Comments for Texas Rural Innovators http://www.ruraltx.org Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:55:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Unoccupied homes and buildings in rural towns by david Hoover http://www.ruraltx.org/econ-development/unoccupied-homes-and-buildings-in-rural-towns#comment-3723 david Hoover Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:55:57 +0000 http://www.ruraltx.org/?p=638#comment-3723 I really like the idea of withholding title until repairs have been done. We have been requiring an agreement delineating repairs to be done in steps with 30, 60 and 90 day time steps. It has worked with most but not everyone. Does withholding title violate any state law and what kind of ordinances would we need to make this happen. If anyone has done legwork on this, I would certainly appreciate input. I really like the idea of withholding title until repairs have been done. We have been requiring an agreement delineating repairs to be done in steps with 30, 60 and 90 day time steps. It has worked with most but not everyone. Does withholding title violate any state law and what kind of ordinances would we need to make this happen. If anyone has done legwork on this, I would certainly appreciate input.

]]> Comment on Unoccupied homes and buildings in rural towns by Ginger McGuire http://www.ruraltx.org/econ-development/unoccupied-homes-and-buildings-in-rural-towns#comment-308 Ginger McGuire Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:49:46 +0000 http://www.ruraltx.org/?p=638#comment-308 There are so many things rural communities can do with housing instead of tearing them down. Rural officials need to think of these homes as ASSETS and use them to rebuild the community. If, for example, residents or prospective residents were given an opportunity to own these homes for a very nominal fee (as little as $1000 as an example), and were allowed to fix up the property to a prescribed amount (maybe spend $30,000 on rehab) the community could transfer to the resident the deed to the property when receipts were produced and the home inspected to confirm repairs. I think you'd want to require a certain period of residency to avoid speculators. What a great way to save a home and a community. For people who don't have a home, this is an incentive. And if you combine the home and abandoned commercial property applying the same principal--essentially give them the space, require a certain amount of rehab and setting up a proprietor-owned business in that space, then transfer the deed after requirements are fulfilled. Then the community begins to acquire a tax base and stakeholders in seeing the community thrive--growth potential rather than enabling a ghost town by tearing down assets. Empty lots can become parks or community gardens. Our policy thinking has focused too much on the negative instead of providing potential for constructive ideas that empower people and communities. Cutting programs and assets to 'balance the budget' without exploring alternatives can enable decline rather than encourage prosperity. And communicating regionally with other officials can further expand growth. There are so many things rural communities can do with housing instead of tearing them down. Rural officials need to think of these homes as ASSETS and use them to rebuild the community. If, for example, residents or prospective residents were given an opportunity to own these homes for a very nominal fee (as little as $1000 as an example), and were allowed to fix up the property to a prescribed amount (maybe spend $30,000 on rehab) the community could transfer to the resident the deed to the property when receipts were produced and the home inspected to confirm repairs. I think you’d want to require a certain period of residency to avoid speculators. What a great way to save a home and a community. For people who don’t have a home, this is an incentive. And if you combine the home and abandoned commercial property applying the same principal–essentially give them the space, require a certain amount of rehab and setting up a proprietor-owned business in that space, then transfer the deed after requirements are fulfilled. Then the community begins to acquire a tax base and stakeholders in seeing the community thrive–growth potential rather than enabling a ghost town by tearing down assets. Empty lots can become parks or community gardens.

Our policy thinking has focused too much on the negative instead of providing potential for constructive ideas that empower people and communities. Cutting programs and assets to ‘balance the budget’ without exploring alternatives can enable decline rather than encourage prosperity. And communicating regionally with other officials can further expand growth.

]]> Comment on Unoccupied homes and buildings in rural towns by Sarah Bird http://www.ruraltx.org/econ-development/unoccupied-homes-and-buildings-in-rural-towns#comment-301 Sarah Bird Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:12:43 +0000 http://www.ruraltx.org/?p=638#comment-301 I don't think there is a simple yes or no answer to the question. Selectively demolishing abandoned structures on property that could be otherwise developed may be a good idea - but the cost of tracking down who has the title can be a deal killer for financially strapped communities (isn't that about all rural towns right now?). Putting a lean/mortgage on the property to collect costs of demolision is a good strategy, but must be cautious in using it as a tool to foreclose - don't want to cost the city/county more in legal costs than the property is worth. So many questions...each community needs to weigh options and commit to whatever the concensus is. I don’t think there is a simple yes or no answer to the question. Selectively demolishing abandoned structures on property that could be otherwise developed may be a good idea – but the cost of tracking down who has the title can be a deal killer for financially strapped communities (isn’t that about all rural towns right now?). Putting a lean/mortgage on the property to collect costs of demolision is a good strategy, but must be cautious in using it as a tool to foreclose – don’t want to cost the city/county more in legal costs than the property is worth. So many questions…each community needs to weigh options and commit to whatever the concensus is.

]]> Comment on USDA Releases New Online Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America by Janelle Dozier http://www.ruraltx.org/econ-development/usda-releases-new-online-atlas-of-rural-and-small-town-america#comment-249 Janelle Dozier Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:16:54 +0000 http://www.ruraltx.org/?p=557#comment-249 This kind of interactive map is extremely useful to anyone who wants to understanding the demographics and economic structure of rural America. A cursory look at the counties in which I grew up show what a large proportion of farmers are over 65. My own dad farmed through his 70s. Old farmers never retire! It also shows how few farmers can make ends meet without outside income. When I was growing up, many farm wives worked. Now the statistics show that almost half of the farm operators themselves work outside jobs. When I visit home, I see huge combines harvesting late into the night with powerful headlights. That was never the case when my dad was farming. He worked hard, but he didn't have to plow at midnight. It seems to me that that working two jobs, often round-the-clock has to be a huge stressor for farmers. This kind of interactive map is extremely useful to anyone who wants to understanding the demographics and economic structure of rural America. A cursory look at the counties in which I grew up show what a large proportion of farmers are over 65. My own dad farmed through his 70s. Old farmers never retire! It also shows how few farmers can make ends meet without outside income. When I was growing up, many farm wives worked. Now the statistics show that almost half of the farm operators themselves work outside jobs. When I visit home, I see huge combines harvesting late into the night with powerful headlights. That was never the case when my dad was farming. He worked hard, but he didn’t have to plow at midnight. It seems to me that that working two jobs, often round-the-clock has to be a huge stressor for farmers.

]]> Comment on County Health Rankings for Texas by Bobby G. http://www.ruraltx.org/health/county-health-rankings-for-texas#comment-241 Bobby G. Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:29:25 +0000 http://www.ruraltx.org/?p=620#comment-241 This is interesting data. Unfortunately several of the counties I am interested in are 'Not Ranked' -- I didn't see an immediate explanation of why some counties aren't ranked -- too little data, no data reported --?? I wonder if someone has a ready explanation you could share? This is interesting data. Unfortunately several of the counties I am interested in are ‘Not Ranked’ — I didn’t see an immediate explanation of why some counties aren’t ranked — too little data, no data reported –?? I wonder if someone has a ready explanation you could share?

]]> Comment on Texas Event Leadership Program by Sarah Bird http://www.ruraltx.org/community-events/texas-event-leadership-program#comment-192 Sarah Bird Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:19:19 +0000 http://www.ruraltx.org/?p=605#comment-192 Great - I'll pass this along to those in the Heart of Texas who may not know it is scheduled. Thanks for posting this! Great – I’ll pass this along to those in the Heart of Texas who may not know it is scheduled. Thanks for posting this!

]]> Comment on The Future of the South by Sarah Bird http://www.ruraltx.org/econ-development/the-future-of-the-south#comment-181 Sarah Bird Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:31:29 +0000 http://www.ruraltx.org/?p=593#comment-181 Small business development and entrepreneurial endeavers are the only way to ensure the vitality of our rural communities, whether they are in the South or any other region of the country. The difficulty is often capitalizing a good idea...we need bankers and microinvestors to step up and take a few risks on smart, hardworking individuals in our smallest communities. Small business development and entrepreneurial endeavers are the only way to ensure the vitality of our rural communities, whether they are in the South or any other region of the country. The difficulty is often capitalizing a good idea…we need bankers and microinvestors to step up and take a few risks on smart, hardworking individuals in our smallest communities.

]]> Comment on USDA Releases New Online Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America by Sarah Bird http://www.ruraltx.org/econ-development/usda-releases-new-online-atlas-of-rural-and-small-town-america#comment-180 Sarah Bird Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:26:26 +0000 http://www.ruraltx.org/?p=557#comment-180 I love this - and it is useful to see the changing landscape of rural America. I love this – and it is useful to see the changing landscape of rural America.

]]> Comment on USDA Releases New Online Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America by Sarah Bird http://www.ruraltx.org/econ-development/usda-releases-new-online-atlas-of-rural-and-small-town-america#comment-179 Sarah Bird Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:24:39 +0000 http://www.ruraltx.org/?p=557#comment-179 Great resource! Great resource!

]]> Comment on The Future of the South by admin http://www.ruraltx.org/econ-development/the-future-of-the-south#comment-175 admin Wed, 09 Mar 2011 22:09:49 +0000 http://www.ruraltx.org/?p=593#comment-175 Southern Growth Policies Board also has a webinar on the importance of entrepreneurship to the future of the South. It's on the Events calendar on March 28 and features Deb Markley of the RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship. Deb made a presentation at the recent TEDC meeting in Austin - she is always very good. Southern Growth Policies Board also has a webinar on the importance of entrepreneurship to the future of the South. It’s on the Events calendar on March 28 and features Deb Markley of the RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship. Deb made a presentation at the recent TEDC meeting in Austin – she is always very good.

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