Paul Chavoustie saw potential in the small town of Grandby, so he moved there, raised a family, and ran a successful land development company. When friends and neighbors asked him to run for mayor, even before he was elected, he arranged a city land deal that rejuvenated a bankrupt project and brought in new businesses and affordable housing. Hrishue Mahalaha, a community development specialist, interviews Mayor Chavoustie about leadership, local government, and Rocky Mountains weather.

Ally Barnes quietly inspires and connects her community in ways that make a different. Ally puts the spotlight on the residents of Sarcoxie, a city of about 1,300 residents in southwest Missouri. She wants to show residents what they can accomplish when they get active and work together. By all accounts, she’s making progress – and then some.

Robert Williams is the mayor of a small town in Missouri. Economic adviser Hrishue Mahalaha talked with Williams about his path to mayorship and how he came to be known as a unifying force in his town.