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| RR History Preservation and Economic Development
https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9681 |
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| Author: | Art Miller [ Sun May 16, 2004 8:15 am ] |
| Post subject: | RR History Preservation and Economic Development |
A few postings down, a colleague decrys that a Vermont is converting the StJ&LC right-of-way from a railroad into a recreational trail. He also mentions, in not a very complimentary fashion, the snowmobile lobby. Question: Do you the name of state agency that handles recreational trails management in neighboring New Hampshire? Answer: The Department of Resources and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (emphasis added). It appears that those dastardly, reckless, noisy snowmobilers and those sweaty, scantily-dressed, skinny bicycle riders have figured out a winning political strategy. They have successfully linked their movements to economic development and developed an effective political messages and coalitions from that linkage. C&T and DSNG also make economic development a central part of their political strategy and messages. Is there a lesson in applied politics here? Me thinks so! In general, does the railroad history preservation movement do as well? Me thinks not. And until we do, the railroad preservation movement will suffer from its failure to create federal and state policies that ACTIVELY promote our cause. Beware, believing that your organization is "liked" and "respected" by elected officials is not enough. Don't kid yourself. When it come$ to evaluating an organization'$ true political effectivene$$, the real que$tion to a$k i$, "What did they really do for u$ la$t year?" There is a huge difference between being "known" and being "in." Note: Real support from the political class does not have to be cash. It can be in the form of policies so favorable that they act as cash equivalents. Just ask those Gucci-wearing defense contractor lobbyists that I saw in action in the Rayburn House Office Building this past week. amiller@rtms-movietrains.com |
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| Author: | Bob Kutella [ Mon May 17, 2004 5:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RR History Preservation and Economic Developme |
> Question: Do you the name of state agency > that handles recreational trails management > in neighboring New Hampshire? > Answer: The Department of Resources and > ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (emphasis added). Still hard to get people to listen. Using numbers developed by the Governor's office of the State of Illinois, the Illinois Railway Museum had a positive economic impact on the McHenry County economy of OVER $19,000,000 last year alone. Sounds optimistic even to me but those are numbers from the 'gov'!! Even with those credentials behind them, folks scoff at or do not accept the resulting numbers and it is still hard to get credibility for new sources of sutainable funding. Bob Kutella 68trolley@comcast.net |
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| Author: | Gary Landrio, Stone Consu [ Mon May 17, 2004 1:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RR History Preservation and Economic Developme |
We at Stone Consulting find the key to getting grant funding is to tie the project into economic benefits. The more impact that you can document, the more likely that you will be successful. Quite often we find that the two hardest jobs are ones of education. The first to educate the group looking for the money. They usually do not know how to document their impacts. The second is to clearly document to the funding agency the value and impacts of the application. Remember that you are educating the laity as to your religion. Gary Landrio Stone Consulting & Design Stone Consulting & Design garylandrio@stoneconsulting.com |
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| Author: | Phil Mulligan [ Mon May 17, 2004 3:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RR History Preservation and Economic Developme |
A certain steam RR, back when fares were $1.00, gave change in $2.00 bills. Then those deuces turned up all over the place. There was their economic impact! Electric City Trolley Museum Association |
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| Author: | Art Miller [ Mon May 17, 2004 5:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Economic Impact Projections |
Beware All! PROJECTED economic impact numbers often are now viewed through a large prism of skepticism. Forecasts have been used to justify all sorts of folly -- the Tennessee Tombigbee-Waterway and a 1982 World's Fair in my hometown come to mind. Shucks, on a current project, I am having trouble getting some folks to believe employment counts (not forecasts) in existing industries. Duuuhh! [Granted, some will use any excuse not let loose with money.] Nevertheless, if you do any economic impact calculations, get your assumptions and results verified by a reputable firm like Stone. Or strike up a relationship with a local university professor in the geography, business admin, or economic development schools who has experience in this specific craft! The added validity will be well worth the expense. amiller@rtms-movietrains.com |
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