Antimony Revite

Natalie asked me to write today about an exciting thing that happened this week. As many of you may know We have been concerned for quite a while about Antimony dwindling away, and even wilting in the mean time. The people who live here need more work, and young people growing up have to leave because there is no opportunity here. Young families who would like to live here don't stay long, or don't move here at all because of the lack of work.

Keeping in mind Mahatma Gandhi's saying, "Be the change you wish to see in the world," I decided to prepare a plan to revitalize Antimony, and present it to the mayor, Shannon Allen. Shannon suggested that I present it to the town council this last Thursday evening which I did.
All my ideas were well received. They all thought the plan was just what was needed for Antimony, but they didn't feel they could do it as a town council. The plan includes applying for, and managing federal and state grants, and managing a couple of large projects. Everyone on the town council is already as busy as they can stand to be, and besides that they felt like they just didn't know how to do this.
It was suggested that I take it to the county. I was a little disappointed, but figured I'd take it as far as I could before laying it down for good. I looked up the county web site to get the phone number of the guy in charge of economic development, and found that the county had written up an economic development plan. I felt like I should read that before I called, and in that plan I found so many of the same ideas and components I had myself that it got me pretty excited. I called up the guy in charge of it all, and after talking with him a few minutes he asked it I would come in and meet with him at the county office. I went last Friday morning, and it was like the county had been locked and loaded and were just waiting for a target. I showed up with one.
I have to give credit to a lot of inspiration in preparing the plan and the presentation, and credit to my recent college class experiences for knowing how to go about preparing and presenting the plan. Though I still think it was more inspiration than learning.

The plan has 3 main parts. First we will get a grant to set up either a mobile or stationary USDA approved slaughter unit here in the valley. That will make it possible for farmers to sell directly to stores and restaurants. Next step is to set up what is called an "agricultural hub," which is a processing center that receives products from many directions and prepares them for sale. Most of the cooperative hubs functioning now are marketing to institutions, ie school districts, jails, and hospitals. We have those around here. At first the hub would just be dealing with meat, because that and alfalfa are the only things that are produced around here, but then it would start processing root vegetables, and other produce that the institutions can use, that is as soon as people start producing them, which I believe they would if the market is already secured. The hub would also be in charge of market research so that a wide variety of products could be produced and sold from here.
As people approach the hub with new ideas for producing different products, the market would be researched and funding found, and if research on both market and funding turn out favorably, that project would move forward.
Lastly, the plan includes an experiential work college that would continue to do research on new products and methods of production. That information would be passed on to the community for others to take advantage of.

I see a community where everyone who wishes will be involved in producing something that they are passionate about, and all connected through participation in the hub that takes care of the business they may not necessarily be good at. The competition between producers would practically disappear because everyone would be working with the same project.
I imagine a community that is not only vital, but vibrant. Where any new idea can be seriously checked out and the viable ones can be launched.
I find myself feeling almost giddy inside when I think of it. That's on the inside only. It wouldn't be proper for a man of my age and stature to be giddy on the outside.
I am sure it will take a few years to get it rolling, but as long as it's moving forward I can be patient.

So that's whats exciting in Antimony this week,

Michael