Letter to the Editor: Community and regional development

To the Editor:

Community. Ultimately, this word defines all of our rural towns and cities. A gathering place consecrated with decades of shared struggles, hard work, and celebrated success. Yet despite many great advances towards cooperation, we have a long way to go to truly reach community in our region.

As an economic developer, it is my privilege to visit our cities and to work for a brighter future. We have many awesome businesses and dedicated people in our cities, as you are well aware. Each city in our region has high hopes for future success. But that future requires collaboration. It requires community.

This region was built upon the belief that we all thrive when we work together. The shared joy when a community park was developed, the shared grief when a local restaurant suffered a fire. But more than anything else, this region has known success when its communities collaborated with each other, and triumphed over reliance on the self and state.

As I was talking with a friend recently about regional growth, a book was placed in my hand by Decorah author Robert Wolf. In Building the Agricultural City, Wolf succinctly lays out the reason and need for regional collaboration. I strongly encourage you to read this short, but intensely powerful treatise on regional development.

The time has come to commit to something greater than one’s own city and self. Please, join me in the communal construction of the Agricultural City. A coalition of community leaders is needed to identify and organize local events. Feel free to reach me at 563-422-5073, or by e-mail at director@fayettecountyia.com.

Sincerely,
Sam Whitehead,
Fayette County Economic
Development Coordinator