Reimagining Rural participants win state award

Published: 2022
By Lisa Terry

Reimaging Rural is a program created by Montana State University for local volunteers and leaders passionate about creating vibrant, robust rural places. Participants are interested in revitalizing local communities. The group’s mission is growing local capacity, learning about new ideas, connecting with others, and leading local change. Recently, Glacier County volunteers received the first-place state “Community Impact Award” for their efforts to help revitalize downtown Cut Bank. Work on these projects began in May of 2022 and included site cleanups, restoration of flowerpots, and creative signage for local businesses. All efforts begin with identifying needs within a community, covering a host of issues from dilapidated structures to ways of visualizing what improvements will increase curb appeal to residents and visitors alike. After periods of economic disruption or outward migration, we may discover mild decay, such as peeling paint and empty storefronts. At this point, Reimagining Rural volunteers spring into action. Inspired by the Reimaging Rural events sponsored by Glacier County MSU Extension, residents Rod and Lisa Cline led a team of volunteers to clean up around downtown and refurbish several concrete flowerpots along our main corridors of business. Next on their agenda was increasing signage announcing local events, businesses, their locations, and contact information. Along Main Street, these signs provide crucial details for newcomers looking for local shopping, entertainment venues, and services. Additionally, the group solicited the help of local Blackfeet artist George Grandchamp in painting a mural of Chief Mountain on one of our businesses, with a “Welcome to Cut Bank” sign above the mural. The most recent work, seen on Central, was painted by local art teacher Chesley Brown. Lisa Cline approached Brown to depict flowers reminiscent of the Cut Bank Wolves purple and gold school colors. The final project of the summer was collecting weathered barn wood to cover broken tiles on buildings along Central Ave. All these efforts garnered the Clines and the Reimagining Rural group a first-place award from the Montana Association of Community Development Extension Professionals. MSU Extension Agents Kari Lewis and Lisa Terry were also recognized as state winners for the Reimagining Rural group facilitation.