Building New Opportunity Jerry Hembd, University of Wisconsin-Superior; Ron Hustedde, University of Kentucky; Sharon Gulick, University of Missouri Extension; Mary Simon Leuci, University of Missouri Extension This interactive workshop will explore innovation approaches and strategies for regional development and, through a facilitated process, participants will be asked to share their experiences, challenges and approaches. Anticipated results include greater understanding of regional development, sharing of ideas, new learning and possibly creation of information networks. 1:30-3:00pm Monday July 27th

1. ExCEED
Community Economic and
Entrepreneurial Development
CDS Annual Conference | July 27, 2009| Memphis, TN

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. establish organizing
group
identify who is
celebrate to be included
success
Community collect/analyze
review and Development information
evaluate
Process create purpose
implement action
plan
develop vision
develop action and goals
plan
expand the
organization

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Reconstructing the Economic
Development Pyramid
Entrepreneurship
Recruitment
Retention
Retention
Recruitment
Entrepreneurship

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. Common Community Issues
 Leadership capacity  Foster more
 Collaboration building entrepreneurs
 Access to capital (adults  Focus on youth
& youth)  Capture community
 Downtown revitalization wealth
 School system  Involve more
engagement residents in
 Research, evaluation & entrepreneurial
analysis community

14. 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

15. 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

16. Challenges for Rural
Entrepreneurs 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

17. ExCEED Regional Projects
NW MO NE MO RBOG
Brookfield
Chariton County
Old Trails
Show Me E!
MRH
Lake Region
All Natural
Ozark Heritage
SMEDA

18. Brookfield
http://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

19. 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

20. Mississippi River Hills
http://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

21. Northwest Missouri
 Tourism/Agri-Tourism
 Business Development
 Youth = young farmers
 Network of resource providers
including local banks
 Working with local schools on
entrepreneurship curriculum
Wind Farm

22. Ozark Heritage Region
 Focusing on youth
 Engaged 15 school districts
in Year 1; 11 in Year 2
 Student business competition
 Student-led businesses
established
South Cen
tral Career
2007 1 st Pla Center, CC
ce Project Café
 Youth will be followed to determine impact of
entrepreneurship education on their
career/location choices

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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 65 / 1,635 / 51
started
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

26. Sharon Gulick, Director
ExCEED Program
University of Missouri Extension
222 Gentry Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: (573) 884-0669
Email: GulickS@missouri.edu
Web: http://extension.missouri.edu/ceed/