The Montgomery Institute
G.V. Montgomery National Center
for the Study of
Veterans’ Education Policy
Commission
On the Future of
East Mississippi
and West Alabama
Leadership and
Education Programs
Mississippi
Entrepreneurial Alliance
The Montgomery Institute
A non-governmental, not-for-profit [501(3)-(c)]
organization built by RCCI leaders as a neutral
convening, resourcing and managing vehicle to support
strategic, economic, education, leadership, and
workforce regional initiatives.
TMI honors the leadership legacy
of former Congressman Sonny Montgomery.
Regionalism:
New Approaches—New Partnerships
1990s
Staggering Manufacturing Job Losses
2000
The Montgomery Institute
Develop and Advocate Regional Partnerships and Solutions
2002
Commission on the Future of East Mississippi & West Alabama
Critical Building Block for Regional Partnering/Competitiveness
Regionalism:
New Approaches—New Partnerships
Setting The Course
2004
Mississippi Entrepreneurial Alliance
New Partnership and Delivery System – CJC
2006
The Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development
An Evolutionary Step Toward Our “Desired” Future
Regional Approaches and Infrastructure Development
“Building the capacity of CC/JC’s”
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Strategy
Workforce
Networking
Economic
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Leadership
Entrepreneurship
Research
Education
The Concept
 Rural community colleges are uniquely positioned to
enhance economic and educational opportunities in
their regions.
 Trusted by the public, private and nonprofit sectors
and valued by all social classes, they can provide a
safe, neutral place for mobilizing community
engagement.
 In many communities, they are the only institutions
with the stature and flexibility to provide leadership
for regional development.
Our Guiding Principles
1. None of us is as smart as all of us.
2. Reject ideas – not people.
3. Deliberate – don’t debate.
4. Give up your ideas to the group.
5. Enlightened self-interest
Regional Success
Our Guiding Principles
6. Things are the way they are
because they got that way.
7. We must balance what is “desirable”
with what is “doable” – but dare to dream.
8. To say that a program needs improving
is not an indictment of those who work in it.
Our Guiding Principles
9.
It’s better to do something than nothing
while we’re waiting to do everything.
10. This could be the start of something big!
11. Have some fun!!
Two Sustainable Regional Initiatives
The Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development
Invigorating Rural Economies:
Mississippi Entrepreneurial
Alliance
“Connecting Mississippi Entrepreneurs”
Building Mississippi’s Entrepreneurial Development System
One Community at a Time
Initial Team
MONTGOMERY INSTITUTE
COMMUNITY/JUNIOR COLLEGES
USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT
SUPPORT & TRAINING
DELIVERY & PROMOTION
LEADERSHIP & CONNECTIVITY
MEA NETWORK
Number
15
8
Partners
Community Colleges
(plus MACJC & SBCJC)
Universities
12
State/Regional Organizations
12
State, Tribal, Federal Entities
THE VISION
An entrepreneurial Mississippi which
generates prosperous, dynamic and
sustainable communities that fully participate
in the global economy.
THE MISSION
To energize and grow Mississippi’s
entrepreneurial potential by developing
entrepreneurs and providing assistance
through partnerships and collaborations with
individuals and organizations that are
engaged in the study, practice, policy
development, and services delivery of
entrepreneurship.
Our Economy
Our Communities
GROW
ENTREPRENEURS
Interconnect
New & Existing
Resources
Continuous
Improvement
& Evaluation
Universities
Develop
Leadership
& Community
Infrastructure
Build Delivery
Capacity
Community/
Junior Colleges
Enhance
Education
&
Training
Our Economy
Our Communities
GROW
ENTREPRENEURS
Interconnect
New & Existing
Resources
Improve Program
Evaluation
Universities
Develop
Leadership
& Community
Infrastructure
Build Delivery
Capacity
Community/Junior Colleges
Enhance
Education
&
Training
Identify, Recruit, & Assist
Entrepreneurs
• Scout/Coaches Programs
– Identify and recruit aspiring entrepreneurs
– Coach and mentor existing entrepreneurs
• Networking Opportunities
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Share ideas
Share best practices
Discuss markets
Build relationships and collaborations
Raise the Profile of
Entrepreneurs
• Community/Junior College Awards
Programs
• State Entrepreneur Day
• Entrepreneur Spotlight Campaign
Create Future
Generations of Entrepreneurs
• Linkage Between Education and
Entrepreneurship
• Make Entrepreneurship Programs
Available: K through 16
Our Economy
Our Communities
GROW
ENTREPRENEURS
Interconnect
New & Existing
Resources
Improve Program
Evaluation
Universities
Develop
Leadership
& Community
Infrastructure
Build Delivery
Capacity
Community/Junior Colleges
Enhance
Education
&
Training
Network Service Providers
• “No wrong door/single point of entry”
• Facilitate listening sessions for service
providers by Region
• Map Regional Assets
• Link Regional Assets
– Website
– “Common” Client Information Database
Our Economy
Our Communities
GROW
ENTREPRENEURS
Interconnect
New & Existing
Resources
Improve Program
Evaluation
Universities
Develop
Leadership
& Community
Infrastructure
Build Delivery
Capacity
Community/Junior Colleges
Enhance
Education
&
Training
WHY CJC’S
MISSISSIPPI’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM – The ideal
delivery system for the MEA:
• Are geographically accessible to the people in all areas of the
state;
• Have as a part of their mission economic & community
development;
• Are deeply involved in economic development efforts;
• Have a highly successful track record in economic development
activities;
• Are headed by leaders who know that economic development
increases the tax base, thus helping the college as well as the
county, state, and people
Advancing CJC’s
Economic Development Missions
No Involvement
WFDC
Proactive
Advanced Technology
Capacity Building
SBDC/MEA
Role of CJC Entrepreneur
Centers
• Facilitation
– Enterprise development
– Community development
• Technical
– Entrepreneur training and education
Our Economy
Our Communities
GROW
ENTREPRENEURS
Interconnect
New & Existing
Resources
Improve Program
Evaluation
Universities
Develop
Leadership
& Community
Infrastructure
Build Delivery
Capacity
Community/Junior Colleges
Enhance
Education
&
Training
MEA TRAINING PROGRAM
Initial Training for Center Directors
Basic Course for Directors (one week intensive)
The complete instructional program designed to provide the Director with the
information necessary to operate the Center
Orientation to Support Entities
The Directors will visit the support entities for an in-depth knowledge of their
services
Annual Training
For Directors and one designee from each Center, updates, changes, new
materials, Round Table Idea Exchange
Specialized Training
Training sessions provided on a needs basis and tailored to meet specific
problems
Director Visits to Other Centers
An integral component of the training and networking of Center Directors, each
Director visits another Center to observe the entrepreneurial program
MEA TRAINING PROGRAM
New Director Training
New Center Directors assuming their positions subsequent to the
Initial Training for Center Directors are expected to complete a
prescribed training experience within a limited time in order to hold
their positions
Our Economy
Our Communities
GROW
ENTREPRENEURS
Interconnect
New & Existing
Resources
Improve Program
Evaluation
Universities
Develop
Leadership
& Community
Infrastructure
Build Delivery
Capacity
Community/Junior Colleges
Enhance
Education
&
Training
Build Sustainability
• Partnership with USDA Rural Development;
State-Wide Leadership
• Engage Partners in Regional Collaboration
• Strengthen Capacity of Community Colleges
Build Sustainability
• Designate a Partner for Coordination,
Support, Development, and Planning
• Creation of Regional Entrepreneur Advisory
Groups
Our Economy
Our Communities
GROW
ENTREPRENEURS
Interconnect
New & Existing
Resources
Improve Program
Evaluation
Universities
Develop
Leadership
& Community
Infrastructure
Build Delivery
Capacity
Community/Junior Colleges
Enhance
Education
&
Training
Establish Benchmarks
• Develop Measurement Procedures
• Evaluate Progress – Share Results
• Use Evaluation Results to Improve
Alliance
Rural West Alabama/East Mississippi:
At the Crossroads of Economic Transformation
Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development
Building a 21st century workforce system
of innovation and leadership through
community & junior colleges
to unleash the region’s economic capacity.
WIRED Initiative Regional Economies
South Star Region
In Mississippi
• East Mississippi Community College
• Meridian Community College
• East Central Community College
• Jones County Junior College
In Alabama
• Bevill State Community College
• Shelton State Community College
• Wallace Community College Selma
• Alabama Southern Community College
South Star Region
Economic Impact Zones
In Mississippi
• East Mississippi Community College
• Meridian Community College
• East Central Community College
• Jones County Junior College
In Alabama
• Bevill State Community College
• Shelton State Community College
• Wallace Community College Selma
• Alabama Southern Community College
Pulling Together—Moving Forward
The Partnership/Leadership Team
Co-Leaders
Governors Riley & Barbour
Commission
(9 Members)
Alabama Gov. Appoints 4 • Mississippi Gov. Appoints 4 • TMI President
Fiscal Agent
Operations Management
Alabama OWD/ADECA
The Montgomery Institute
Advisory Council
Taskforces of Partners & Members
Workforce Delivery System
8 Community & Junior Colleges
Research
Alabama & Mississippi University Coalitions
Bi-State Governor’s Commission
West Alabama – East Mississippi Alliance
•
Dr. Tim Alford — Director, Alabama Office of Workforce Development
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Dr. Wayne Stonecypher — Executive Director, MS Community & Junior Colleges
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Dr. Roy Johnson — Chancellor, Alabama College System
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Tommy Dulaney — President & CEO, Structural Steel Services
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Dr. John W. Covington — Superintendent, Lowndes County Schools, AL
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Wade Jones — President, East MS Business Development Corporation
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Vicky Locke — Project Manager, Black Belt Commission
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C. D. Smith — Regional Director, East Central MS, BellSouth
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Mike McGrevey — President, The Montgomery Institute
Partnering:
Team Building Piece-by-Piece
Networking A “Powerful” Collaboration
Government
Federal (USDA-RD,
Dept. Labor, Commerce),
State, Local, Agencies
Informal
Relationships
Community Based
Organizations &
Associations
Non-Governmental
Organizations
Partnering:
Team Building Piece-by-Piece
Transforming and Networking Delivery Systems
Economic
Development
Education
Systems
Workforce
Investment
Partnering:
Integrated Systems Approach to
Place, Knowledge & Asset-Based Innovation Building
Governor Riley & Governor Barbour
Economic
Development
Government
Federal (USDA-RD,
Dept., Labor, Commerce),
State, Local, Agencies
Community Based
Organizations &
Associations
Alliance
Education
Systems
Informal
Relationships
Workforce
Investment
NonGovernmental
Organizations
Our Goals
Goal 1: Build regional identity around a globally
recognized, enterprise-centric workforce.
Goal 2: Build a globally recognized, regionally branded
workforce by networking and enhancing
existing delivery systems and program elements.
Goal 3: Integrate workforce, enterprise, industrial
development, research, community and
educational development into an innovative
regional system.
South Star Region Commission
Building the Capacity to Grow the Region’s Economic Innovation
WIRED – “The Catalyst”
Workforce
Investment
Civic Leadership
Engagement
Entrepreneurship
Development
Community Colleges
Credential Expanded Advanced
Technology Skills
Develop Broad-based
Leadership
Build an Integrated
Entrepreneurial
Development System
Goal 1
Build regional identity around a globally recognized,
enterprise-centric workforce.
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Build the Team
Identify and Analyze Performance Gaps
Identify Market Opportunities
Provide Strategic Vision
Develop Diverse Regional Leadership
Learn to anticipate change and to manage it – instead of being a victim of it.
Building the Team
Communication
(around our assets
and needs)
Cooperation
Collaboration
(in development of
a plan to improve
infrastructure,
innovation and talent)
(in implementing the
plan to achieve the
region’s desired future)
Building Leadership, Trust and Structures
to Sustain Development of Regional Community
How the System Seems to Be…
CASAS
WIA
Career Tech
OWD
Higher Ed
Perkins
Working as a Team…
DIR
NEG
Career
Ed
DOL
CASAS
TANF
Youth
Dislocated Worker
ESL
OWD
LMI
ESL
Vets
DHR
Career Tech
DOE
ETA
Wagner-Peyser
AIDT
ES
EMILE
WIA
Perkins
ACHE
TAA
HUD
ACSI
Higher Ed
WOTC
ABE
Rehab
K-12
Job Corps
GED
TABE
HHS
DPE
UI
Identify & Analyze Performance Gaps
WHAT IS
Performance Gaps
WHAT
SHOULD BE
Cause of Gap
Inadequate
Talent
Inadequate
Infrastructure
Inadequate
Capacity for
Economic Innovation
Strategic Vision & Market Opportunities
“Talent Driving Prosperity”
Driving Forces
Excellence
Innovation
2. Governance Structure
Development
WFD
Econ. Dev.
Education
Impact
Improvement Process
3. Conduct Analysis and
REGIONALIZE Data
4. Assimilate and Build a
Diverse Leadership Team
5. Construct a Detailed
Business Plan
Plan
Act
1. Grant Proposal – Blueprint for
building a regional, capacity
building integrated system
Do
6. Train and Educate the
Leadership Team
7. Execute the Plan
Check
Implementation
Design and implement collaborative leadership structure – define roles,
relationships, and responsibilities – be diverse
• Governance
• Training
• Operations
• Evaluations
Design a comprehensive, market-driven performance-based workforce
development system that is based on labor market and asset analysis &
serves as a vital resource which readily adapts to dynamic occupational
and economic demands.
• Asset Mapping
• Regionalize Data
• Business Planning – energizing latent potential
Implementation
Fully integrate a regional (bi-state) workforce development system that
unites education, economic and workforce development services into a
streamlined delivery system
• Networks
• Technology
• Policy
Host Annual State-of-the-Region Summit
• Governor’s Convene
• Publish Annual Report
• Celebrate Accomplishments
Develop Diverse
Regional Leadership Team
Trending
What
Should Be
Benchmarking
What
Is
Leadership
20th
Century
“Branch Plant”
Economy
21st
Century
Innovation
Economy
Goal 2
Build a globally recognized, regionally branded workforce
by networking and enhancing existing delivery
systems and program elements.
• Strengthen and Expand Targeted (technology)
Workforce Investment Capacities
• Create a Shared Network of CC/JC’s
21st Century Workforce Infrastructure
• Create Regional Workforce Credentialing System
• Brand It and Promote It
South Star Technology Network
“Building Competitive Advantage and Capacity through Collaboration”
BSCC
EMCC
• Workforce
Credentialing
SSCC
ECCC
MCC
JCJC
WSCC
ASCC
Regional
• Centers of
Excellence
• Brand It and
Promote It
Universities/ Research Centers
CJC/Tech Centers
K-12 School Systems
Business/Industry
Goal 3
Integrate workforce, enterprise, industrial development,
research, community and educational development into
an innovative regional system.
• Create a Culture of Make a Job vs Take a Job
• Build an Entrepreneurial Development System
• Link Research and Entrepreneurial Capacities
• Sustain System of Continuous Innovation
Nurture engines of innovation and creativity – and don’t forget to make them accessible.
Our Economy
Our Communities
GROW
ENTREPRENEURS
Interconnect
New & Existing
Resources
Improve Program
Evaluation
Universities
South Star Entrepreneurial
Network
Entrepreneurial Development System
Develop
Leadership
& Community
Infrastructure
Build Delivery
Capacity
Community/Junior Colleges
Enhance
Education
&
Training
•Center Director at CJC
•Network Manager
Outcomes
• Build a Globally Competitive Innovation Infrastructure
--Strategically positioned Workforce Investment and
Economic Development Infrastructure
--Linked Research, Investment & Entrepreneurial Capacities
• World-Class Talent-Building System
--Credentialed
--Accessible
• Sustainable Replicable Model
--Community and Junior Colleges are poised to help America solve
the looming labor shortage.
Rural West Alabama/East Mississippi:
At the Crossroads of Economic Transformation
One Team — Many Dreams
South Star Region
Entrepreneurial Network
• South Star Entrepreneurial Center
of Excellence
– Located at Each Community/Junior College
• Network Facilitator and Coordinator
– Located at The Montgomery Institute
21st Century Integrated Workforce
Investment System
“Creating a Workforce of Life-long Learners”
K-12 School Systems
4 yr/ Post
Bacc.
CCs/
Techs
WIBS
Industry
Our Partners