The Mississippi River is a defining landmark connecting the three communities. Agricultural-based industries and chemical plants are the major sources of employment. A variety of teaching methods and educational experiences were used to accomplish the program's objectives. These included inviting local and state elected officials, local bank officials, and university personnel to present material related to the subject matter. The first goal of the leadership training program was to promote teamwork among community residents.
Teamwork is vital in planning and implementing community economic development strategies.
The second benchmark is strategic planning. The participants were introduced to strategic planning and its application to economic development. The participants set goals and objectives for themselves and the group as a whole with benchmarks to stay focused on the objectives that were set by the group. The third benchmark was community vision, which presents methods of developing a community-based vision of the future. This encompasses economic trends that provide information about global, national, and regional trends affecting rural economies.