Colorado STRIDES (Sustainable Towns: Rural Innovation, Development, Expansion & Success) continues to work with rural communities to enhance their economies and amenities, with the goal of attracting and keeping more healthcare providers. Over the past year, STRIDES has been working with the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) on a community assessment for Crowley County.
The first step was an Economic Development Assessment, which is a 30-hour process with industry professionals who meet with community leaders and hold public forums to learn about the community and future development. The community receives a report of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities & threats (SWOT) at the conclusion of the process, which provides recommendations to assist in planning their economic development future. A few months later, the team meets for Community Action Planning (CAP), which prioritizes the recommendations with action steps, responsibilities, timelines and resources needed to accomplish the top recommendations. Finally, after a few more months, the team visits the community for a Re-CAP, where the community has a chance to report on the status of the projects they’ve implemented.
Crowley County identified healthcare, community, and economic development as its priority areas. Clint Cresawn of Colorado STRIDES led the healthcare meetings, and partnered with other industry leaders to conduct the other meetings and compose the report. Because recruitment and retention of healthcare providers were areas which Crowley County identified as priorities, CRHC’s Colorado Provider Recruitment program provided technical assistance on workforce recruitment and retention, as well as regional approaches to assessing and addressing workforce needs.
Baca County begins a similar process with OEDIT this week. With healthcare already identified as a priority area, Colorado STRIDES will be integral once again. Cresawn says, “It’s a tough process for the team, working around the clock during the visit, but helping communities draw a map of their own for how to get where they want to be—that makes it all worthwhile!”
For more information on Colorado STRIDES, please contact Clint at clint.cresawn@gmail.com or 303.875.9554.
