Episode 36 // Rural Visionary Chris Deal
If you’re looking for rural development strategies, then this week’s podcast is for you! We’re sitting down with Chris Deal from Jefferson, Iowa (pop. 4,345) to talk about the amazing revitalization happening here. Chris moved back to his hometown to help with the family business, Deal’s Orchard, but his role in the community has since expanded way beyond that. He has had a key role in the revitalization of Jefferson and some exciting projects happening here. While there’s no script out there for how to do rural development, Chris says there are certain pieces that you need to get right. He shares a lot about the strategies that have worked to revitalize Jefferson - strategies that can benefit your rural community as well.
Creating a collective vision is critical. Too often there’s competition in communities for the resources that are there, and so working together and having that big vision of where the community is going. If you can get everybody moving in the same direction, the possibilities are incredible.
— Chris Deal
PODCAST SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:
Jefferson, Iowa
Deal’s Orchard
Deal’s Orchard Hard Cider
Pella, Iowa
Career Academy - Pella Community Schools
Jefferson Matters: Main Street
Peg Raney, Main Street Program Director
Community Development Block Grant
Greene County, Iowa
Paton, Iowa
Scranton, Iowa
HyVee
The Forge
Pillar Technology
Linc Kroeger
Iowa Central Community College
Zach Mannheimer, Creative Placemaking
Vision 20/20 Project
Three Block Project
Silicon Valley in Jefferson
Deal’s Orchard Facebook
Deal’s Orchard Instagram
Jefferson Main Street Facebook
Jefferson Main Street Instagram
Greene County Community School District Facebook