COOPER, Iowa, February 18, 2007 – It was a day of a snowstorm and brainstorms on Saturday, February 17, in the west central Iowa town of Cooper (pop. 30). The Raccoon River Valley Trail Association organized a trail-related business & tourism development seminar in the Cooper Community Building, which is located a block east of where the 56-mile-long hard-surfaced trail goes through the heart of town.

The crowd of 80 for the seminar included officials from cities, counties, conservation boards, Chambers of Commerce and economic development agencies as well as trail advocates, developers and people who are thinking of starting businesses along the RRVT and other trails in Iowa.

Among the presenters was Eric Bunge, who co-founded and is still managing director of the Commonweal Theatre, a professional drama company that is beginning its 19th year as one of the major attractions along the Root River State Trail in southeast Minnesota. That trail, generally regarded as the best in America, has helped build tourism into a $25 million per year industry in the rural Fillmore County.

But Bunge said what’s really made it happen are people with vision who gather the resources to build businesses on their passions.

”The trail’s not the answer,” Bunge said. ”The trail’s just a tool. You’re the answer!”

Click here to view photos from the seminar.

Article Published: 02-18-2007