By Miles Flynn
Southern Indiana Business Report
JASPER — Jasper is riding high as one of four communities around the United States still in the running to earn the title as the ultimate winner in a showcase competition hosted by the advocacy group Strong Towns, but a ticket to the finals depends on you. Online voting in the in the Strongest Towns Final Four will begin Monday, March 28, and run through Friday, April 1.
This year’s event kicked off at the end of February with 16 nominees sharing their unique stories and seeking the chance to advance. Jasper was pitted against Brighton, Michigan, in that first round and then went on in the Elite Eight to edge out Champaign, Illinois, a larger college town, 51% to 49%. Jasper’s match this time is Yellow Springs, Ohio, a town that’s considerably smaller. On the other side of the bracket, Durango, Colorado, is facing off with Norwood, Ohio. Information on all competitors and how to vote can be found at www.strongtowns.org/strongesttown. (Ballots can only be cast once in each bracket for each round per each voter’s email address.)
A strong connection to Jasper, Strong Towns
The idea for Jasper’s entry into the contest grew out of Mark Nowotarski’s close connections to the community and to the Strong Towns organization. Nowotarski had previously lived in Jasper from 1990-2004 during his time at MasterBrand but left to pursue a new opportunity with another firm owned by the cabinetmaker’s parent company. However, he told Southern Indiana Business Report, he and his wife maintained close ties with Jasper through family visits. “I always took a liking to Jasper and everything they were doing,” he commented.
Meanwhile, Nowotarski also got involved with the national Strong Towns group after reading Chuck Marohn’s “Strong Towns” book. He was drawn to the movement, in part, by its advocacy for community development through achievable incremental steps. The approach can add up to tremendous change over time, he explained, whereas communities that focus only on huge projects see their resources stretched and may run into problems that prevent them from accomplishing anything at all. Nowotarski’s always seen living proof of the philosophy’s success in Jasper. He cited the creation of the Jasper Riverwalk and surrounding features, the transformation of a defunct country club into a town park, the unveiling of the new Thyen-Clark Cultural Center, plus ongoing downtown revitalization efforts as some top examples of what Jasper has accomplished, and he’s been especially encouraged by the way community organizations and businesses have stepped up time and again to make such improvements possible without burdening taxpayers. Another partnership that stands out to him is the Jasper Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council. Not only has the group helped create a new welcoming mural, Nowotarski said, but it’s also ensuring the next generation of Jasper’s community leaders will be ready to step up and continue making the city an even better place to live and work.
During those stops back in Dubois County, Nowotarski even took part in local town hall meetings and watched the city’s progress on efforts such as the Impact Jasper comprehensive development plan. In January 2020, the couple followed through on retirement plans to return to Jasper and build a home here.
The Strongest Towns competition
Nowotarski learned about the Strongest Towns competition early this year and immediately dove in to nominate the community he loves. The process required answering a handful of questions about Jasper and why it deserves the honor. Word came back Jasper had passed through as a member of the Sweet 16. “They have it set up like March Madness,” he noted.
At that point, Nowotarski decided he better start spreading the word and enlisting the help of community stakeholders. Nancy Eckerle at the Jasper Chamber of Commerce was a natural choice, he said, as was Darla Blazey, director of community development and planning for the city. Other key partners include the local Main Street affiliate Heart of Jasper and Dubois County Tourism. “They got excited about it,” Nowotarski said of the collaborating groups.
Competitors have had to utilize a variety of methods to make their cases to voters thus far. Earlier rounds depended on providing answers to a series of questions and then submitting photo collections. For the Final Four, contestants will tell their stories through podcast interviews hosted by Rachel Quednau, the program director for Strong Towns.
The two finalists will be featured in a live podcast posted online the week of April 4. In addition to the honor of being named the Strongest Town, the winning community will also enjoy some national media attention and be the site of a victory celebration and visit by Marohn.