Innovators in Rural Community Economic Development
Samantha and I just returned from a quick trip to the Verde Valley in Arizona. This is an area of small, old western towns in the mountains of Arizona, including Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Jerome, Camp Verde and others. We’re continuing to work with the Verde River Valley Nature Organization (VRVNO). Last year, we had the opportunity to work with VRVNO in exploring a potential nature based tourism and recreation value chain. Following from that, we are now working with them to focus on a new strategic plan, assistance with measurement, and a financial sustainability plan.
VRVNO is a nonprofit organization raising awareness of the Verde River Valley’s natural resources by providing recreation, education and nature tourism opportunities supporting the stewardship of the Verde Valley in Northern Arizona. VRVNO organizes several events, including the Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival, which provides a unique recreational experience to anyone interested in the natural world and fosters awareness of the importance of habitat for the enrichment of all life in the Verde Valley. The Verde Valley was named by Lonely Planet, one of the top 10 U.S. travel destinations for 2013.
We arrived the day after Labor Day. The rental car company was nearly out of cars and our choices were either a Mustang or a mini-van. Needless to say, we chose the Mustang, which was not the ideal car, but worked. We then made our way to our lodging, at the Mescal Canyon Retreat (formerly the Candlewood Retreat) in Mescal Canyon in Clarkdale. I’ve stayed there twice before, but it was Samantha’s first time there. Hosts Andrea and Rennie are lovely people, who run a beautiful, off the grid bed and breakfast. Rennie is a green architect who also runs his firm, ArchitectureWorks, on the property. ArchitectureWorks works on many LEED certified building projects. Andrea is a massage therapist and belly dancer. Breakfast at the B&B is delicious.
The Town of Cottonwood has changed quite a bit since the last time I was there two years ago. There are more tasting rooms, as the Verde Valley has a growing wine industry. And there are other changes too, including an old train depot that is now a teahouse, and some new restaurants.
Our work with VRVNO took place over a day and a half. The first day, we facilitated a workshop, using You Get What You Measure. Because we had done work with VRVNO last year using the WealthWorks approach and thinking about value chain stakeholders, VRVNO did a great job of inviting a wide variety of people to the workshop, including several mayors, a variety of nonprofits focused on environmental and natural resource issues in the region, and others. On the second day, we worked with the VRVNO Board of Directors to debrief from the workshop and begin to think about strategies for moving VRVNO forward into financial sustainability and eventual self-reliance.
After our meetings were over, but before we had to take the red eye back to Vermont, Samantha and I did a bit of sightseeing. At the recommendation of several folks at the meetings, we visited Dead Horse Ranch State Park, which was very beautiful and a short drive out of Cottonwood. We walked along the lagoons and saw a variety of wildlife, including a snake that startled us, a mama and baby deer, a brown heron (looks just like a great blue heron but is brown), a variety of fish, and a variety of beautiful butterflies and dragonflies. We ran into a retired schoolteacher who had attended the large workshop and volunteers at the park. Chris took us around the park, introducing us to parts of the park we would never have seen, including the view of the valley from the upper tent campground, two different access points to the Verde River, and the area where the Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival is held by VRVNO. Despite the incredible heat, we really enjoyed the park and all it has to offer.
We then took a drive to the Town of Jerome, up in the hills, where we had an amazing view of the valley and were able to explore some of the local Verde Valley art. The Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery was especially amazing, as it is home to 33 artists. I have a weakness for art and especially local jewelry. So, as I was eyeing a display of jewelry, I soon found out the jewelry/metal artist was there and met her.
Our flight back to Vermont, through Newark, was delayed (no surprise given my poor travel luck), but Samantha must have good travel luck, because our flight eventually left and we arrived home on time. As much as I enjoyed hanging in the Verde Valley, it is always nice to be back in Vermont.
