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Finding
The Golden Fleece
 Many local economies
throughout the West are working towards prosperity by increasing
economic diversity. After two growers in Northern California
experienced success with 40 acres of wild rice, a California
Extension advisor conducted applied research to better support
this new crop. As a result, more than 1,000 acres of wild rice were
planted in the Intermountain area of Shasta and Lassen counties and
the producers formed the California Wild Rice Growers Association to
market and process the crop. Today the cooperative employs 12 people
to process and market a wild rice crop worth $1 million annually.
In Montana, Deer Lodge
County residents wanted to boost the local economy but were unsure if
tourism development was the way to do it. Montana Extension in
cooperation with the local Chamber of Commerce conducted an area-wide
community tourism assessment that showed a positive feeling toward
tourism among residents. Of those surveyed, 85 percent strongly
supported tourism promotion and advertising to out-of-state visitors.
With that support, the extension agent organized a local committee to
formulate a tourism plan that will consider such ideas as a new
highway entrance, promotion of area history, art in the park, and
development of golfing, skiing and sporting events.
Residents in Eureka
County, Nevada struggled to stabilize local communities and finance
local services due to the effects of a boom and bust economy based
almost exclusively on mining and livestock  production. A University
of Nevada Cooperative Extension educator worked with community
leaders to develop a Community Development Corporation. The CDC
acquired a grant of $1 million in loan funds for economic development
and is now evaluating and funding local economic development
projects. The efforts resulted in an increase of three full-time jobs
and 1,000 hours of part-time labor in the community. The revolving
loan fund generated an additional $45,000 in resources.
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