VALENTINE, Neb. — How do you spark economic growth in a small town? It’s a tough question, especially in today’s digital age. But this week, economic development leaders from across the Sandhills and Panhandle gathered in Valentine to share ideas and learn from each other’s successes.

One of the Western Creative District Assembly's meeting stops was a historic building, Sawyer Memorial Library, with a colorful — and controversial — past.

“The controversy comes from the feelings of that’s what you decided to portray our community as,” artist Joan Swim said, recalling a mural painted in the 1930s inside Valentine’s old post office and library.

The mural, painted by artist Kady Faulkner during President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal program, stirred debate when it was unveiled.

“At the time in the ’30s the people were like, ‘Oh my gosh. You’re going to spend money on that when we’re worried about putting food on the table,’” Swim said.

Local and state newspapers at the time captured the outcry, as residents critiqued everything from the number of trees in the painting to which river it depicted.

“They said, ‘There should be more trees or that isn’t where the end of the railroad tracks is. It’s on the wrong side of the river if that’s the right river,’” Swim said.

That mural — and the controversy that surrounded it — helped land the building on the National Register of Historic Places. It hasn’t been used in years, but this week the community leaders talked about how to bring new life to buildings like it.

“Meeting to do some peer learning, see what each other is doing in their different communities. Valentine is really highlighting some of the art they’ve put up — the sculptures, murals and galleries,” said Rural Prosperity Nebraska Extension Educator Jamie Bright said.

Among the sites on the tour was the new Craig Beman Art Gallery.

“We’re excited about what’s happening on our Main Street around creative businesses coming to town,” said Valentine Economic Development Director Mark Hagge.

In addition to the gallery, Valentine has seen several new businesses open, and city leaders have formed a nonprofit to bring a movie theater back to town.

“This winter we’re going to be very busy rebuilding the theater, so we’ll be watching movies hopefully this coming spring and summer,” Hagge said.

City leaders are also considering a new mural — possibly on the True Value building — as the next addition to Valentine’s growing arts scene.

“The big thing is that we want to make sure we get that right — that we honor our community and our community’s traditions and heritage,” Hagge said.

While the 1930s mural once drew statewide criticism, local leaders now hope art will once again put Valentine on the map — this time for all the right reasons.