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 DirectorCraig, CO Chamber of CommerceComment 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 InformationBo Beaulieu, PhDPurdue Center for Regional Developmentljb@purdue.edu 765-494-7273

Rachel WelbornSouthern Rural Development Centerrachelw@srdc.msstate.edu662-325-5885

http://srdc.msstate.edu/set/