Stronger
Economies
Together (SET)
Strategies for Building
New Economic
Opportunities
SET VI Applications
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Purpose of SET
Help rural communities/counties
work together as a regional team in
developing and implementing
A High Quality
Regional Economic Development Plan
that builds on the
current and emerging
economic strengths
of their region.
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SET: Participating States
3
SET Organization
Support Structure for SET
SET Regions
State Resource Team
SET National Team
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State Resource Team
Coaches
Training:
Application:
Planning:
Implementing:
First week of
May,
tentative
Recruit
Facilitate
Sessions
Guide Process
Visit
At least 3
people:
Guide Planning
Evaluate
Coach Writing
1 RD
1 CES
1 other
Develop
Leadership
Recommend
Connect
Resources
New Streamlined Process
Implementing
Success
Defining Assets
and Barriers
Examining
Economic Data
Launching
SET through
Civic
Engagement
Exploring InDepth Regional
Advantages &
Opportunities
Establishing the
Plan
Estimated Time Commitment for SRT:
One Year Period
Function
State’s planning/recruiting region(s)
Region’s SET planning period
Region’s implementation phase
National level reporting
Evaluating
Providing technical assistance
Number Hours
40 as a state
120 per region
100 per region
40 as a state
10 per region
20 per region
Support for the Work
• Funding: $26,400 per region
• Data Reports tailored to each region
• Training for Coaching Team
• Monthly Calls with Coaching Team
• National and regional coaching support
SRDC
Coaching Visits
SET Funding
Coordination
Monthly Calls
Purdue
USDA
Data Reports
RD
Coaching Visits
Data Assistance
Funding Guidance
Monthly Calls
Monthly Calls
SET’s Value to Regions
What SET Provides Regional Teams
Coaching
Hands on stepby-step process
for building or
enhancing
regional plans
Peer-to-Peer
Networking
Data &
Analysis
Technical
Assistance
Detailed
demographic &
socio-economic
information
Coaching
implementation
of the plan
Monthly calls
with State
Resource Team
Members
Access to
special
expertise
Webinars on
relevant topics
Data and
analysis on
current and
emerging
clusters
More in-depth
cluster analysis
Multi-state
meetings
Value of SET to the Region
Item
Value
Operating Fund (per region)
$26,400
Data Reports (fair market value)
$15,000
SRT Support (minimum estimate per region)
$60,000
TOTAL
NOTE: Does not include the value of the curriculum development
nor the support of the national team.
$101,400
What SET Has Accomplished
Leveraging 38:1
Partnership Growth
192%
The Application Process: Three Steps
Step One: State Application
• Identify State Resource Team
• Articulate the plan for recruiting
regions
• Signature of support:
• Rural Development State Director
• Cooperative Extension Service
Director/Administrator
Step Two: Regional Applications
• Three or more contiguous counties
• 51% rural
• High or persistent poverty priority
• Important: Must be regional interest
Understanding the Rural Definition
51% or more of the region's
population is classified as rural
OR
75% of the region's land area is
located in rural areas of that
region.
http://srdc.msstate.edu/set1/definitionrural.html
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Priority Points: Persistent Poverty
http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/atlas-of-rural-and-small-town-america/go-to-the-atlas.aspx
Priority Points: High Poverty 20%+
http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/atlas-of-rural-and-small-town-america/go-to-the-atlas.aspx
Step Three: Site Visits
Purposes:
• Ensure that regions understand SET
• Select sites that are most likely to
benefit
• Clarify expectations for the regions
• Help coaches prepare for working
with the regions
Timeline
• Jan. 27, State Applications Due
• Mid-Feb., States Announced
• April 15, Regional Applications Due
• May, first week, tent. – Coaches’ Training
• Early June, Regions Announced
• SET Planning Phase: 6-7 months
• SET Launching Phase: 6-7 months
Your Turn:
Question and Answers
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Who to Contact?
Rachel Welborn
Southern Rural Development Center
Rachel.welborn@msstate.edu
662.325.5885
Hiwot Gebremariam
USDA Rural Development
Hiwot.Gebremariam@wdc.usda.gov
202.690.4749
http://srdc.msstate.edu/set/
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