S6:E8 - Wisdom From 30 Years of Economic Development with Bob Wurl
- cassidy.a.johnston
- Mar 23
- 3 min read
What actually drives economic development in small towns? In this episode, Bob Wurl shares how community banking, long-term thinking, and a willingness to act—not just plan—have shaped his own small town’s success. It’s a practical look at what happens when people stop waiting for change and start building it themselves
About Bob:
Bob Wurl grew up in Hankinson, ND. He holds a B.S.B.A. degree with a major in Accounting from University of North Dakota and completed the Graduate School of Banking Program at the University of Wisconsin in 1995.
He has 45 years of banking experience, serving 30 years as President & CEO of Lincoln State Bank, Hankinson; currently CEO and Board Chair.
Wurl serves as:
Treasurer of the Hankinson CDC
Secretary of the Lake Agassiz Regional Development Corporation Board & Chair of Loan Committee
Board member and Secretary of Southeast Senior Services and Richland County Council on Aging
Vice Chairman of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hankinson and Chairman of the Endowment Fund Committee.
Advocate for Project 24 / Christ’s Care for Children – Kenya
In this episode, we cover:
Why community banks play a bigger role in economic development than most people realize
How Hankinson shifted from chasing big industry to building sustainable local growth
What it really takes to keep Main Street alive (hint: sometimes you have to buy the building yourself)
How to think about generational transitions without defaulting to “kids these days.”
A simple but powerful mindset shift: focus on who shows up, not who doesn’t
Links + Resources Mentioned:
Hankinson ND: www.hankinsonnd.com
Lincoln State Bank: www.lsbhank.com
Christ’s Care for Children: www.lcms.org/ccck
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