Bowdon, ND

Bowdon/Chaseley/Heaton Strategic Plan

Goal: Support Local Business/Advertise & Market the Community

Strategy 1. Develop a logo/theme for the community
Strategy 2. Increase Signage
Strategy 3. Develop a Welcome Wagon
Strategy 4. Develop a Community Calendar
Strategy 5. Develop a Business Directory
Strategy 6. Continue the brochure in rest areas (action of present task force)
Strategy 7. Reward Program for customers (Bowdon Bucks)
Strategy 8. Marketing Classes/Marketing Mentors for existing and new businesses
Strategy 9. Secure funding for coordinated business advertising
Strategy10. Build community support through fun promotions
Strategy11. Initiate a Farmers Market that will increase food production/business starts
Strategy12. Work to find health insurance for small business owners and employees

Who: Existing Advertising and Marketing Task Force

When: June 2008

How to Measure: Strategies 1-10 will be completed.
Strategies 11 and12 will have plans begun with completion by July of 2009.

Goal: Encourage New Entrepreneurship/Create New Jobs

Strategy 1. Recruit Specific Occupations to the Community (using website)
Skilled workers needed at present include plumber, electrician,
cooks, meat cutters, automotive service, and city maintenance.
Strategy 2. Research, raise, and advertise financial support for new business.
Strategy 3. Research work force demographics for Wells County.
Strategy 4. Provide business education classes for the community.
Strategy 5. Finish the commercial kitchen and devise plan for kitchen rental to food processors.

Who: Bowdon Development Center, Inc. and Dorothy Grey

When: December of 2008.

How to Measure: All strategies will be measured by their presentation in written material and on the www.bowdonnd.com website.

Goal: Beautification

Strategy 1. Remove abandoned and condemned buildings as well as junk cars, etc.
Strategy 2. Update ordinances and retain a magistrate to enforce ordinances.
Strategy 3. Quarterly bulk pickup of huge trash items
Strategy 4. Decorate main street Bowdon by season.
Strategy 5. Plant trees and shrubs
Strategy 6. Continue flower boxes on main street
Strategy 7. Repair sidewalks
Strategy 8. Improve recycle plan

Who: City Council for strategies 1, 2, 3, 7, 8.
Beautification task force (Cindy, Laurel, Marion, etc) for Strategies 4, 5, 6.

When: City Council – May 2008 for ordinances and magistrate and plans; sidewalks by August of 2009.
Task Force actions by June 2008 with continuation.

How to Measure: City Council action and task force completion.

Goal: Build Industry (Hunting, Tourism, Local Foods, Green Energy)

Strategy 1. Hunting
a. Add lodging including private and non-profit projects
b. Continue and build upon DuckFest
c. Network stakeholders for continued development
d. Sell hunting aids
Strategy 2. Tourism Offerings
a. Provide working vacations (agritourism)
b. Link the community to area birding drives (nature tourism)
c. Interpret agricultural/settlement history (heritage tourism)
Strategy 3. Connect agriculture to building a Local Foods Industry which
connects visitors and consumers to producers of healthy foods
Strategy 4. Develop green energy sources for the community (wind farm?).

Who: Bowdon Development Center, Inc., Bowdon Centennial Museum, Northern Plains Sustainable Ag Society, and Northern Plains Electric

When: Develop all plans during Horizons implementation segment to June 2008

How to Measure: Plans in writing.

Goal: Utilize the School

Strategy 1. Create a Commercial Kitchen in the school building
Strategy 2. Provide Adult Education classes
Strategy 3. Look at providing an outlet for area crafters, cottage industries
Strategy 4. Prepare the building for retreats, receptions, and reunions
a. Complete a feasibility study for the building as a lodge.
b. Install a heating system in 1913 portion.
Strategy 5. Provide recreation opportunities and exercise room
Strategy 6. Expand Library/Tech room offerings

Who: Existing Task Force from Action Forum plus Linda Schander, Laurene Heintz, Dorothy Grey, and Pam Stewart

When: Kitchen – General use by 1/25/2008, plan by 6/30/2008
Feasibility Study by 2/28/2008
All other plans in writing by 6/30/08

How to Measure: Completion of plans and feasibility study
Implementation of activities/use

Goal 6. Improve Bowdon’s Infrastructure

Strategy 1. Repair and Replace the Water and Sewer System
a. Research grants and other possibilities for funding
b. Learn from other communities

Who: Bowdon City Council with help from Melinda Martin and BDCI

When: Plan by June 2008, completion by December 31, 2010

How to Measure: Task Force reports and actual work accomplished.

Goal 7. Build Community Support

Strategy 1. Plan community events at the library, museum, and gymnasium, park including potlucks, tournaments, decorating, and holiday celebrations.

Who: Young parents and Park Board

When: Begin immediately and plan for year.

How to Measure: Community survey following events.

Goal 8. Improve Senior Citizen Services

Strategy 1. Organize transportation service
Strategy 2. Develop a buddy system
Strategy 3. Clearing House for persons desiring transportation, help, and shopping.

Who: Area Churches

When: Immediately

How to Measure: Advertising and implementation of plan

Goal 9. Expand Youth Program

Strategy 1. Offer summer classes
Strategy 2. Survey youth
Strategy 3. Offer recreation opportunities
Strategy 4. Intergeneration activities

Who: Task Force, Fessenden-Bowdon School, Area Churches, Local Youth Organizations

When: Immediately and on-going

How to Measure: Implementation of planned activities and survey of youth following activities