Small Town Comeback
Go inside the stories of the documentary series Small Town Comeback. This original series, filmed in Vernal, Utah, follows a small town revitalizing its downtown to bring back its Main Street charm. Documentary director, Becca Summers, speaks with locals from the film about what it takes to create a thriving Downtown and diversify their economy. Their stories explore how innovation, grit, and community are crucial for rural success.
Listen on:
Episodes
Friday Feb 21, 2025
Friday Feb 21, 2025
Episode Synopsis:
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!
Friday Feb 14, 2025
Friday Feb 14, 2025
Episode Synopsis:
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!
Friday Feb 07, 2025
Friday Feb 07, 2025
Episode Synopsis:
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!
Friday Jan 31, 2025
Friday Jan 31, 2025
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:
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!
Friday Jan 24, 2025
Friday Jan 24, 2025
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:
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!
Wednesday Feb 14, 2024
Wednesday Feb 14, 2024
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:
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!
Wednesday Feb 07, 2024
Wednesday Feb 07, 2024
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:
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!
Wednesday Jan 31, 2024
Wednesday Jan 31, 2024
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:
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!
Wednesday Jan 24, 2024
Wednesday Jan 24, 2024
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:
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!
Wednesday Jan 17, 2024
Wednesday Jan 17, 2024
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:
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!