Asset Based Collaborative Strategies for Rural Community Economic

Development

Cooperative Extension Conference “Connections and Engagement”

October 19-21, 2010Madison, Wisconsin

Laura Brown, CNRED Crawford CountyJen Stewart, CNRED, Portage CountyDan Kuzlik, CNRED Oneida County

Bill Pinkovitz, Center for Community & Economic Development

 ◦Welcome◦What is asset based economic

development? ◦Examples on the ground:

Multicounty Rural Transportation System

Inventors & Entrepreneurs Clubs Community Funds & Foundations Rosholt Library Project

◦Tools for knowing our assets ◦Questions and sharing

What to Expect

What is economic development?

What is economic development?

“The process of retaining, expanding, and attracting jobs, income and wealth in a manner that improves individual economic opportunities and the quality of human life.”

Asset based economic development focuses on

what’s working in our communities and the resources we already

have

The Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) considers local assets as the primary building blocks of sustainable community development.

ABCD builds upon existing community strengths to build stronger, more sustainable communities for the future.

• Individuals• Associations• Institutions

http://www.abcdinstitute.org/about/staff/

The Progress Triangle

DECISION-MAKING“WHAT WE DO”

SOCIETY“WHO”

INSTITUTIONS/RULES“HOW”

Building a Multi-County Rural Transportation System

Free, open meetingsEducation about the right steps to

takeInformation and assistance with

grants and researchA supportive environmentPeer learningUsing and growing business

networks

About I&E Clubs

Inventors & Entrepreneurs Clubs

Inventors & Entrepreneurs Clubs

Inventors & Entrepreneurs Clubs

Inventors & Entrepreneurs Clubs

“More than eight in ten of the club facilitators surveyed (83%) reported jobs had been created in their region as a result of participation in the

club.”

Community Funds & Foundations

“Creating Stronger Communities by Matching Personal Generosity with Economic Needs”

Philanthropic, non profit organizations

Traditionally not economic development

Rely on Transfer of Wealth

Community Funds: Capturing Community Wealth

Crawford County Community Fund

• Crawford County 10 year TOW: $220 Million

• 5% Capture: $11 Million

• Yield: $550,000 for community & economic development

Capturing Community Wealth

Crawford

County’s

Big

Break!

Capturing Community Wealth

Capturing Community Wealth

Crawford

County’s

Big

Break!

Critical IssuesUnderstanding economic needs,

opportunities, and strategies for economic development

Growing financial capacityEngaging youth & younger professionalsIncreasing understanding & awareness about

the FundRelationship Building- collaborations &

outreachGrowing community without tragedy

Village of RosholtEconomic Development

Village of RosholtMain Street 2010

Empty grocery store

Vacant building

Empty hardware store

Church

Tavern

Tavern Cafe

Rosholt Development GroupLocal residents interested in their

community

Conducted a community visioning session◦Need a grocery store◦Need to expand the library

Results:Only 6 respondents. Little enthusiasm for follow-up.

Explored Grocery Store Idea Center for Community and Economic Development

10 mile radius ring map

Explored Grocery Store Idea Center for Community and Economic Development

10 mile radius ring map

Conclusion:A grocery store is not a viable business in Rosholt.

Clear Vision Eau Claire County

• Use Community Development Tools• Power Mapping• One-to-One Interviews

Total Community Development Modelin the Global, Knowledge-Based Economy

Total Community Development Modelin the Global, Knowledge-Based Economy

Power MappingClear Vision Eau Claire• Identify key human assets

–Stakeholders

–Decision-makers

–Lions, tigers, snakes and scorpions

–Sources of information

–Common ground

One-to-One InterviewsClear Vision Eau Claire• A leader in the core group

connects with identified human assets–Establish relationship–Learn their story–What is their interest in topic?–Help them gain clarity–Gather information

• Creates a network of human assets to draw upon

Development group chooses new focus

Tools for knowing our assets

Asset – Power MappingAppreciative InquiryThe Role of Data

–

Power Mapping – Human Assets

Newspaper owner

Library directorLocal energy cooperative (source

of funding, funding know-how)Local residents who had

completed successful projects in the past

Connection with Village Board

Appreciative Inquiry Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry

– Focus on the Positive

• In every community, organization, or group, something works.

• We should carry forward what is be BEST about the past.• What we focus on becomes our reality. • Simply asking questions influences us• People are more confident and comfortable moving into

the future (the unknown) when they carry forward parts of the past (the known).

• Reality is created in the moment• It is important to value differences.• The language we use creates our reality.

Appreciative Inquiry

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOWCommunity, Customers, Potential Customers, Visitors, Potential Visitors, Residents, New Residents, Workers, Labor Force, Commuters, Congregation, Students, Constituents….

It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble.

It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”

Mark Twain

“I’ve lived here all my life and I know what this town needs”

“I’ve lived here all my life and I know what this town needs”

“Nuthin ever changes around here”

“We just moved here from the Twin Citiesand we know just what this town needs”

Using secondary data to identify assets, opportunities and changes

within your community AND Focus discussion on real issues.

He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts

for support rather than illumination

Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

Lafayette County, Wi

a) 12

b) 123

c) 413

d) 758

The County is projected to lose an average of -22 people per year through out-migration between 2000 and 2035.

How many people moved into Lafayette County between 2007 and 2008?

Lafayette County, Wi

a) 12

b) 123

c) 413

d) 758 (5 percent)

The County is projected to lose an average of -22 people per year through out-migration between 2000 and 2035.

How many people move into Lafayette County between 2007 and 2008?

Lafayette County, Wi758 people may not sound like many, but

in ten years that’s equal to almost half of the county’s estimated 2010 population of 16,149.

Lafayette County

In what percentage of the Lafayette County families with children under 18 and both mother and father present in the home do both mom and dad work?

a) 59%

b) 66%

c) 81%

http://factfinder.census.gov

Lafayette County

In what percentage of the Lafayette County families with children under 18 and both mother and father present in the home do both mom and dad work?

a) 59%

b) 66%

c) 81%

http://factfinder.census.gov

Are you involved in any asset based economic development efforts?

Have you encountered the need based mindset in your community?

What other tools have you used to determine local assets?

What are your successes? Challenges?

Questions and Sharing

Thank you!

Laura Brown, CNRED Crawford County

Jen Stewart, CNRED, Portage CountyDan Kuzlik, CNRED Oneida County

Bill Pinkovitz, Center for Community & Economic Development