Viburnum puts asset mapping to work

At the end of a six-month strategic planning process, concerned citizens in southeastern Missouri are resting easier knowing that community asset mapping really works. More than a dozen people from the wooded Ozark village of Viburnum and nearby Cherryville—towns with a combined population of little more than 1,000—say they are optimistic about the future. In May they completed their final Heartland Center workshop led by Jim Sanks and Peter Hille.

Early in the planning process the Viburnum branch of the Doe Run Mining Company had cast a shadow by predicting closure of Mine 28, a major contributor in global lead production and a local economic mainstay. But after dedicating the first Saturday of each month from December through May learning asset mapping and capacity building skills, town leaders found that opportunities abounded despite the perceived threat.

For example, the mining company wanted to sell the nine-hole golf course it owned, which would threaten the community´s recreational opportunities. Viburnum leaders met this challenge by identifying their local office of the Disabled Citizens´ Alliance for Independence (DCAI) as an important community asset. It is the largest of 20 rural and urban chapters in the state.

Talks are now well underway for the development of the Midwest´s only community-owned golf course for disabled individuals. Golf course architects are impressed with the beauty of the surrounding Mark Twain National Forest, and developers have all but given the nod for the likelihood of building with an eye toward community ownership. Locals also see this as an opportunity to make Viburnum a model community for disabled individuals.

"What the Heartland Canter contributed was expertise and structure that we needed to match our enthusiasm and desire to grow."

Chip Jones, a client representative and community leader

Additional plans include renovating the Country Club for an ADA tournament as early as this fall, and the development of an equestrian park in the future.

So rather than inducing confusion and paralysis, the looming mine crisis turned out to be a catalyst for action. The group is already well on its way to establishing a nonprofit organization, likely to be called the Viburnum Economic Development Action Corporation (VEDAC), to provide ongoing financial and organizational structure.

Coincidentally, the last of six area-wide workshops followed the last day of work for 180 laid-off Doe Run employees. However, there was no lack of optimism, and the group had no shortage of ideas for the future. Strategies include fostering timber-related industries, using water pumped from mines for a cool-water trout fishery, and creating a 1,000-acre reservoir-with ample handicapped access-as part of a greater recreation complex only two hours from St. Louis.

From left to right,
Chip Jones, Doe Run Company
Lance Mayfield, Viburnum leader
Ron Murphy, Presiding Iron County Commissioner
Rita Henroid, Iron County Economic Development Office
Bill Bruner, Cherryville leader
Jim Sanks Heartland Center

In spite of layoffs, attitudes were nearly as sunny as the day of the final May workshop. When asked to assess area residents´ ability to plan and prepare for future challenges, participant confidence had increased 35% by the conclusion of the strategic planning process.

Participants credit the Heartland Center process as partly responsible for their optimism. Doe Run´s Chip Jones, a client representative and community leader, offered his own assessment. "What the Heartland Canter contributed was expertise and structure that we needed to match our enthusiasm and desire to grow."