ExCEED Community Economic and Entrepreneurial Development

CDS Annual Conference | July 27, 2009| Memphis, TN

ExCEED Is a multi-disciplinary program that cuts across all

Extension program areas and is focused on revitalizing rural economies through alternative approaches to economic development.

Uses an engagement and collaborative learning model to re-energize local economies to build sustainable economies based on the strengths and assets of the local community or region.

Works with community leaders to develop strategies that ensure wealth transfer in rural communities.

ExCEED’s Purpose

Build awareness of entrepreneurship as an economic development strategy.

Assist communities in supporting, encouraging and facilitating entrepreneurship.

To enhance community’s economic base and quality of life.

Participate in the development of vibrant rural economies. Facilitate collaborations between the University of Missouri Extension and communities throughout the state.

ExCEED seeks to….

Engage with communities Collaborate across the

university and disciplines

Re-energize and build sustainable economies based on regional strengths and assets

Focus community economic development on entrepreneurship and enhancing quality of life

expand the organization

review and evaluate

establish organizing group

identify who is to be included

collect/analyze information

create purpose

develop vision and goalsdevelop action

plan

implement action plan

celebrate

Community Development

Process

Community Development

Process

success

Community Engagement Process

RFP issued seeking regional projects that were multi-disciplinary in approach.

Focused on the “four pillars” Entrepreneurship Youth Engagement Community Asset Development Leadership

Project funded through University President’s award and Extension funds

Formation and Assessment

Project leadership team and ExCEED staff compile and analyze data

Visioning session Assets and Challenges

Data analysis – 2 phases: basic demographics, baseline study

Strategic Plan; Goals and Objectives

Implementation

Action Plan identifies priority areas and actions. Leadership team takes lead, but committees and

task forces created for specific activities. ExCEED provided financial and technical

assistance to engage University and Extension faculty and programs and key partners.

Evaluation and Results

Projects submit quarterly and annual reports. Formal evaluation and community re-

assessment. Findings used to modify future engagement

design, create new programs and curriculum, identify best practices.

Report on findings and best practices.

Reconstructing the Economic Development Pyramid

Recruitment

Retention

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Retention

Recruitment

Economic Development Today

Is board and comprehensive Applies to attracting new enterprises, goods-

producing and knowledge-based In contrast to industrial recruitment, it is

based on knowledge workers and a culture of innovation rather than cheap land and labor

Includes attracting “business anchors” such as senior housing, educational enterprises, and visitors and retirees – less traditional, but effective, ways of increasing the flow of external resources into the local economy.

Economic Development in Rural Communities Traditional ED approaches are not working.

ED programs tend to focus on natural resource industries and industrial recruitment.

Growing awareness that this approach doesn’t work for rural communities.

Growing number of communities are intentionally focusing on entrepreneurship development.

Common Community Issues

Leadership capacity Collaboration building Access to capital (adults

& youth) Downtown revitalization School system

engagement Research, evaluation &

analysis

Foster more entrepreneurs

Focus on youth Capture community

wealth Involve more

residents in entrepreneurial community

Challenges & Issues for Small Towns*

Growing Small Towns Equity

housing affordable; land use pressures

Environment environmental degradation; politics of growth and environmental

quality

Economy increasing service reliance; homogenization of retail sector;

dependence on other communities for jobs;

Culture & Community threatened sense of place; increasing community capacity;

common identity and culture

Source: “Small Town Sustainability: Prospects for Collaboration in a Global Age” by Paul Knox and Heike Mayer, 2009

Challenges & Issues for Small Towns*Declining Small Towns Equity

Decline in public service provision Environment

Neglect of cultural landscape; vacant land use Economy

Resource-based/old economy in decline; lack of growth opportunities

Culture & Community Vacant and abandoned house; diminishing tax base;

lack of animation in politics; isolated indigent population; social isolation; aging demographics

Challenges for RuralEntrepreneurs and Practitioners

Economies of scale hard to achieve Poor connections to markets Limited opportunities for networking Multiple causes of limited participation

in new economy Increasing consolidation trend Lack of capital

ExCEED Regional Projects

NW MO

Old Trails

Show Me E!

Lake Region

Ozark Heritage

NE MO RBOG

Brookfield

Chariton County

MRH

All Natural

SMEDA

Brookfieldhttp://www.brookfieldmochamber.com/

Using HTC approach Community Foundation established Leadership program underway Entrepreneur network Existing business visitation program Provider Network under development Youth entrepreneurship education & mentorship Downtown Revitalization initiative

Chariton County

Focusing on youth -- MYOB Curriculum provided to schools Workshops for youth Youth-owned businesses started Workshops/training for teachers

Leadership Program – youth & adult Revolving Loan Program for youth

Mississippi River Hillshttp://www.showme.net/MRH/

Missouri Cuisines Project Marketing region (Ex: regional map, website)

Regional Label of Origin Restaurants, local and outside the region,are

using products grown or produced in region. Workshops for local businesses Association established Youth entrepreneurship

Northwest Missouri

Tourism/Agri-Tourism Business Development Youth = young farmers Network of resource providers

including local banks Working with local schools on

entrepreneurship curriculumWind Farm

Ozark Heritage Region

Focusing on youth Engaged 15 school districts

in Year 1; 11 in Year 2 Student business competition Student-led businesses

established

Youth will be followed to determine impact of entrepreneurship education on their career/location choices

South Central Career Center, CC Café2007 1st Place Project

New ExCEED Projects

All Natural - tourism BYOB – entrepreneurship/year-round employment

NE Missouri RBOG – regional economic development plan

Old Trails – tourism/regional cuisines

Show Me E! – youth entrepreneurship

SMEDA – poverty alleviation, entrepreneurship

Community Assistance

Economic Development Strategic Planning Focus: entrepreneurship, leadership

development, youth and community asset development

Training Fundamentals of Economic Development Know Your Region (EDA) Growing Entrepreneurs From the Ground Up

Tourism

ExCEED Program Outcomes Contributions to local foundations and endowments $324,105

Grants received by communities $853,975

Leadership programs/participants/assumed leadership 18 / 220 / 63

Youth education events/participants/businesses started

65 / 1,635 / 51

Training Programs/Attendees 401 / 2,535

New businesses started 170

Business expansions 32

New/Retained Jobs 911 / 134

New Investment $248.2 mill

Value of local volunteers (12,862 hours) $220,488

Data represents FY07 – FY09

Sharon Gulick, DirectorExCEED Program

University of Missouri Extension222 Gentry Hall

Columbia, MO 65211

Phone: (573) 884-0669Email: GulickS@missouri.edu

Web: http://extension.missouri.edu/ceed/