Small Town Comeback

Latest Episodes:

Building BuckSkin Hills Drag Strip Jan 31, 2025

Show notes

Episode Synopsis:

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:

Credits:

Produced by Summer Creative Agency and V6 Media.

Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers.

Listen, rate, and subscribe!

Utah & The Paranormal: The Rise of Rural Filmmaking Jan 24, 2025

Show notes

Episode Synopsis:

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:

Credits:

Produced by Summer Creative Agency and V6 Media.

Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers.

Listen, rate, and subscribe!

Building Up Rural Tech: Part 2 Feb 14, 2024

Show notes

Building Up Rural Tech: Part 2

Episode Synopsis:

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. These two rural tech professionals share their journey into tech, lessons they’ve learned, and advice for others looking at getting into the tech scene.

Watch the Documentary Series

Watch this episode of the original documentary series, Small Town Comeback, at www.smalltowncomeback.org

Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by:

Credits:

Produced by Summer Creative Agency and V6 Media. Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers.

Listen, rate, and subscribe!

Building Up Rural Tech - Part 1 Feb 07, 2024

Show notes

Building Up Rural Tech - Part 1

Episode Synopsis:

Finding talent to fill rural-based tech jobs is tricky. 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 created new jobs, a homegrown tech community, and support for local businesses.

Watch the Documentary Series

Watch this episode of the original documentary series, Small Town Comeback, at www.smalltowncomeback.org

Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by:

Credits:

Produced by Summer Creative Agency and V6 Media. Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers.

Listen, rate, and subscribe!

Saving Kids Canal Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

Saving Kids Canal

Episode Synopsis:

Kids Canal is a 100-year-old nature space in Vernal, Utah, where kids can freely play, swim, fish, and explore. Recently, the Kids Canal was in danger of being destroyed. As our small town grows, things inevitably change. But we don’t want everything to change. Today I’m talking with Sam Passey (Uintah County Library Director) and Quinn Bennion (Vernal City Manager) about how they were both instrumental in saving this important asset to our community.

Watch the Documentary Series

Watch this episode of Small Town Comeback, an original documentary series, at www.smalltowncomeback.org

Show Notes & Links:

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:

Credits:

Produced by Summer Creative Agency and V6 Media. Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers.

Listen, rate, and subscribe!

Business Pitch Winner: Elite Equine Jan 24, 2024

Show notes

Business Pitch Winner: Elite Equine

Episode Synopsis:

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.

Watch the Documentary Series

Watch this episode of Small Town Comeback, an original documentary series, at www.smalltowncomeback.org

Show Notes & Links:

Link to: Elite Rehab and Reconditioning

Visit the town in Vernal, Utah: dinoland.com

Link to: Utah’s Small Business Development Center

Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by:

Credits:

Produced by Summer Creative Agency and V6 Media. Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers.

Listen, rate, and subscribe!

Dinah “SOAR" Days Hot Air Balloon Jan 17, 2024

Show notes

Dinah “SOAR Days Hot Air Balloon

Episode Synopsis:

Get a sneak peek into Utah’s Biggest Hot Air Balloon Festival! Event Director Lesha Coltharp (Uintah County Travel & Tourism Director) and Steve Jones (local hot air balloon pilot & local restaurant owner) share the strategy for growing this massive festival, its economic impact, and how events like this can help unite a small town.

Watch the Documentary Series

Watch this episode of the original documentary series, Small Town Comeback, at www.smalltowncomeback.org

Show Notes & Links:

Check out Dinah SOAR Days Hot Air Ballon Festival dates and details at dinahdays.com
Visit Steve’s local restaurant, Get Grilled and Glazed: https://www.facebook.com/GETGLAZEDDONUTS/
Visit the town in Vernal, Utah: dinoland.com

Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by:

Credits:

Produced by Summer Creative Agency and V6 Media. Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers.

Listen, rate, and subscribe!

Mural Magic on Main Street Jan 10, 2024

Show notes

Mural Magic on Main Street

Episode Synopsis:

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.

Watch the Documentary Series

Watch this episode of Small Town Comeback, an original documentary series, at www.smalltowncomeback.org

Show Notes:

Check out Jordan's murals at: ninty1designs.com
Visit the town in Vernal, Utah: dinoland.com

Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by:

Credits:

Produced by Summer Creative Agency and V6 Media. Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers.

Listen, rate, and subscribe!

Market on Main Street Jan 03, 2024

Show notes

Market on Main Street

Episode Synopsis:

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.

Watch the Documentary Series

Watch this episode of Small Town Comeback, an original documentary series, at www.smalltowncomeback.org

Show Notes:

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:

Credits:

Produced by Summer Creative Agency and V6 Media. Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers.

Listen, rate, and subscribe!

Saving Main Street: Vernal’s Downtown Revitalization (Part 1) Dec 21, 2023

Show notes

Saving Main Street: Vernal’s Downtown Revitalization (Part 1)

Episode Synopsis:

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.

Watch the Documentary Series

Watch this episode of Small Town Comeback, an original documentary series, at www.smalltowncomeback.org

Show Notes:

Visit the town in Vernal, Utah: dinoland.com

Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by:

Credits:

Produced by Summer Creative Agency and V6 Media. Recorded & edited by Coby Coonradt. Hosted by Becca Summers.

Listen, rate, and subscribe!