Advocates of FuturePlan

Advocates point out that both Crimson and Mineral have experienced widespread financial trouble since the 1970s, when the mining industry bottomed out and forced closure of the Crimson and Mineral Mountain mining operation -- the towns’ primary source of revenue. Since then, the two towns have experienced widespread fiscal trouble and its residents have experienced consistently high unemployment forcing many longtime residents to move or make the long commutes into Silver Cliff or Vermillion. Advocates of this plan also point to the unstable economic base of the region and point out that the money generated by the growth of the Wamasana business and shopping complexes would spawn new economic growth and much needed job opportunities. These new industries would produce spin-off growth of supportive industries that supply goods and services to these new companies, and would likely attract additional high tech start-ups to the area. If these proposed developments do not come to fruition, these towns have both expressed interest in soliciting developers for a series of casino complexes to bring in much needed tourism and revenue to their sagging economies. Additionally, people want to live in the mountains to take advantage of the small town atmosphere of the rural regions of the county in the face of growth rather than force everyone to live in these increasingly crowded cities.

Organizations and Interest Groups in Support of FuturePlan:

Chamber of Commerce-Silver Cliff

Hispanic Alliance

Technology Sector-Vermillion Technology

Timber Industry