CONTRIBUTED PHOTO A group of local elected officials and economic development leaders headed to the southwest Iowa community of Stanton on Thursday, Oct. 1 for an educational trip.

They met first thing in the morning on Oct. 1, loaded into a bus, and took off on a classic ol’ road trip. There were county supervisors, mayors, regular citizens, and political candidates filling the seats. So, where were they all going? Stanton, a local economic marvel in southwest Iowa.

The story of Stanton is one of 700 citizens coming together for their community. A pamphlet on the town stated that in under a decade, about $39 million was invested in the community. The money went toward a few different projects including a $20 million fiber-to-the-home broadband network, a $4.5 million community wellness center, a $3 million childcare center, a technology park, steady housing construction, downtown building renovations, trail expansion, and major water infrastructure. Stanton did all of this their own way.

As the pamphlet put it, “Stanton did this without a big factory landing, a casino, or a single wealthy benefactor writing one giant check. It did it by layering many funding sources on every project — federal grants and loans, state grant programs, utility investment, foundation money, local tax incentives, and relentless hometown fundraising — and by building a bench of local organizations capable of owning and operating what got built.”

So, the local economic development department saw Stanton as a learning opportunity. Tama County Economic Development Director Jake Buchanan talked about how the trip came to be. “During discussions with Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO John Hall, Alex (Ferneau) and I wanted the opportunity for our county officials to experience a small Iowa town that was a good example of rural Iowa development firsthand. Stanton’s story is no secret to many in the Economic Development profession, so John suggested we start there,” Buchanan said.

It was important to actually go there, see the place to learn about it.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The group filed onto a bus and headed over 150 miles to the southwest to learn more about economic development in Stanton, a community of less than 700 residents.

“I’m a big believer that experiencing something firsthand helps put things in perspective. It’s one thing to hear/read how much a small town of 700 people can accomplish, but when you see it for yourself it’s inspiring,” Buchanan said.

Although the thought of jumping on a bus with a group of people wasn’t the most exciting for some, it all worked out. Iowa House candidate Berleen Wobeter attended the trip.

“I questioned whether I wanted to spend so much time traveling on a bus for this tour. As it turns out, I hardly noticed the ride as participants quickly engaged in meaningful conversations about the issues they were facing. We made valuable new connections with people and learned from each other,” she said.

The goal of the trip was to learn and to think of how our area can use the lessons that Stanton teaches.

“My goal was for each person to go home with one idea or inspiration for their community. Does that idea need to be a multi-million-dollar project? Absolutely not! Maybe it’s an idea around community planning or fundraising. You must start somewhere,” Buchanan said about the trip.

Supervisors Heather Knebel and David Turner attended the field trip and returned with active minds.

“The visit demonstrated what can happen when residents, businesses, local government, and community organizations work together with a shared vision,” Knebel said. “Farmers Mutual Telephone Company (FMTC) plays a major role in helping Stanton move projects forward, attract businesses, and expand housing. The city and FMTC jointly support a dedicated economic development employee who coordinates the many groups involved and helps guide projects through completion. That collaborative approach has produced impressive results: approximately 175 homes have been built in Stanton during the past 30 years, while only one home has been torn down. The city also encourages investment through a five-year property tax exemption on up to $75,000 in improvements, along with local incentives that support property upkeep, including house painting.”

Turner mentioned that there is a major commitment and community involvement in the larger projects the town has done, like the activity center, child care center, and the ball fields. Knebel expanded on this.

“Community pride was evident throughout Stanton. The Viking Center is a strong example of the town’s commitment to creating amenities that serve residents of all ages. The facility includes a gymnasium, indoor walking track, library, preschool, storm shelter, fitness center, and meeting space. By offering something for everyone, the project built broad community support and encouraged donations,” she said.

Wobeter talked about the relationship of the community.

“The community seems to have developed a sense of trust over the years. Each successful effort adds to the belief that the work we want to do can be done and we have the people we can trust to do it,” she said.

Turner talked about some of the many different things that makes the whole Stanton venture successful, like the use of a 501(c)3 to accomplish projects, donations, endowments, and little to no use of tax funds. He also talked about the use of multiple committees and the people who cross over from group to group. There are advantages in this, Turner said.

“If you don’t care about a specific subject or project, there are others available,” or, “One person is the news keeper and spreader of information for all the projects,” he said.

Ferneau, the Marshall County Economic Development Director, worked on the Stanton trip, and she felt like the trip went swimmingly.

“The trip was a great experience for Marshall County representatives. It showed how small towns can plan for the future, the importance of partnerships with organizations in the County, and the willingness for communities to work together. It was a productive day for our group. Everyone enjoyed learning about Stanton’s success stories and how they accomplished their projects,” she said. “Many attendees couldn’t believe all the positive initiatives that have and are taking place in Stanton, IA with their population size. It helped open their eyes to different opportunities that are possible in rural Marshall County. I loved the energy that Stanton’s groups have for keeping Stanton a wonderful place to live. They are always trying to challenge themselves and bring new opportunities to their community. Seeing their coffee shop and restaurant thriving in a town with a population of 700 is something to be proud of!”

Knebel raved about the trip.

“Thank you to the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce and Jake Buchanan of Tama County Economic Development for organizing this informative visit. I appreciate the elected officials from Traer and Gladbrook who participated in the tour,” she said. “Stanton provided an inspiring example of how cooperation, local leadership and community investment can strengthen a small rural town. We hope those who attended returned with practical ideas that can be adapted and put to work in communities across Tama County.”

The Stanton trip seemed to achieve its objectives of teaching our civic leaders about the opportunities that are out there and to inspire them. Hopefully, the lessons they learned will stay in their minds as they go forward and lead.