About the Stronger
Economies Together (SET) Program: In
many counties--especially counties with smaller populations--finding ways to
create, attract, and retain jobs is a challenging process. Pursuing economic development
as a single rural county--in isolation from other nearby counties--is
oftentimes unproductive. In today’s global marketplace, economic development
improvements are more likely to be realized when rural and metro counties work
together as a multi-county region to assess, design, and implement plans
that build on their assets and comparative economic strengths. That is what the
SET project is all about.
Purpose: The purpose of SET is to strengthen the capacity of
communities/counties in rural America to work together to develop and implement
an economic development blueprint for their multi-county region, one that
strategically builds on the region’s current and emerging economic strengths.
Sponsors: The Stronger Economies Together (SET) Program is sponsored by
USDA Rural Development (USDA RD), in partnership with the nation’s four Regional
Rural Development Centers, and their land-grant university colleagues. One of the land-grant institutions playing a
key coordinating role is the Purdue University Center for Rural Development
(PCRD).
Key Benefits of SET: Each selected region will receive a number of important
benefits including:
·
Valuable coaching
on the core building blocks that will serve as the foundation for developing
and launching your region’s HQP.
·
In-depth data that
are tailored to your region, information that helps delineate the critical drivers
of your economy (including the presence or emergence of regional clusters).
·
Tools that
uncover local assets and resources that can be tapped to advance your region’s
economic strategies and actions.
·
Coaching and a
limited amount of technical assistance (up to 40 hours over a period of one
year after completion of the SET planning process) from Extension educators,
USDA RD State staff, and the Regional Rural Development Centers to guide your regional
team as you begin to implement your HQP.
· Opportunity to share information and gather ideas/insights from other
regions across the nation involved in the SET program.
Applications: Applications are available here. (Please read the application materials carefully, as there are specific requirements which must be met, such as the number of counties and a rural requirement.) Applications are due electronically no later than June 24,
2013 to Ryan McMullen, USDA-RD State Director at ryan.mcmullen@ok.usda.gov. An announcement of participation is expected by August 30, 2013.
Questions? If you have questions about any aspects of the SET
application or the training program, please contact:
Ryan McMullen
USDA-RD State Office
405-742-1000
ryan.mcmullen@ok.usda.gov
|
Dave Shideler
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
405-744-6170
dave.shideler@okstate.edu
|
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