An industrious, hardworking and fun-loving community of 3,600 people, Jackson, Minnesota, realizes that their community’s most vital link to progress reaches deeper than their expansive 230-acre industrial park, charming historic downtown, or roaring action at the Jackson Speedway, the fastest half-mile dirt track in the five-state region. Jackson’s vitality stems from what the community appreciates and celebrates as its most valued resource: Jackson residents.
Drawing from a long-standing commitment to relationships and inspired by leadership development opportunities sponsored by the Northwest Area Foundation, a series of monthly meetings led to the community’s embarkation on the TRAIN initiative — Tomorrow Realized through Action, Innovation and Networking. Thirty community organizations, once working in their own specialized spheres, are now gathering around the table to learn about what others are planning and doing, and how everyone can work together toward a common goal and vision.
For example, what might have been the status quo replacement of a few city lights turned into a creative and interactive discussion among downtown business owners, city officials and citizens. A new design of the lights — all 60 of them — was adopted after community-wide input. The new fixtures, besides sprucing up downtown, are easier to maintain by the city, saving taxpayer money. The city also chipped in to buy new planters and trash receptacles for downtown, recycling the old ones by using them on a recreational trail.
The TRAIN initiative creates bridges among organizations, dissolves territorial attitudes by building trust among individuals, and helps foster a sense of shared responsibility for the betterment of the community. Accountability blooms as people share interests and ideas by talking together and working side by side to seek innovative solutions to local problems and to create new opportunities.
One example of innovative solution seeking can be found in the Circles of Support. These Circles create opportunities for residents to interact and develop friendships with people whose paths they may not otherwise have crossed. Many of us, when we hit hard times, have a network of family or friends who provide us with the support and resources we need to get back on our feet. But some people, for a number of reasons, may not have the support systems they need to get out of a bind or to reach their full potential. The Circles of Support program matches people in the community who are well established and well connected with those who need help overcoming income, social and educational barriers.
In this program, three “allies” are matched to a person or family. The group gathers informally on a weekly basis. There is time for listening and sharing, with pointed discussions on how to address barriers. “It’s pretty hard to talk to a stranger about issues you might be struggling with,” comments a long-time Circles of Support ally. “We have dinner together — community members who normally would not meet — and share ideas on how to work things out.” These connections and emotional support help those who are struggling move forward and broaden their ability to give back to the community.
Three Circles of Support are active, with more on the way. The beauty of this model is that it not only helps individuals and families, it also informs community leaders of system-wide problems that have effects on multiple families — such as the cost or availability of child care or lack of access to public transportation. As these issues have surfaced, the Circles of Support groups have worked not only on helping individual families, but also on changes the community can make to reduce barriers for everyone.
In addition to supporting its people, Jackson is also taking steps to strengthen its economic base. Plans are underway to expand the community’s industrial park, which already includes AGCO-Jackson Operations, the nation’s largest agricultural sprayer manufacturer and southwest Minnesota’s largest steel warehouse. The company’s operations include a new $4 million state-of-the art Technology and Education Center used for training customers and dealers from around the world.
Down Interstate 90 from the industrial park is historic Fort Belmont, which was recently moved to this location and renovated to take advantage of greater tourism traffic. A partnership between the Fort Belmont Foundation and the Minnesota Historical Society will launch a new museum, opening in the spring of 2006, featuring a unique car collection personally donated for display by local community members.
To lure more residents to settle down in Jackson, a community-wide beautification program spruced up the business district area and overall community. “So many Jackson residents joined together, contributing thousands of volunteer hours to repaint fire hydrants and homes and perk up our community,” comments an area business owner. Such volunteer beautification efforts complement Jackson’s already postcard picturesque surroundings. Tree-lined streets, tidy lawns, plentiful parks — 10 in all — and a recently completed recreational trail make Jackson attractive to families and retirees alike.
While high-tech industries start up in the industrial park, the downtown features 13 blocks of buildings listed on the National Registry of Historical Buildings. The renovated Jackson County Courthouse features a collection of fossils and a Native American museum while the art deco-style 600-seat State Theatre still plays movies on a huge silver screen. All of this history and the community’s accomplishments will culminate in Jackson’s Sesquicentennial celebration in 2006.
Jackson never loses sight of tomorrow. The TRAIN moves forward to its next destination: writing its own leadership curriculum for residents and business owners. Some members are even road tripping to learn how other communities have successfully implemented leadership development. Other members are examining how to make Jackson an even greater place to live, in an attempt at reducing in-bound commuting to get commuting workers to move to town. With such inspiring community grassroots energy, one thing rings clear: There’s no stopping Jackson’s TRAIN now that it’s in motion. With such an imbedded commitment to people and progress, Jackson provides a heartening example of the possibilities for small-town America.