Jumping Into the Heart of Minnesota

The people of Little Falls are taking the plunge. Plans for a Family Aquatic Center are now sounds of a wet and wild time. For the first time in Little Falls’ history, the sidewalk could be the underway. They want to fill the air with children laughing their way down the waterslide and the barefoot child’s route to the pool.

Little Falls Community Partnership (LFCP) members are working hard to develop a plan for the aquatic center and garner financial support for it. As a result, they hope that Little Falls residents will have a place to enjoy the summer sun, learn to swim, and take their first daring jumps off of the high dive. This ambitious goal is one piece of the extensive community development happening through the Blandin Community Investment Partnership (BCIP).

One Step at a Time

Little Falls residents are taking “Footsteps into the Future” (their descriptive name of community efforts), addressing the needs and optimizing the resources of their town on the Mississippi River. These footsteps have taken time, patience, and flexibility. The development of the Family Aquatic Center plan has required a close look at current assets and how to fill service gaps, rather than compete with existing local recreational opportunities.

Initially a new community center, built on the outskirts of town, appeared to be the best way to address the community’s recreational needs. However, upon investigation it became clear that a newfull-service facility would duplicate aspects of Little Falls that are vital parts of the community. For example, options such as weight machines are already available at a downtown training center. Through envisioning the best future for Little Falls, the aquatic center has emerged as the missing component of recreational life.

According to John Hamerlinck, LFCP project coordinator, “The BCIP program has provided a vehicle to address issues that have been around for years, but have never gotten beyond the talking stage. We have found evidence of public discussion about an outdoor swimming facility that dates back to the 1930s. The LFCP is now able to actually come up with a viable plan to fill a gaping hole in the community’s recreation needs.”

Building Connections

Another important stride toward the future in Little Falls is technology development. Technological skills and support will increase the community’s capacity for sustaining jobs and improving education. An excellent technical infrastructure is already in place. The next step is to incorporate technology into existing commerce and services and maximize the benefits of Internet services and people skills. One initiative, for an affordable fee of $30 per year, would provide a World Wide Web presence to non-profit organizations, arts clubs, schools, and many others at the heartofminnesota.com. Each organization will have the ability to contribute to a virtual community of:

* ideas,
* events,
* schedules and
* services

People in Little Falls will be able to communicate over the Internet about what is happening locally; where and when to find the high school play performance or local holiday food drives, for example. People will check the site and add their own events, using technology to provide an encompassing view of the culture, recreation, and education in this vital place.

Lifelong Learning

Another exciting approach to incorporating technology into the lives of Little Falls residents is the Lifelong Learning Institute. A computer lab and education center, it can provide people with the skills they need to apply the power of recent technology and computer software programs to their businesses. For example:

* farmers can learn to sell their products directly to consumers on the Internet and
* a clothing store can expand their customer base to Bangkok and continue to be a vital and growing part of the local economy.

Mobility is the unique goal for the Lifelong Learning Institute. This computer education program has the potential to be in multiple places, particularly in places not traditionally associated with adult or technology education. Through traveling around the area, the institute will engage people in the empowering process of gaining technological skills.

Art Works

Along with learning about new ways of connecting computers, people are connecting through the arts. The Great River Arts Association (GRAA), an active force in the region, is collaborating with the LFCP to create the Arts Enterprise Project and enhance the cultural life of the people of Little Falls. GRAA is a group of artists who provide visual and performing arts to the entire region, including a symphony.

John Hamerlinck explains, “We have found that the strategy that will work the best in this community is to enhance the ability of existing institutions to reach community goals. It isn’t necessary to create organizations that end up duplicating or worse yet, competing with well-established community entities.” Arts Enterprise wants to build on GRAA resources through:

* the development of gallery and retail space,
* enrichment programs for youth and
* artists-in-residence programs.

Safe Haven

Another example of the power and importance of collaboration is the Hope Connection Safety Center. Hope Connection, in partnership with the Hands of Hope Resource Center, provides a place for children to be picked up and dropped off by their parents who are separated or divorced. Court-order complications, the need for supervised child visits and stressful interactions between parents are situations that this organization works to alleviate. Hope Connection brings a needed aspect of safety and stability to families who are in crisis.

* Safety,
* culture,
* recreation and
* technological opportunity

…four areas of life where the people of Little Falls came together and decided how to achieve their dreams. Participating in the BCIP has people in Little Falls working together, interested in new and exciting topics, talking through ideas, and openly discussing their vision for the future. The community members are acting now to ensure that their grandchildren will enjoy a fulfilling life in their hometown.