Athens Area Community Development Project MML Annual Conference 2010 Eric Tobin Village of Athens Trustee

Like Most Rural Communities Closing Businesses –Empty DTO –High Unemployment –Loss of Tax Revenue Declining Population –Declining School Enrollment –Youth Outmigration –Loss of Leadership, Volunteerism, and Philanthropy

What Did We Do? Took Action –Began an Listening Campaign (And never stopped) Held Public Forums Hired a Consultant-realized this needed more than just volunteer labor Conducted a Business Inventory –Created a Directory Conducted Personal Surveys Door to Door –Likes –Dislikes –Businesses they would like to have –What would encourage them to shop locally –Awareness of local businesses both profit and non profit –Distributed Directory Youth Survey (Very Similar to Adult Survey)

Next Steps –Developed Strategic Plan Used information from the surveys Long Term Plan Focus both on Economic and Community Development at the same time Entrepreneurship is the key Leverage resources for Business Incubation Emphasis on “VALUE” of local Youth have to be part of the equation Partner with Community and Community Orgs Hire a staff person

Business Incubation Define it as “any activity taken to help an organization get started”. –Could be providing advice or training –Could be providing space or capital –Could be providing classes or connections to other resources –Could be providing coaches or mentors According to U of M researchers every $1 spent on incubation returns $3

Entrepreneurship is the Key Our industrial might and former luster was born out of the Entrepreneurial Mindset To change our future, we must regain that Mindset Creation of businesses increases the circular flow of money. –Higher tax revenues A Focus on Entrepreneurship should be targeted at all age levels, especially YOUTH!

Youth Entrepreneurship Builds your long term sustainability Increases likelihood of youth staying in area –Personal relationships and connections to the community Preps your next batch of community leaders and philanthropists Increases volunteerism Increases Employability Skills- “Soft Skills”

How Do You Provide Youth Entrepreneurship Generation E Institute –6 year old MI Non Profit with a proven track record for success –Uses a Community Development Approach and project based learning –Middle School, High School, and Young Adult programming Can be in school, after school, summer camp, can be tied to 4-H, JA, FFA, BPA, DECA. –Students will actually Launch a business that they are interested in

Any Questions? Eric Tobin Community Development Director Generation E Institute