An Entrepreneurial Approach to Design, Create, Implement, and Promote Successful Strategies for SRDC
Chyi-Lyi (Kathleen) Liang
Professor of Entrepreneurship and Applied Economics
The University of Vermont
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Community Development and Applied Economics

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Introduction – Personal and Professional Background
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Path of Career Development
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Leadership Experiences
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Vision for SRDC
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Plan of Work
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Challenges and Opportunities
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As a Faculty
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As a Director for SRDC

Taiwan

Land area: 12,456 sq mi (32,261 sq km); 70% mountains
Population (2012 est.): 23,234,936
Key industries: Manufacturing,
Tourism, Agriculture

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PhD and MS – Purdue University, Agricultural Economics
General Equilibrium Modeling, Fertilizer Tax Simulation,
Nonpoint Pollution, FINPACK/EPIC/IMPLAN
The first Ag Econ Graduate Instructor to teach Business Statistics at Krannert Graduate School of Business, and won Outstanding
Graduate Instructor Award
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BS – National Taiwan University, Agricultural Economics
Benefit-Cost Analysis for Tourism and Nuclear Power Plants,
National Seashore Preservation and Evaluation


University of Nebraska, Panhandle Research and Extension
Center, Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Research and Extension – economic analysis, experimental design winter wheat, sunflower, alfalfa, corn, soybean, livestock, buffalo + prairie dogs, dry edible beans, water distribution for irrigation
Teaching – Agricultural Economics, joint appointment with
Western Nebraska Community College

Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development
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Program Leader
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Chair, Technical Advisory Committee
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Accomplishments
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More collaborative initiatives
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More grants and projects
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More outreach activities

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Vermont Farms Association
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Invent Vermont, LLC
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Camp Uncommon Ground
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Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning (youth)
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Agricultural and Applied Economics (AAEA) – CWAE and Early
Career Mentoring Program
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Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship
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Association for American University Women
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Small Business Institute
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Economic Development Coalition – VT and New England

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Needs and
Priorities
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Culture
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Endowment
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Capacity
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Infrastructure
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Opportunities
Issues and Concerns for Rural America
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Social
Characteristics
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Economic
Characteristics
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Ecological
Characteristics
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Political
Characteristics

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Be the “go-to” agency for Rural Development in the Region
• Initiate Team Driven solutions for rural development
• Maintain existing relationships and identify new institutional relationships that enhance rural development
• Coordinate land grant, agency and organizations to find creative solutions

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Inventory existing programs
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Meet with and discuss the needs of the region with stakeholders, constituents and others at the grassroots
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Continue relevant existing programs
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Define gaps and overlaps
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Identify new programs and initiatives that meet the needs of the region
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Prioritize existing and new programs and initiatives
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Complete assessment tools, in measurable terms, to determine impact of programs

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Develop solution-oriented initiatives and programs consistent with needs of the region
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Develop collaborative discussion and activities with existing and newly identified partners
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Promote Center proposed initiatives to land grant institutions, agencies, and other organizations in the region
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Identify and apply for funding to enhance Center’s functions and services
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Incentivize existing and newly identified partners to achieve creative and innovative solutions
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Assess impacts of initiatives and programs in measurable terms

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Continue to develop and prioritize initiatives and programs consistent with needs of the region
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Develop, maintain, and expand collaborative efforts with existing and newly identified partners
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Continue to promote Center initiatives to land grant institutions, agencies, and other organizations in the region and across regions
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Identify and apply for funding to enhance Center’s functions and services
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Offer more incentives to existing and newly identified partners to achieve creative and innovative solutions
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Continue assessment activities

Development of the Northeast Regional Center
Phase
3
Create new collaborative teams
Apply for more funding
Update newsletter and social media
Expand joint services and functions
Expand Center’s Scholars Program
Phase
2
Create new website
Develop assessment indicators
Offer Center’s Scholars Program
Identify funding opportunities
Build creative teams
Phase 1
Inventory Northeast members 2010-2011
Identify new initiatives, partners, and opportunities
Prioritize initiatives, services, and functions

Examples of Integrated Programs
Multifunctional Agriculture in the United States
Project Funded by USDA AFRI Program, No 2011-67023-30106 (7/2011-6/2014)
Co PI – Mary Ahearn (USDA ERS), Jason Brown (Federal Reserve), and Stephan Goetz (Penn State University)
Background
 There has been a significant change in the farming activities among small and medium sized farms in the United States (USDA, 2012).
 About 60% of the farms were very small, generating gross cash farm income of less than $10,000 annually (USDA, 2012)
 The number of small farms, particularly the non-commercial farms, has slowly increased since 2002 (USDA, 2012), and many of them are engaged in multifunctional operations.
 There has been limited information to assess farms’ contribution to community viability beyond traditional production of food and fiber.

Objectives
 To design a framework to study multifunctional agriculture in New
England and other regions in the U. S.
 To examine the relationship between the multifunctional agriculture and farm profile, entrepreneurial characteristics, financial situations, reasons, challenges, risks, networks, expectations, and future outlook.
 To integrate multiple sources of information to conduct research at state, regional, and national levels.
 Primary field surveys (producer , enterprise, institution, and consumers), Census, National Agricultural Statistic Services, USDA
Agricultural Risk Management Survey
 Stakeholders, researchers, extension educators, service providers,
USDA experts, community organizations (non-profit and for-profit), and government agencies at local, state, and national levels.

Findings and Work in Progress
 Top reasons for farmers to choose multifunctional operations – income, connection with customers and community, promotion and education, health care.
 The major issues for farmers - access to labor, financing, working capital, markets, and customers
 education, training, financial and risk management, user friendly tools for marketing, and reaching the balance between accessibility, affordability, and availability.
 Multifunctional agriculture has significant impacts on state economic development, not at regional level.
 We need better information to represent local and regional characteristics by sectors for rural areas.
 We need to find a better way to compare and consolidate different sources of information representing enterprises and individual households at state and regional level.

USDA Foundational Program, Entrepreneurship Division (UVM, CUNY,
OSU, PSU, UMD East Shore)
Understanding and Designing Long-Term Resilience in the US Food
System: the Role of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Supporting
Regional Food Networks
$500,000 July 2014 – June 2017
USDA Foundational Program, Rural Development Division (UNH and
UMaine)
Sustaining and Enhancing Local Agriculture in Rural Areas: Assessing
Key Producer and Consumer Issues in Northern New England
$500,000 July 2014 – June 2017
USDA Foundational Program, Small and Medium Sized Farm Division
(UVM and other 5 institutions)
Examining Farm Labor Decisions on Long-term Profitability and Farm
Enterprise Development
$500,000 July 2014 – June 2017

National Science Foundation (with Dartmouth College)
Biophysical and Social Interdependence of Integrated Food
Energy Systems
$700,000 July 2014 – June 2019
USDA Food Security Conference Grant (UVM and the Northeast
Regional Center for Rural Development)
Enhancing food security and rural viability through innovative food system practices and opportunities $50,000 2014-2015

Hawaii
Networks for Collaborations and Interdisciplinary Approach

L isten, observe, and learn from others; and ask a lot of questions
O btain teamwork and consensus building activities; and offer support and guidance
V alue and respect diversity of individuals, ideas, and contributions
E valuate and explain objectives and priorities, delegate tasks to other people, and reward good performance

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Goals and Objectives – personal and institutional
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Priorities – personal and institutional
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Flexibility
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Choices and Alternatives
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Goals and Objectives – SRDC
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Priorities – SRDC
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Time Management and
Commitment
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Collaboration and Networks
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Explicit Leadership and
Mentoring Position
Desire, Discipline, Determination

Dream Comes True!

An Entrepreneurial Approach to Design, Implement, and Promote Successful Integrated Programs
Chyi-Lyi (Kathleen) Liang
Professor of Entrepreneurship and Applied Economics
The University of Vermont
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Community Development and Applied Economics