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Podcast
Go inside the stories of the series Small Town Comeback.
Documentary Director Becca Summers chats with locals in the series about creating a thriving downtown and diversifying their rural economy.
Their comeback stories explore how innovation, grit, and community are crucial for rural success.
Episode 1
Saving Main Street: Vernal's Downtown Revitalization - Part 1
How do you revitalize a crumbling downtown? Quinn Bennion (Vernal City Manager) and Gabby Hawkes Blackburn (Vernal City Assistant City Manager) share the community’s strategy and journey of bringing back a vibrant Main Street to their small town Visit the town in Vernal, Utah: dinoland.com Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by: Uintah County Travel and Tourism Uintah County Economic Development Vernal City STRATA Networks Credits: Produced by V6 Media & Summer Creative Agency. Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers. Listen, rate, and subscribe!
Episode 2
Market On Main Street
Trisha Sorensen, creator of a local cookie empire, shares her journey of growing from a home baker to owning a downtown bakery and consignment store. Her dream was only made possible by a new local business pitch competition, Rise and Thrive. We speak with the pitch founder, Sylvia Wilkins, and hear how this competition has helped kickstart an entrepreneurial wave in their small town. Shop Local at Market on Main: www.marketonmainvernal.com Visit the town in Vernal, Utah: dinoland.com Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by: Uintah County Travel and Tourism Uintah County Economic Development Vernal City STRATA Networks Credits: Produced by V6 Media & Summer Creative Agency. Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers. Listen, rate, and subscribe!
Episode 3
Mural Magic On Main Street
Local artist Jordan Clark (owner of Ninty1 Designs) shares his journey of starting a spray paint mural company. Lesha Coltharp (Uintah County Tourism and Event Director) shares how murals and other local art efforts are elevating the look and feel of their small town. Check out Jordan's murals at: ninty1designs.com Visit the town in Vernal, Utah: dinoland.com Sponsors This episode is brought to you by: Uintah County Travel and Tourism Uintah County Economic Development Vernal City STRATA Networks Credits: Produced by Summer Creative Agency and V6 Media. Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers. Listen, rate, and subscribe!
Episode 4
Dinah “SOAR” Days Hot Air Balloon Festival
Get a sneak peek into Utah’s Biggest Hot Air Balloon Festival! Lesha Coltharp (Uintah County Travel & Tourism Director) and Steve Jones (local hot air balloon pilot & restaurant owner) share the strategy for growing this massive festival, its economic impact, and how events like this can help unite a small town. Check out Dinah SOAR Days Hot Air Ballon Festival dates and details at dinahdays.com Visit Steve’s local restaurant, Get Grilled and Glazed: 1096 West 1096 US-40. Visit the town in Vernal, Utah: dinoland.com Sponsors This episode is brought to you by: Uintah County Travel and Tourism Uintah County Economic Development Vernal City STRATA Networks Credits: Produced by Summer Creative Agency and V6 Media. Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers. Listen, rate, and subscribe!
Episode 5
Business Pitch Winner: Elite Equine
Rural Utah has thousands of horses. When you drive around our small town, you’ll see horse after horse in pastures. Two local women saw a huge gap in the equestrian industry and are working together to fill it. In this episode, you’ll hear the journey and lessons learned from business pitch competition winners Paula Henline and Kylee Betts. Check out Elite Rehab and Reconditioning Facebook Page. Visit the town in Vernal, Utah: dinoland.com For help with your small business check out Utah’s Small Business Development Center Sponsors This episode is brought to you by: Uintah County Travel and Tourism Uintah County Economic Development Vernal City STRATA Networks Credits: Produced by Summer Creative Agency and V6 Media. Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers. Listen, rate, and subscribe!
Episode 6
Saving Kids Canal
As our small town grows, we don’t want everything to change. Recently, Kids Canal was in danger of being destroyed. Kids Canal is a 100-year-old nature space in Vernal, Utah, where kids can freely play, swim, fish, and explore. Sam Passey (Uintah County Library Director) and Quinn Bennion (Vernal City Manager) share how the community came together to save this outdoor recreation space in our small town. Visit Kids Canal in Vernal, Utah: dinoland.com Visit a free exhibit of Kids Canal at: uintahmuseum.org Learn more about Kids Canal at: kidscanalstories.org Sponsors This episode is brought to you by: Uintah County Travel and Tourism Uintah County Economic Development Vernal City STRATA Networks Credits: Produced by Summer Creative Agency and V6 Media. Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers. Listen, rate, and subscribe!
Episode 7
Building Up Rural Tech: Part 1
Finding talent for rural-based tech jobs can be difficult. Our small town works with the program DevPipeline to train rural web developers and software engineers. Travis Campbell (Uintah County Economic Development Director) and Jason Fletcher (CEO of DevPipeline) share how this collaboration has helped create new jobs, a homegrown tech community, and support for rural companies. This episode is brought to you by: Uintah County Economic Development Uintah County Travel and Tourism Vernal City STRATA Networks Credits: Produced by Summer Creative Agency and V6 Media. Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers. Listen, rate, and subscribe!
Episode 8
Building Up Rural Tech: Part 2
Two rural tech professionals share their journey into tech, lessons they’ve learned, and advice for others looking at getting into the tech scene. Ted Munford (local business owner of Techris) has worked in the rural tech scene for almost 20 years. Kray Halsem (local Web Developer) found his tech career after a life-altering airplane accident. Thank you to Uintah County Economic Development Uintah County Travel and Tourism Vernal City STRATA Networks Credits: Produced by Summer Creative Agency and V6 Media. Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers. Listen, rate, and subscribe!
Episode 9
Utah & The Paranormal: The Rise of Rural Filmmaking
Come behind the scenes as we chat about the rise of rural filmmaking within our small town. Hit shows like The Secret of SkinWalker Ranch and Blind Frog Ranch have created an increase in film tourism in our town. It’s becoming a must-see paranormal hot spot for filmmakers and visitors from all over the world. Becca chats with Lesha Coltharp, Uintah County’s Tourism & Events Director and Film Liason, and with Dale Allred - the Director of Operations for V6 Media. Watch the Documentary Series Watch this episode of Small Town Comeback, an original documentary series, at www.smalltowncomeback.org Show Notes & Links: Visit Vernal, Utah: dinoland.com Check out V6 Media: v6media.com Sponsors This episode is brought to you by: Uintah County Travel and Tourism Uintah County Economic Development Vernal City Credits: Produced by Summer Creative Agency and V6 Media. Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers. Listen, rate, and subscribe!
Coming January 17, 2025
Episode 10
Strengthening Rural Air Travel: Vernal Regional Airport
Rural air travel is growing! Ken Campbell, Vernal Regional Airport, and Quinn Bennion, Vernal City Manager, talk with Becca about the airport's updates, challenges, and future forecasts. Watch the Documentary Series Watch this episode of Small Town Comeback, an original documentary series, at www.smalltowncomeback.org Show Notes & Links: Fly to Vernal: flyvernal.com Visit Vernal, Utah: dinoland.com Sponsors This episode is brought to you by: Uintah County Travel and Tourism Uintah County Economic Development Vernal City Credits: Produced by Summer Creative Agency and V6 Media. Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers. Listen, rate, and subscribe!
Coming January 24, 2025
Episode 11
Building BuckSkin Hills Drag Strip
The Buckskin Hills Drag Strip is the ONLY functioning Drag Strip in Utah. Two local racers, Bo Ellis and Dan Dilsaver, chat about the journey of creating the new drag strip and how it’s bringing in racers from all over the country. Watch the Documentary Series Watch this episode of Small Town Comeback, an original documentary series, at www.smalltowncomeback.org Show Notes & Links: Race at the Buckskin Hills Drag Strip: https://www.buckskinhills.com/dragstrip Race at Diamond Mountain Speedway: www.diamondmountain-speedway.com Visit Vernal, Utah: dinoland.com Sponsors This episode is brought to you by: Uintah County Travel and Tourism Uintah County Economic Development Vernal City Credits: Produced by Summer Creative Agency and V6 Media. Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers. Listen, rate, and subscribe!
Coming January 31, 2025
Episode 12
Saving Main Street: Downtown Revitalization Episode Part 2
With an ambitious Downtown plan, demolition and construction kick off to revitalize Vernal’s Downtown Main Street. The momentum starts to bring new businesses and new nightlife to Main Street. Becca, the documentary series producer of Small Town Comeback, chats with Quinn Bennion, Vernal City Manager, and Gabby Hawkes Blackburn, former Vernal City Assistant Manager/ Planning Director about how this plan is unfolding and what they’re learning along the way. Watch the Documentary Series Watch this episode of Small Town Comeback, an original documentary series, at www.smalltowncomeback.org Show Notes & Links: Check out Vernal City’s Downtown Plan: https://www.vernal.gov/471/Vernal-Downtown-Plan Visit Vernal, Utah: dinoland.com Sponsors This episode is brought to you by: Uintah County Travel and Tourism Uintah County Economic Development Vernal City Credits: Produced by Summer Creative Agency and V6 Media. Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers. Listen, rate, and subscribe!
Coming February 7, 2025
Episode 13
Building Up Rural Tech: Vernal's Innovation Hub
Today our guests are the first two Managers of the Vernal Innovation Hub, Lori Haslem and Sydney Millet. They share how the Innovation Hub came to be, what’s worked well, what hasn’t, and real-world case studies on how the Innovation is helping our small town’s local economy grow and thrive. Watch the Documentary Series Watch this episode of Small Town Comeback, an original documentary series, at www.smalltowncomeback.org Show Notes & Links: Check out Vernal’s Innvation Hub: vernalinnovationhub.com Visit Vernal, Utah: dinoland.com Sponsors This episode is brought to you by: Uintah County Travel and Tourism Uintah County Economic Development Vernal City Credits: Produced by Summer Creative Agency and V6 Media. Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers. Listen, rate, and subscribe!
Coming February 14, 2025
Episode 14
Building Red Fleet State Park's Remodel
Coming Soon!
Coming Soon!
Episode 15
Building Utah's First Public Via Ferrata
Coming Soon!