The Spring 2020 Regional Community Conversations have moved to the formation of Discovery Groups and a Communications CollaborACTION Team!

Where the Regional Community Conversation Began

If you missed the first step held on 4.29.2020 where we introduced Maximize NWMO and presented a synthesis of research and recommendations, don't worry. It's easy to catch up with the links listed below.

Two general areas surfaced as actions our region can move forward right now: Connecting and Promoting the Region. While these are interdependent, there are several specific activities that have been identified for representatives to work on together right now that will move both topics forward quickly. Online conversations have been taking place weekly on Thursday and Friday mornings throughout May. Participants are being guided through a quick and easy action-mapping tool to help keep the planning simple and the efforts focused on meaningful action.

Watch the Video of our April 29th online intro presentation: Click here to watch!

Download the slides from the Document Library

The Library is on the right side (or towards the bottom if viewing on a mobile device) of this page.

Dr. Sarah Low and Hannah McClure from the University of Missouri Extension Exceed program joined Christel Gollnick from JUPER Communications in presenting an overview of The Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri's Regional Vitality Initiative: Maximize NWMO. A recent synthesis of existing regional strategic plans and entrepreneurship pipeline-building recommendations was covered. Regional population data were also shared with a call to action for regional leaders and residents to get involved in transforming the primarily rural region's economy amid and post-COVID-19.

A Communications CollaborACTION Team has Formed!

The PROMOTING THE REGION conversation has resulted in the formation of a multi-sector team of volunteers who are willing to help with their opinions and expertise over the next several months We've scheduled the meetings of this team through the end of June every Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. and the team will choose their ongoing schedule based on the short-term and longer-term projects they decide to move forward. There are some pretty fun and impactful ideas being discussed.

This is a great place to live, learn, work, play, and thrive. Come help with the necessary steps involved in gathering great stories, highlighting our region's best assets, further building out this website as a portal of information, and launch a fun integrated marketing campaign including the whole region. COVID-19 gives us an opportunity to determine what we love most about living here and position ourselves as a great place to maximize potential.

Email together@maximizenwmo.org for the Zoom link or to let us know you'd like to learn more about getting involved.

Discovery Groups Were Organized to Learn More

Several priority areas surfaced through the May conversations about connecting people and resources throughout the region beyond traditional community and county lines. These things are bigger than any one entity can address, so it was decided to invite more people to the conversation and learn what everyone is doing to determine if more unified action would be helpful or if these topics are already being covered and they just need some help in communicating what is happening. The priority topics discussed in Discovery Groups over the summer included:

• Broadband for All: Technology/Accessibility, Affordability, and Adoption

• Business and Training Options Here: Succession/transition planning for businesses and raising awareness of opportunities and education available in Northwest Missouri

• Food Systems

  • Support for Niche Ag/Artisan Foods
  • Production here for here
  • Alternate distribution channels

Northwest Missouri is doing a lot of things right that can be built upon to maximize our potential! Thank you to the Missouri Department of Economic Development, USDA-Rural Development, and the Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri’s Regional Vitality Initiative for making it possible to gather and share this research.