Civic leaders to host event about St. Regis' future

St. Regis has been selected to participate in the 2021 Reimagining Rural Virtual Gathering that is designed to bring some fresh ideas about how to create a vibrant future for rural communities across Montana.

The Reimagining Rural Virtual Gathering was created for local volunteers and leaders who are passionate about creating vibrant, robust rural places, growing local capacity, learning about new ideas, connecting with others and leading local change.

The event is hosted locally by the Mineral County Economic Development Corporation and the St. Regis Community Council.

The sessions are set for Sept. 13, 27 and Oct. 3. Each session will be held from 6-8 p.m.

“We are excited to bring these great stories about successful, vibrant rural communities to small towns across the state,” said Tara Mastel, Community Development Program Leader for Montana State University Extension.

Reimagining Rural Virtual Gathering includes three statewide sessions, broadcast virtually to groups of local leaders gathered in-person in rural communities across the state.

Sessions begin with talks by rural experts or local leaders of successful rural community projects. Following the talks, people gathered locally will have the chance to discuss the ideas shared with the help of a local, trained facilitator.

The first night speaker, Ben Winchester of the University of Minnesota Extension, will share research on the rural “brain gain”, including new research by MSU Extension about who is moving to rural Montana communities and why.

The second night includes community volunteers from Montana towns who have created such great local projects such as a summer concert series, a community-wide tourism and branding strategy and a non-profit childcare center using an abandoned school.

The final session will feature members of the Winnett community who have brought about a remarkable revitalization of their community which included a beef to schools’ program, a new community center and a housing project.

Community members interested in joining this statewide discussion can participate by joining the Mineral County Economic Development Corporation at the St. Regis Community Center. For more information contact Emily Park at 406-822-3545 or emily.park@montana.edu.