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