New SET regions ready to build on their economic strengths
Eleven new regions in six states have joined the Stronger Economies Together (SET) initiative, which enables communities and counties in rural America to work together on a regional basis to develop an economic development blueprint that strategically builds on the current and emerging economic strengths of their regions. More than 50 regions in 26 states have participated in SET since its 2010 launch.
The collaboration among USDA Rural Development, the nation's four Regional Rural Development Centers and their land-grant university partners gives rural areas the chance to compete in the global job market by pooling their resources across county boundaries.
Newly selected SET regions include:
| STATE | REGION | COUNTIES |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | Southwest Georgia SET Team | Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Crisp, Decatur, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Macon, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Sumter, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Worth |
| East Central Georgia Initiative |
Emanuel, Johnson, Montgomery, Toombs, Treutlen | |
| Nevada | Western Nevada Development District | Churchill, Douglas, Humboldt, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing, Storey, Carson City |
| North Carolina | Eastern Triangle | Greene, Pitt, Wilson |
| Sandhills Sustainable Ag Working Group | Lee, Moore, Richmond | |
| Oklahoma | Western Oklahoma I-40 | Beckham, Caddo, Custer, Washita |
| Kiamichi Regional | Choctaw, Haskell, Latimer, Le Flore, McCurtain, Pushmataha | |
| South Dakota | James River Valley Region | Beadle, Hand, Jerauld, Kingsbury, Spink |
| Here We Grow | Haakon, Jackson, Pennington | |
| Virginia | Trans Tech Alliance | Brunswick, Charlotte, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Greensville + Emporia City |
| Northern Neck Chesapeake Bay Region | Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland |
The new teams will receive nearly 35 hours of instruction and guidance in the development of practical and viable regional economic development strategies. The curriculum includes hands-on sessions on building strong regional teams; examining regional demographics, assets, and barriers; developing regional vision and goals; and drafting a plan of action and evaluation tools. In addition, new supplemental modules focus more specifically on economic development strategies teams may wish to explore further.
SET, which received both regional and national recognition at the 2012 National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals conference, offers each region tailored economic analyses describing its current and emerging clusters and its comparative economic advantages. Targeted technical assistance helps the teams successfully launch their plans.
Phase I regional teams in Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia and Phase II regional teams in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, Texas, Vermont and Washington have reported great strides in their community and economic development efforts thanks to the tools SET provides.
For more information on SET, please contact the SRDC at 662-325-3207.
Program Leadership Network conference registration now open
Online registration and conference information is now available for this summer’s Joint Meeting of the Southern Region Program Leadership Network, Association of Extension Administrators and Association of Southern Region Extension Directors, set for Aug. 19-23 in Nashville. This year’s theme is “Connecting Our Communities: Preparing for the Next 100 Years.” As the Land Grant System celebrates its first 100 years of the Smith-Lever Act, we look forward to what the next century will bring. Advances in technologies, changes in communities, and expanded partnership opportunities are among just a few of the possibilities as we move forward. Register by July 15 for the early bird discount!
Read More | May 16, 2013
Identity and Wealth in Rural America
Most of us have heard of the growing racial wealth gap and the statistics that show how white America continues to diverge from households of color when it comes to building assets, particularly in the form of quality homeownership. While we may tend to think about this disparity in the context of urban and suburban environments, it is crucial to also relate the issue to the households that live on the other 90% of the U.S. landmass, known as rural and small town America.
Read More | May 22, 2013
Institute for Research on Poverty RIDGE Center calls for visiting scholar applications
The Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP) invites applications from U.S.-based food assistance scholars to visit the IRP RIDGE Center for National Food and Nutrition Assistance Research for one week during the 2013–2014 academic year, interact with its faculty in residence, and become acquainted with the staff and resources of the Institute. Application deadline is June 28, 2013.
Read More | May 22, 2013
Rural unemployment falls, but jobs decline
The eXtension Entrepreneurship webinar series finishes the season with presentations of interest to farmers' market vendors and farmstand owners. A free June 13 webinar, “Are you a Supermarket Vendor or a Super Market Vendor?” will be hosted by with Ginger Myers, UMD Extension Marketing Specialist.
Read More | May 16, 2013
Are you a Supermarket Vendor or a Super Market Vendor?” webinar airs June 13
The eXtension Entrepreneurship webinar series finishes the season with presentations of interest to farmers' market vendors and farmstand owners. A free June 13 webinar, “Are you a Supermarket Vendor or a Super Market Vendor?” will be hosted by with Ginger Myers, UMD Extension Marketing Specialist.
Read More | May 16, 2013
Immigration and the Rural Workforce
In key parts of rural America and ag-dependent metro counties, more than 25 percent of the population was born in a foreign country. The percentage of the U.S. population born in foreign countries isn’t as great in rural areas as it in metro America, but the foreign-born population has been on the increase in non-metro areas, especially since 1990. The USDA Economic Research has followed this trend and has published a background report on “Immigration and the Rural Workforce.”
Read More | April 16, 2013
Manufacturing Summit highlights partnerships that promote rural jobs
The SRDC took part in a recent Manufacturing Summit at Mississippi State University, which highlighted the importance of communities working across county lines to bring jobs to rural regions of the state.
Read More | April 8, 2013