As the parade of candidates from the 2008 presidential election marches through Iowa, many people living in rural areas are determined to overcome difficulties common in small towns across America:  significant population change and economic decline.

“You can drive through any small town in America and not realize people are struggling.  Wages for the working class are often so low that I don’t know how people can live there,” said Belinda Willhite of Corydon, Iowa, who counts herself among those living in rural poverty. 

While poverty has been on the agenda for some presidential candidates more than others, it’s center stage for 19 Iowa communities that are part of the Horizons leadership development program, which specifically focuses on rural communities of under 5,000. 

Willhite is among scores of people in Iowa and six other states who, through Horizons, are forging new and nontraditional partnerships:  people with money and those without, traditional leaders and those who’ve never had a voice, senior citizens and teenage future leaders.  The program operates under the theory that by growing its pool of strong leaders, a community can identify the roots of poverty and ways to attack it.  The result has been innovative new actions and important systems change.

In the south central Iowa town of Corydon, where the poverty rate is 15 percent and the average annual wage is $22,731, the community has developed a new information and referral center called Welcome, We Help, Inc. that acts as a clearinghouse for people looking to pull themselves from poverty to prosperity.

“There are services that even long standing residents never knew about.  One example is a clothing room in town where everything is free.  I wouldn’t doubt that there are people with no food in their houses who have no idea where to turn.  Now people can find help they need to stay in the small community they love,” said Willhite.

Hundreds of miles away in northeast Iowa, people in Elma are learning to identify poverty and take action to reverse it.  Main street is struggling with several empty storefronts.  One possible solution:  set up a seasonal marketplace where artisans can show their wares. 

“Our goal is to get the buildings rented by cottage or seasonal businesses.  Then perhaps the income potential would spur renovation of some of the well-worn buildings,” said Bruce Weigel, president of the local bank and a participant in the Horizons effort. 

The list of actions among the communities are as varied as the communities are;  from developing new daycare options for working parents to attracting more tourism to the nitty gritty of cleaning up the town and clearing out old appliances.  The plans are designed to create lasting change long after the 2008 presidential election is accomplished, and new leaders are chosen.

One-hundred forty-one communities in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho and Washington State are currently participating in the 18-month Horizons program, which is funded by the Northwest Area Foundation in St. Paul, Minn.  Delivered directly into the communities by state university extension services and colleges, the Horizons program strives to help communities build their skills, knowledge and contacts to reduce poverty and build prosperity long term.  Iowa State University Extension delivers the program to participating towns in Iowa.

“Iowa State University Extension is pleased to be the delivery organization for this important effort, working along side the Northwest Area Foundation and the citizens of 19 Iowa communities.  We are helping communities take charge and building stronger leaders to address poverty, economic decline and the exodus of young adults,” said Jack Payne, vice president for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

The Northwest Area Foundation is dedicated to helping communities in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon reduce poverty for the long term. These states were served by the Great Northern Railway, founded by James J. Hill. In 1934, Hill’s son, Louis W. Hill established the foundation.  The Foundation has $500 million in assets.  To learn more, visit www.nwaf.org.

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