Taking Steps Towards a Sustainable Economy

SWAN VALLEY – What started as a conversation about the economy among Swan Valley residents ended with nearly a dozen people focusing on restoration and renovation of the arena grounds. This was one of the three action teams that started taking small steps towards a sustainable economy for the valley.

The Swan Valley First, hosted by the Swan Valley Community Foundation, brought more than 50 people from the area together for the meeting. Dan Clark and Blake Christensen from the Local Government Center at Montana State University led the meeting.

Clark’s goal for the meeting was for the participants to become intentional and more focused about the vision for the Swan Valley, identify themselves and what values are important while being receptive to everyone that visits the area.

The participants identified businesses, human/social, infrastructure and natural assets. The themes that came out of the assets that continued to play out in the future discussions about the valley included a strong sense of volunteerism; involvement/collaboration from a grassroots effort and the homesteading tradition of a diversity of people and businesses working together to make a living.

Each of the seven groups presented their ideas for what a sustainable economy would look like in 10 years. A cohesive energy and excitement continued to build in the room through lively discussion and new ideas.

The idea of making the Swan Valley a destination and place for tourists was discussed at length.

Clark highlighted that the shift in tourism to West Yellowstone is a third of the visitors are Chinese. In a town of 1,100 people there are eight Chinese restaurants.

“Entrepreneurs and people of West Yellowstone have had to rethink and recalibrate their marketing and products they offer and how they are trying to connect with their new clientele,” said Clark. “How could we create the environment and opportunities that might allow a bus load of folks to stop and unload here.”

Clark said foreign tourists are now looking for the native crafts and gifts and authentic food instead of the trinkets that used to be the tourist model.

Participants were quick to say they had the authentic, Montana experience but the valley currently lacks the promotional tools to sell it. There was agreement that advertising online to promote the area, recreational opportunities and community was needed to get the word out.

Clark agreed, “[When the community is online] You are in control of your message instead of everyone else saying this is what you get in Condon,” said Clark. “You need to be part of the narrative.”

Lodging was also identified as a current hurdle for tourism.

The area doesn’t have a campground that is close to town. There also is not the capacity to care for stock and other animals that visitors bring with them.

In keeping with the values identified, the vocal majority did not want to see large hotels spring up along Highway 83. Nor did they like the idea of a transient community that comes with a tourism economy.

To help guide the discussion Clark said, “Maybe it’s just a small tweak that is more thoughtful, intentional development where we are intentional about our identity, where we are not compromising our rural integrity, who we are, and what we represent. We are doing this with a homesteader value where we are making a living and enjoying the living that we are making in the space that we are at. That’s what we are looking at and we want to sustain that.”

Clark shared the story of Moab, Utah and said they went out fishing for tourism and “caught a great white shark.” They were looking for tourism at the intersection of the increased popularity in motorized tourism and now they are still trying to wrap their heads around the changes.

Participants presented AirbnbsTM, an online platform for rental accommodations, and vacation rentals as a viable option more in-keeping with the identity of the Swan. While there currently are several places listed for visitors to rent, consolidating the effort into one place and coupling it with information about recreational opportunities may help increase the awareness of the resources available to tourists.

“As we think about this holistically, it is a complex solution,” said Clark. “And then how do we link this back to family-type employment. How do we create something that is just not a pass through with $8.50 per hour jobs but really there are opportunities here.”

One group suggested targeting “footloose” businesses that can live anywhere and still conduct their work through telecommunications. Another group identified helping and promoting small, home-based business startups. The added diversity not only strengthens the economy but is also in keeping with the homesteading tradition.

Another group brought up the need to not only focus on bringing in new businesses but supporting the existing businesses and not take them for granted. They felt if the goal is to increase the number of students at the school by two students per year over the next 10 years, keeping the existing students was just as important as bringing in new. That means support the occupations of those who employ young families.

Participants identified the I Ride Seeley Lake medical transport, Missoula Aging Services and the senior meals at the Hungry Bear as assets to the community. However, a long-term goal towards sustainability included more elder care, either in-home or senior living facility and a clinic in Condon were identified as services that would help keep people in their homes.

Other ideas included exploring other products that could be produced in the Swan Valley but marketed to a larger audience. Owner of Grace’s Greenhouse Grace Siloti has been researching crops that could easily be grown in the Swan Valley with a market outside the valley. The same could be done with other products produced locally with a broader customer base.

Another long-term goal was to improve relationships with the local government including the county and public land managers.

Clark told the participants that investment follows vision. By presenting the governing bodies with the valley’s plan of reaching the common goal, he thinks it is their job to help the community work through the barriers.

Each group identified three action items that they felt could get the community moving towards a sustainable economy. Then everyone got three votes to identify the immediate needs.

“Some things need to be done before others. Sometimes we want to generate those small wins and it is good to start with things that are doable more quickly than others,” said Christensen.

Of the 18 action items identified, beautification and community pride projects overwhelmingly received the most support. Creating a Swan Valley identity and a brand coupled with online advertising of the Swan Valley and seeking out and marketing to footloose business that could relocate to the Swan Valley also rose to the top.

Participants were asked to sign up for one of the three action teams identified. They will be meeting in the near future and Swan Valley Community Foundation has agreed to support them financially and with other resources.

“You are building a new social network, connections within the community to operate. You are going to develop the capacity within the community to accomplish something,” said Clark.

The Community Foundation was delighted with the turnout and the quality of the discussion.

“There was a wonderful spirit of civility and cooperation and wanting to deal with this issue for the Swan Valley in a positive and productive way,” said Foundation President John Mercer.

The Foundation dedicated the event to Dwayne Forder who recently passed away.

“Dwayne has been involved in just about everything in the valley and has been very supportive of the Foundation [since the very beginning],” said Mercer. “Dwayne was always respectful of other’s points of view and would listen. I presented that to people that that was the way we really needed to approach this meeting.”

Mercer added that not only was it an honor to dedicate the meeting to Forder, his wife Pam still provided the lunch.

“That’s the kind of people they are,” said Mercer. “That’s what Swan Valley is all about,”

A full report of the meeting, compiled by Clark and Christensen, will be provided to the Foundation in the next couple of weeks. Mercer said all of the action teams have already met at least once and the Foundation will continue to support their efforts as well as host a follow-up meeting in the near future.