Breaking the Box

Small towns will have to re-imagine education and break down the walls between bureaucracies if they hope to re-vitalize their communities in today’s economy.

That was the blunt message delivered by Professor Patrick Carr, author of the book Hollowing Out the Middle: The Rural Brain Drain and What it Means For America, at the Door County Economic Development Corporation’s annual meeting April 28.

“We educate young people to believe that success is something you can only achieve by leaving,” Carr said to over 300 people at Stone Harbor Resort in Sturgeon Bay, the largest crowd to ever attend the annual meeting. Carr said that perception is killing rural America. “We need to re-imagine education, reinforce that success isn’t only for leavers.”

Those students bound for four-year universities get the bulk of a community’s financial resources, including mentorship and attention from educators and leaders.

“That’s not a bad thing in and of itself, we’ve always done that in our small towns,” he said, emphasizing that it’s only bad when it’s done to the detriment of everybody else. “That was okay when you had an economy that was vibrant for those who stayed, with manufacturing and farming jobs. That’s not the case anymore.”

Today, the focus on students likely to leave is a fundamentally self-defeating proposition for small towns, he said.

While Door County is struggling with many of the problems Carr addressed in his speech, he said people on the peninsula have reason to feel encouraged. Before his presentation he met with representatives from all Door and Kewaunee schools except Washington Island in a roundtable discussion with county, city, and business leaders.

“You can feel good that you’re thinking about it and addressing it,” Carr said. “Bringing these groups together is precisely the thing you need to do. The willingness for bureaucracies that normally don’t talk to each other to sit at the same table is impressive. It’s very rare. I believe that here in Door County you’re well ahead of the curve in terms of being aware of and addressing the problem.”

Carr was particularly struck by the Door Kewaunee Business and Education Partnership, which provides job shadowing, mentorship, and internship opportunities to area high school students in strong local industries. He said there’s no single fix to the challenges of rural America, but by confronting the problem on several fronts leaders can effect change.

One promising area is in green jobs.

“By its very nature, the green economy must be de-centralized,” he said. “A community’s willingness to invest in alternative energy initiatives is important. Think of a future when Sturgeon Bay is energy independent.”

Sustainable agriculture is another area he highlighted, saying “we need to re-think how we produce food in this country.”

Finally, communities need to get pro-active about inviting young people to return to the community before they get out the door. This means making them aware of what kind of jobs are likely to be available in the community and matching prospective professionals early on with businesses when student are still in school.

(Left to right) DCEDC Executive Director William Chaudoir, Industry of the Year award winner John Asher of Roen Salvage Company, Entrepreneur of the Year award winners Kristine and James “JJ” Johnson, and DCEDC Chairman Roger Kinnard.

Incentives could be used as well, such as offering to pay tuition for professionals to go to tech schools or universities in exchange for a 10-year commitment to return and practice in their home community.

“For a relatively small outlay, the return will be immense,” Carr said.

DCEDC honored JJ and Kristine Johnson with its Entrepreneur of the Year Award after Carr’s presentation. The owners of JJ’s La Puerta, JJ’s of Jacksonport, and the Waterfront Restaurant were recognized for their more than 30 years of commitment to doing business in Door County and their determination to recoup after a fire shut their flagship Sister Bay restaurant down in August of 2009.

Roen Salvage Company was honored as the Industry of the Year. Roen Salvage has operated in Sturgeon Bay for 61 years, playing a vital role in Door County’s marine industry. Roen Salvage employs 20 people year ‘round. In 2009, the company had its most successful year yet, grossing over $10 million.