stronger economies together: crossing boundaries successes, challenges, solutions, & lessons...
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Stronger Economies Together: Crossing Boundaries
Successes, Challenges, Solutions, & Lessons Learned
Bo Beaulieu -- Purdue Center for Regional DevelopmentRachel Welborn – Southern Rural Development Center
2013 Galaxy Conference – Pittsburgh, PA
Key Components of SET
Data Analysis
The TeamVision & Goals
Assets
ARegional
Plan
SET: Working to Add Value toLocal Economic Development Activities
Local Economic Develop
ment Activities
Regional Economic Developm
ent Strategies
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.
Challenges & Solutions• Participation:
o Traditional players unwilling to let a broader array of people be involved
o Getting both Rural Development and Extension at the table
o Determining what regions can best benefit from SET
• Solution:o Specific module to address the importance of inclusion
moved to first sessiono Joint state applications signed by Ext and RD
directors/administratorso Revised regional application form and process
1,7
685 Initial Participants
(Phases I thru III)
SET . . . Expanding Engagement
Beginning of SET By the End of SET
2,098 Participants (+306%)
= 100
Challenges & Solutions
• Training/Coaching Team:o Finding people with content knowledge and good
facilitation skills
• Solution:o Improved modeling of appropriate skills in train-
the-trainer sessiono National team providing coaching and conducting
site visits with select state training teamso Special webinars as needed to shore up
knowledge gaps.o Use of out-of-state expertise as needed
The Challenges/Concerns• Regionalism:
o Leaders who don’t fully embrace regional strategies
• Solution:o Incorporated region-specific
data into the modules to help raise understanding of value of regionalism
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
The Challenges/Concerns
• Curricula:o “Lecture-type” presentationso Getting teams engaged quicklyo Need for more information on some topics
• Solutions:o Revised and reorganized the SET moduleso Infused more interaction into the processo Supplemental modules produced on targeted topicso Identified a deliverable pertinent to the region for each
session.
The Challenges/Concerns• Outcomes:
o Trouble getting regions to produce a solid regional economic development plan
o Difficulty securing the data needed to document impacts
• Solutions:o Linked module activities directly to development of a
regional plano Developed guidelines for writing a high quality regional
plano Launched a peer-review process for assessing regional
planso Created seed funding ($5000) to incentivize teams to
develop/implement a high quality plan
States Currently Part of SET
Phase IV
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
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
Contact Information
Bo Beaulieu, PhD
Purdue Center for Regional Development
765-494-7273
Rachel Welborn
Southern Rural Development Center
662-325-5885
http://srdc.msstate.edu/set/