Rural Community Development Survey

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Rural Community Development Survey

• Eithel M. Simpson
• Midge Gerber
• M. Elizabeth Ferrell

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Introduction

• Status of rural communities

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The 29 Solution

• rural consumers are the one profit frontier open
  to them corporations andthe only real
  expansion territory left in an overcrowded retail
  world.
• Chuck Priest
• Retail Merchandiser
• January 2005

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What is rural?

• Weatherford, Oklahoma
• Located on I-40
• SWOSU Population 5,000
• City Population 9,000

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Population Status

• Loss of 1,100 since 2000

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FPL Wind Farm
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Other Businesses

• Walls Special Edition
• Floors Now
• Alberts Trucking Repair Service
• Downtown Diner
• Nitas Ice House Bar Grill
• Holiday Inn Express
• Comfort Inn Suites

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Purpose

• What types of businesses do community residents
  want established in their rural community?

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Methods

• Data collection
• SWOSU students
• Sample Criteria
• At least 18 years of age
• Familiar with Weatherford

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Survey Data

• 269 surveys returned
• Weatherford residents
• Other three-county area
• Survey Choices
• 171 Weatherford respondents

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Wants

• Apparel accessory stores
• Food establishments
• Music Books

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Dont Want

• Food establishments
• Similar to current businesses
• National chains
• Sin businesses
• Industrial/Manufacturing companies

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Themes

• Improve communication
• Shopping vs Jobs
• Profit potential for national chains

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The Final Solution

• rural consumers are the one profit frontier open
  to them corporations andthe only real
  expansion territory left in an overcrowded retail
  world.
• Chuck Priest
• Retail Merchandiser
• January 2005

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