OutdoorNebraska

Don't forget to consider the partnerships you can build with corporations in your area. For example, if you have an irrigation company or meat rendering facility that employs many members of the community, consider reaching out to them. Sell your vision to encourage them to be part of the planning and development process by becoming a donor or dedicating staff to help with clean-ups and repairs of the recreation amenity a few times a year. Many successful outdoor recreation opportunities can be created when you invest in building strong partnerships. How do I start to build partnerships? • Start by asking yourself what groups already exist in your community. Consider all community groups; not only ones that are interested or have obvious connections to outdoor recreation endeavors. Dream big and think outside of the predictable list of partners. The business community may not be a direct connection, but many times businesses are engaged civically throughout the community. Make a list. • Then, prioritize the list and work systemically through it to reach out to engage many in your project. More connections will create more buy-in and support for your endeavor. • Do your homework on what the interests are of the potential partner and tailor your story to what speaks to their goals, mission, or vision of the community. • Before reaching out to the groups, consider what the best approach would be based on the type of organization you're dealing with. A health organization should be approached one way, whereas a business should be approached another. Creating talking points and strategies ahead of the "ask" will create a pathway to success. You might consider organizing key players from the health organization to meet in person to discuss your objectives. Whereas, for the business, you might consider taking the owner or employee out for coffee to discuss what they do and how their input on the project could be helpful for their business and the community. • When you are ready to reach out to community groups, don't forget to sell your recreation story you're trying to tell for your area. If it's creating a trail to connect the school with the local park to enhance walkability, connectivity, healthy lifestyles, and a safe-haven for children to travel after school, make that known! That way the organizations you're reaching out to understand that you've thought a lot about the success of this idea and why it would benefit your community. This can go a long way when trying to build strong partnerships with community organizations. • Network with your current partnerships about potential new groups to approach. 80 2 0 2 1 - 2 0 2 5 S TAT E W I D E C O M P R E H E N S I V E O U T D O O R R E C R E AT I O N P L A N AmeriCorps team painting the Trading Post at Chadron State Park. (Dawes County) HOW-TO DON'T FORGET!

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