“Reimaging Rural Roadshow” Hits Glasgow in October

What will it take to keep Montana's small towns viable in these changing times?  The Montana State University Extension service is hitting the road early next month to find out.

What's going on?

On October 1, MSU Extension will be holding an event, the "Reimaging Rural Roadshow", in Glasgow.  If you don't feel like making that kind of drive to be there in person, the event will also be available over the Internet, so you can still take part.

Okay, what are they talking about?

Looking over the proposed agenda, the topics do cover a variety of issues perpetually faced by small towns.  For example, one talk is genuinely named "There's Nothing To Do In This Darn Town!".

That one really resonates with me.  I grew up in a small town in eastern Montana, where anything beyond mail and groceries generally involved at least a 90 minute drive.  When my family moved to Great Falls, I remember being relieved that going clothes shopping no longer meant a three hour round trip.

Some of the more serious subjects slated to be discussed include housing, brownfields (for those who don't recognize the term, it's a piece of already developed land that requires remediation before it can be re-developed due to potential or previous contamination), and Historic Preservation Grants.

I don't live in a rural area.  Why should I care?

I hope everyone considers participating.  The issues set to be discussed apply to larger communities as well as smaller ones, and potential answers can come from unusual places and different perspectives.