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Workshop Objectives

South Texas Rural Economic Development Project Cristina Trejo, Project Director Guadalupe rodriguez, Economic Development Specialist. Workshop Objectives. Introductions Define Rural Development Discuss Community v Economic Development

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Workshop Objectives

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  1. South Texas Rural Economic Development ProjectCristina Trejo, Project DirectorGuadalupe rodriguez, Economic Development Specialist

  2. Workshop Objectives • Introductions • Define Rural Development • Discuss Community v Economic Development • Demonstrate how asset mapping/strategic planning may be used as a tool for rural community and economic development

  3. Rural Development

  4. Rural Development Definition • Rural Development is used to denote the actions and initiatives that improve the standard of living in non-urban neighborhoods, countryside, and remote villages.

  5. Rural Development Definition • These communities can be exemplified with a low ratio of inhabitants to open space rather than densely populated areas.

  6. Rural Development Definition • Rural development actions and initiatives mostly aim at the social and economic development of the areas.

  7. Community & Economic Development

  8. Economic Development • Those activities that cause a net gain of money flow, called an economic base, into the community

  9. Community Development • The practices of civic leaders, activists, citizens and professionals to improve various aspects of local communities. • Community development seeks to empower individuals and groups by providing them with the skills they need to affect change in their own communities.

  10. Community Economic Development • Process by which partnerships interconnect business with other interests & values: skills/ education,/health,/housing/environment. • Business becomes a means to wealth and sustainability.

  11. Total Community Development Model

  12. Where Do We Start?

  13. STRREDS (one method) • Received grant to develop: • an Asset Map • an Economic Development Strategy for small, rural communities in South Texas

  14. Critical Project Tasks • Select Communities to participate • Form a Leadership Strategy Committee • Establish a multidisciplinary team

  15. Community Selection Criteria • 1) Population below 20,000 persons • 2) poverty rate of 10% or more • 3) median household income less than $30,000 • 4) not contiguous with a metropolitan area with a population of more than 20,000 persons

  16. Target Communities

  17. Strategic Leadership Committee • Guides development of the asset map and economic development plan • give input on assets • review and provide feedback • participate in strategic planning sessions • help publicize and market the project

  18. Committee Expertise • Rural Development • Agricultural Economics • Agricultural Research • Electric Power • Broadband/Internet • Rural Telecommunications • Rural Housing • Colonias • Economic Development • Business Development • Workforce Development • Rural Water • Youth Leadership • K-16 Education • Health Sciences • Community Development • Banking

  19. Project Team • Project Director, Cristina Trejo-Vasquez • Project Advisor, Brian Kelsey • Project Analyst, Michael Uhrbrock • Rural Development Specialist, Gaddi Rodriguez • Data Specialist, Sai Mullapudi • GIS Specialist, Isaac Longoria • Graduate Student Researchers: MBA, MPA, MSW

  20. Asset Mapping Framework

  21. What is an Asset Map? • Identifies the assets a region has that can be leveraged for workforce and economic development • What assets (human, intellectual, financial, physical, institutional capital) do we have? • How do we compare to other areas? • What are the gaps? • Provides understanding of networks and cultural attitudes • Provides baseline to judge future progress • Base for strategic planning

  22. Levels of AssetMapping • Level 1 –AssetIdentification • Level 2 – Basic Evaluation • Level 3 –ComprehensiveAssessment

  23. Level 1 –AssetIdentification • Identificationofandcatalogingofallmajorassetsrelevantto regional development.

  24. Level 2 – Basic Evaluation • Assessthestrengthsandweaknessofassetsandidentifygaps in the regional innovationprocess.

  25. Level 3 –ComprehensiveAssessment • Movesbeyondidentificationandgapanalysistoprovide a deeperunderstandingofthefactorsthat drive the regional economy.

  26. Sample Timeline for Asset Mapping

  27. Asset Identification • Review existing studies, media stories, and economic development marketing materials for communities • Conduct interviews with committee and stakeholders • Collect and analyze data from public sources • Prepare community profiles

  28. Data to be Collected • Demographics • Businesses/Clusters • Specialized workforce • Innovation metrics • Infrastructure • Key players • Networks

  29. The STRREDS Process • Data Collection • Analysis Forums • Business Surveys • Leadership Interviews

  30. STRREDS Asset Map Data Collection • Human Capital • Research and Development • Financial Capital • Industrial Base • Connective Organizations • Legal and Regulatory Environment • Physical Infrastructure • Quality of Life

  31. Analysis Forums • 239 participants took part in a SWOT analysis and prioritization of planning areas • Cameron County Forum: May 12 • Hidalgo County Forum: May 14 • Willacy County Forum May 20 • Starr County Forum: May 26 • Rural Economic Summit: June 15

  32. Forum Participation

  33. Business Surveys • 224 telephone surveys completed • 100 Agriculture Businesses • 124 Rural Businesses

  34. Leadership Interviews • 32 interviews were conducted with leaders from the rural communities

  35. Data Challenges • Rural focus differentiates this project from other asset mapping initiatives—difficult to aggregate community-level data across multiple counties • Limited recent demographic data available from U.S. Census Bureau for rural communities • Most economic data (e.g., industries, occupations) published by government agencies available only for counties and metropolitan areas

  36. Asset Map • www.strreds.wikispaces.com • Illuminate: Asset Mapping Roadmap, a Guide to Assessing Regional Development Resources (Council of Competitiveness)

  37. Strategic Planning

  38. Analysis of the Data • Identify challenges and opportunities • Identify gap areas based on data analysis

  39. Goals and Objectives • Define regional expectations • Identify strategic issues most likely to impact the economic future of rural communities • Set forth goals and objectives necessary to: 1. Enhance opportunities 2. Capitalize on the region’s resources and assets

  40. Strategic Projects, Programs, Activities • Identify and prioritize vital projects and programs designed to implement the goals and objectives • Consider current and future funding sources • Consider partnerships, collaborative ventures, etc.

  41. Plan of Action • Create strategies for the implementation of projects, programs and activities • Establish performance measures used to evaluate progress toward achieving the goals identified as important for the region’s development

  42. Implementation Strategy

  43. South Texas Rural Economic Development Project

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