New York Mills group pursues thrift store idea as part of community visioning

excerpted from the New York Mills Herald, 8-30-07

Tod Cameron, superintendent of schools in New York Mills, has been leading a community-based think tank to bring new ideas to New York Mills, and at the same time help fight poverty in the area.

A small group met to discuss the thrift store idea, which came about through an action forum held in April. At the forum a top-seven list of ideas was established and ranked by participants. The list:

1. Recruitment of businesses;
2. Mentoring program;
3. Thrift store;
4. Job counseling;
5. Community pride, trash pick-up;
6. School business;
7. Community newsletter, information center.

On Oct. 27 at 6 p.m., NY Mills and the University of Minnesota Extension Office, which oversees the Horizons program, will hold a strategic and visioning meeting. If 150-200 people attend, the town stands to receive $10,000 from Horizons to improve the community.