The Watonga Foundation

06/18/2025

This new Strong Towns e-book explores what it would take to revive small-scale development as a force significant enough to shape and grow our cities.

04/22/2025

04/21/2025

https://www.smith.senate.gov/u-s-senators-tina-smith-mike-rounds-reintroduce-bipartisan-rural-housing-legislation/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=ea9774ab-3bf0-4090-ae12-04d158e447c2

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) reintroduced their bipartisan legislation to improve federal rural housing programs and strengthen the supply of affordable housing in rural America. The legislation would represent the most significant Rural Housing Serv...

03/23/2025

If you’re considering a move to Oklahoma, the state’s commitment to revitalizing its communities is a big reason to make the move. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce has launched its first-ever Certified Main Street Incentive Awards, providing $830,664 in funding to nine Main Street communities...

12/05/2024

A town told me a story last night and it’s one I’ve been hearing a lot lately. It goes something like this: “We don’t need a bunch of rules and regulations. We keep taxes low, don’t let anyone tell us what to do, and that’s how we stay free.”

Oh really, let’s talk about all this cool freedom you got?

Too often, the price of “low-cost and hands-off” living is paid in declining standards. It shows up in schools struggling to keep good teachers, hospitals that have shut their doors, main streets full of vacant storefronts, and homes falling apart because no one enforces the rules. In these places, addiction rates climb, depression festers, poverty prevails and anyone who dreams of a better life starts looking elsewhere.

This idea of freedom—freedom from oversight, freedom from taxes, freedom from accountability—might sound appealing on the surface. But when taken to the extreme, it erodes the very fabric of a community. Without standards, everyone suffers. Is it really worth it? Is that the choice you want to make for your kids?

Take housing, for example. In many of these same towns, slumlords rent overpriced units that are unfit for human habitation. When no one enforces codes, no one is protected. Families live in squalor, but those same families are often the ones blamed for the town’s problems: “If only those renters and addicts would get their act together.” But somehow the slumlords aren’t the ones to blame? We are a product of our environment and ask yourself how you might think, act and feel if that was your home.

But it’s not just about housing. Neglect spills over into every corner of a community. Without good schools, how do you attract families? Without decent healthcare, how do you support those in need? Without basic investment in public spaces and infrastructure, how do you make your town a place anyone wants to live?

So what is the cost of all this freedom? Sure, your taxes are low. But if you can’t attract businesses, retain talent, or provide basic services, how sustainable is that freedom? What’s the point of saving a few dollars if it means everyone is miserable?

Communities don’t thrive because they refuse to invest in themselves. They thrive when they recognize that freedom without responsibility isn’t really freedom at all—it’s just chaos. True freedom comes from having choices, opportunities, and the ability to live with dignity. And that only happens when you create a place where people want to stay, not one they can’t wait to leave.

Yes, it costs more to enforce standards. Yes, it requires effort and accountability. But what you get in return is a community where people feel proud, where kids grow up wanting to stay, and where hope replaces despair.

11/14/2024

Snob shaming—mocking those who strive for something better—hurts our communities. When someone proposes opening a boutique shop, renovating a building, or building quality apartments, they’re often met with ridicule instead of support. This mindset keeps towns stuck in mediocrity.

Wanting nicer things isn’t about elitism; it’s about pride in where we live. Renovating a building or opening a new business sends a message: “This place is worth investing in.” And when one person takes that leap, it often inspires others. Soon, empty storefronts fill, neighborhoods improve, and the entire community benefits. Studies even show that attractive, functional spaces reduce crime and boost quality of life.

The alternative? Settling for less. Mocking ambition ensures stagnation, driving away those who could bring energy and innovation. Instead of tearing down dreams, let’s celebrate them. Ambition isn’t the enemy; it’s the path to a more vibrant, welcoming town.

So next time someone proposes something bold, ask how it might make your community better. We all deserve beautiful, thriving places to live. Let’s stop snob shaming and start saying yes to progress.

10/21/2024

https://revitalizeordie.com/blog/vacancy-busting-a-step-by-step-guide1

I can sometimes get bogged down in the policies of vacancy. I get pretty excited about design standards, code enforcement and vacant property registries. I love reading about new methods people use internationally to combat empty property. While policy is tremendously important to solving one of the...

10/17/2024

This is an "interesting" idea.

Churches often occupy incredibly high-value real estate in America’s cities and towns, yet many of these buildings sit empty for much of the week as attendance has declined and church programming dwindles.

How can developers, planners, residents and church leaders capitalize on this moment in a way that benefits their neighborhoods?

Join this session to hear from Strong Towns Community Builder John Pattison and expert Sara Joy Proppe (founder of Proximity Project) with extensive knowledge about the church landscape who will speak to the ways churches across the country are opening their doors.

Join us on October 17, 2024 at 12pm CT for this live session, or check out the recording afterward.

Get on board here: https://buff.ly/4f6Cjjt

10/08/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/w4p6VuTJpWzbjzkk/

Just THREE WEEKS until Teeny Tiny Town Summit 2024! Register to attend at: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/qumkuax/lp/f4bbfb5f-5f89-40ab-9a9e-2ee2621b5950?fbclid=IwY2xjawFpYa9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZmUCq4GIfLTjBEBB4A62gkIiv8xao2DYL_Gd4bz6O_qr633rHSaAeaabA_aem_ov2IECkoXPBGdHDT2fjYXA

AGENDA:
8:30am Registration

9:00am Welcome

9:15-10:15am Entrepreneur Coffee Chat featuring:
- Jana Walker, Walker's Western Store
- Luke Goodman, Twisters Coffee Co
**Coffee provided by Twister’s Coffee**

10:15-10:30am Networking Break SPONSORED BY Pioneer Telephone Coop - Main

10:30-11:30am Small Business Funding: Thinking Outside the Box with:
- Dr. Michele Hockersmith, Oklahoma Small Business Development Center
- Brad Purdy, Wheatland RC&D

11:30am Lunch Buffet

12:00-12:45pm Lunch Keynote Speaker

12:45-1:00pm Networking Break

1:00-2:00pm Roundtable Networking
1. Housing Infrastructure Funding
2. Neglected / Abandoned Properties
3. Creative Community Funding / Financing

2:00pm Adjourn

09/27/2024

Have you registered to attend the Teeny Tiny Town Summit 2024? Make plans and get registered. https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/qumkuax/lp/f4bbfb5f-5f89-40ab-9a9e-2ee2621b5950

Share with others who would benefit from attending.

Thank you to our sponsors:
Presenting sponsor: OG&E
Break Sponsor: Pioneer Telephone Coop - Main
Gold Sponsors: Communities Foundation of Oklahoma and NextEra Energy Resources
Silver Sponsor: Enid Regional Development Alliance
Bronze Sponsors: Bank7, Invenergy, Collective Roots, Northern Oklahoma Development Authority - NODA, Oklahoma Economic Development Authority- OEDA, Stock Exchange Bank