Aligning Community Priorities

Published: 2022
By Allison Kosto

According to the 2020 Census, Broadwater County is the third fastest-growing county in the state. This growth has created many complex issues in the county. Allison Kosto, MSU Extension Agent in Broadwater County, is on the Board of Directors for the Broadwater County Development Corporation (BCDC). In 2004, BCDC coordinated a community review that set priorities for the community resulting in many measurable impacts. However, due to changes and growth in the county, BCDC determined there was a need to update the plan. BCDC and MSU Extension in Broadwater County partnered with the Montana Economic Developers Association, University of Idaho Extension and Montana Business Assistance Connection to plan a new community review. During the summer of 2022, a survey was sent out to every household in the county. Next, the county hosted a team of outside facilitators for a series of listening sessions. There were nine listening sessions across the county which were attended by 114 participants. The listening sessions culminated in a Town Hall Meeting where facilitators shared information on initial data from the survey and listening sessions. They identified priority areas which included housing and planning, small business and employment opportunities, emergency and social services, agriculture land preservation and community involvement. The facilitators developed a formal report that will be used to guide planning and future projects in the county. Additionally, the community is gearing up for phase two of the review process in early 2023. For this phase, BCDC selected three priority areas, and another team of facilitators and subject matter experts will be brought into the county to develop action plans with local stakeholders.