Revitalizing small towns
"Boomtown" author brings his message to Montpelier

By Kelly Sullivan TIMES ARGUS STAFF

MONTPELIER - Small towns in America are undergoing a renaissance right now, changing themselves from agriculture-based economies to vibrant 21st century communities, according to an expert on the transformation of American community life. Jack Schultz, author of the book "Boomtown USA: the 71/2 Keys to Big Success in Small Towns," and a consultant on the issue, is bringing his message to Vermont next week.

Schultz will be speaking in Montpelier on April 25, at an event sponsored by the Central Vermont Economic Development Corp. His talk will outline ways in which "Agurbs" - a term he has trademarked to define small towns located outside metropolitan areas - can prosper by creating jobs and making themselves attractive for businesses.

"We hope to energize leaders within the communities to see what other towns and small cities are doing to prosper, and why some are not thriving," said Richard Angney, executive vice president of the Central Vermont Economic Development Corp.

Angney called Schultz a "dynamic speaker" and said he invited him to come to Montpelier after hearing him speak at a meeting of the Northeastern Economic Developer's Association.

"By and large, I think we're in very good shape here (in Vermont)," said Angney, "But I certainly want us to continue. Communities have to grow. If businesses leave, jobs leave, people leave, they essentially will die."

"We have people coming from all over the state," Angney reported of the forum. He said invitations have been sent to hundreds of people across the state including the economic corporations members, town and city officials, and legislative officials.

Angney said he believes most Vermont communities fit right into the "Agurban" model Schultz outlines in his book and in his talks.

"Other than the greater Chittenden County area, that's what we're all about," Angney said, stressing the need for entrepreneurialism and a sense of regionalism in Vermont. Though Vermont's towns may be small, Angney said, so strength may come regionally.

"We have 63,000 people within the region and we need each other," he said.

"We need to promote economic development to have a place for our kids to work," he added. Angney doesn't expect a specific plan or report about the state of Vermont towns to arise from the meeting, but does hope that the talk will generate enthusiasm and lead to organizing work plans for individual towns.

"We're very excited to have him come here," he said.

Schultz, who has an M.B.A. from Harvard, founded Agracel Inc., an industrial development company located in Effingham, Ill., in 1986. He recently founded the Boomtown Institute, with the mission "to provoke innovative thinking, encourage leadership and foster investment in communities across the U.S.A."

Schultz's speaking engagements have taken him to more than 220 towns in 41 state; he has traveled almost 200,000 miles since his book was first published.

Schultz will speak at the Capital Plaza in Montpelier at 8 a.m. Tuesday, April 25.

For information about attending this event, contact The Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation at 1-888-769-2957 or cvedc@sover.net. For more information about Jack Schultz or the Boomtown Institute, go to www.boomtowninstitute.com.