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Stronger Economies Together: Crossing Boundaries

Stronger Economies Together: Crossing Boundaries. Successes, Challenges, Solutions, & Lessons Learned. Bo Beaulieu -- Purdue Center for Regional Development Rachel Welborn – Southern Rural Development Center 2013 Galaxy Conference – Pittsburgh, PA. Key Components of SET.

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Stronger Economies Together: Crossing Boundaries

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  1. Stronger Economies Together: Crossing Boundaries Successes, Challenges, Solutions, & Lessons Learned Bo Beaulieu -- Purdue Center for Regional Development Rachel Welborn – Southern Rural Development Center 2013 Galaxy Conference – Pittsburgh, PA

  2. Key Components of SET Vision & Goals The Team Assets Data Analysis A Regional Plan

  3. SET: Working to Add Value toLocal Economic Development Activities

  4. What is SET Trying to Do? Help rural communities/counties work together as a regional team in developing and implementing A High Quality Regional Economic Development Plan that builds on the current and emerging economic strengths of their region.

  5. Challenges & Solutions • Participation: • Traditional players unwilling to let a broader array of people be involved • Getting both Rural Development and Extension at the table • Determining what regions can best benefit from SET • Solution: • Specific module to address the importance of inclusion moved to first session • Joint state applications signed by Ext and RD directors/administrators • Revised regional application form and process

  6. SET . . . Expanding Engagement 1,7 2,098 Participants (+306%) 685 Initial Participants (Phases I thru III) Beginning of SET By the End of SET = 100

  7. Challenges & Solutions • Training/Coaching Team: • Finding people with content knowledge and good facilitation skills • Solution: • Improved modeling of appropriate skills in train-the-trainer session • National team providing coaching and conducting site visits with select state training teams • Special webinars as needed to shore up knowledge gaps. • Use of out-of-state expertise as needed

  8. The Challenges/Concerns • Regionalism: • Leaders who don’t fully embrace regional strategies • Solution: • Incorporated region-specific data into the modules to help raise understanding of value of regionalism

  9. A Recent SET Meeting in Colorado “It was interesting to list the places where we have commonalities and the places we have vast differences. I think coming together on things that benefit not just communities but the entire region is going to be a great part of the process.” Christina Oxley, Executive Director Craig, CO Chamber of Commerce Comment about May 1, 2013 SET meeting

  10. The Challenges/Concerns • Curricula: • “Lecture-type” presentations • Getting teams engaged quickly • Need for more information on some topics • Solutions: • Revised and reorganized the SET modules • Infused more interaction into the process • Supplemental modules produced on targeted topics • Identified a deliverable pertinent to the region for each session.

  11. The Challenges/Concerns • Outcomes: • Trouble getting regions to produce a solid regional economic development plan • Difficulty securing the data needed to document impacts • Solutions: • Linked module activities directly to development of a regional plan • Developed guidelines for writing a high quality regional plan • Launched a peer-review process for assessing regional plans • Created seed funding ($5000) to incentivize teams to develop/implement a high quality plan

  12. States Currently Part of SET Phase IV

  13. Lessons Learned • Select new or recently formed regional teams • Connect each module to high quality plan • Clearly articulate what is expected of teams • Provide relevant regional data • Ensure that at least one coach is well-versed in economic cluster analysis • Identify coaches with strong subject matter knowledge and facilitation skills • Position SET as a planning process

  14. Overall Successes • SET now in 28 states and nearly 60 regions • SET modules are now more effective (4th iteration) • USDA RD and Extension Service working relationship is solidified • Impacts of SET being systematically tracked • Approximately $6.2 million captured by SET regions to date (3:1 ratio) • New and lasting relationships being built

  15. Contact Information Bo Beaulieu, PhD Purdue Center for Regional Development ljb@purdue.edu 765-494-7273 Rachel Welborn Southern Rural Development Center rachelw@srdc.msstate.edu 662-325-5885 http://srdc.msstate.edu/set/

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