edensburg, PA
It’s a great place to live, work, and play. We’ve been constructing our Rails to Trails system. We’re at the top end of the Ghost town trail, and a lot of people are coming in to ride the trail. We have the Bethlehem Indiana Railroad and the Pennsylvania Trai, tool. We have a professional tennis center, a lake, a swimming pool, and two natural reservoirs.
Sandy Magiera of Salamanca, NY
It’s the only city that’s almost entirely sitting on a native American reservation. It used to be a railroad city, but now it’s a nice place to live since it’s next to the largest state parks in New York.
4. Who In Your Community Do You Take The Most Pride In Serving?
Allen Joines of Winston-Salem, NC
We work to ensure that all of our services are available to all segments of our population. However, special emphasis is placed on citizens who need help with housing, job training, and other programs to help move them out of poverty.
Marilyn Parker of Tellico Plains, TN
We have a service heart. We have a few organizations in town that try to help visitors and welcome new residents. We have lots of motorcyclists come through for the Dragon’s Den, and I like helping them. I take pride in the people here that have a service heart.
Evan Hellenga of Toccoa, GA
I like being able to help people get to the right people– be it electric, public works– we are very attentive. As soon as we heard about a dead tree in the park, we got it down very quickly. I serve on the Humane shelter board, and as mayor, I like developing and bringing industry to our town and county. It’s fulfilling to know I’m helping people now and in the future.
Charlie Hudson of Wellston, OH
I take pride in serving those folks that can’t see into the future or who don’t think that things can be better. I believe the pathway to improving the quality of life in our town is to give everyone hope. Each person’s hope may be different, but it is the most important thing we can instill. Everyone needs a reason to get up in the morning.
