1. Stronger Economies Together (SET)
Strategies for Building New Economic Opportunities
SET VII Applications
Opening slide to have up when participants arrive.

2. Purpose of SET work together as a regional team in
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.
This purpose statement is used throughout the SET process. Emphasis is given to the development of a High Quality Economic Development Plan.

3. SET: Participating States
This map shows previous SET states (solid green) and SET V states (stripes). There are 13 SET V states, two of which are new to the SET family.

4. SET Organization

5. Support Structure for SET
SET Regions
State Resource Team
This simple graphic shows how regional teams will be supported to do their work.
Most directly, State Resource Teams will provide coaching and guidance.
The State Resource Team, in turn, is supported by the National Team consisting of USDA Rural Development at the federal level through Suzette Agans, the Southern Rural Development Center that is coordinating the work, and the Purdue Center for Regional Development that is providing leadership to the team and is also providing data analysis.
SET National Team

6. State Resource Team Coaches Training: To be determined
At least 3 people:
1 RD
1 CES
1 other
Application:
Recruit
Visit
Evaluate
Recommend
Planning:
Facilitate Sessions
Guide Planning
Coach Writing
Implementing:
Guide Process
Develop Leadership
Connect Resources

7. New Streamlined Process
Launching SET through Civic Engagement
Examining Economic Data
Exploring In-Depth Regional Advantages & Opportunities
Defining Assets and Barriers
Establishing the Plan
Implementing
Success
The new SET V process is more streamlined than previous versions. It begins with Civic Engagement Forum that targets a larger sector of the region than may be engaged throughout the “nuts and bolts” of the planning process.
Based on the input from that session, the planning team then begins exploring economic data for the region including an in-depth analysis of industry clusters and leakages that might help the group select relevant strategies for strengthening the region’s economy.
Assets and challenges related to the various potential directions are examined in order to select final goals with related strategies, action steps, and measures to establish the completed plan.
Once the plan is written, the real work of implementation begins. With continued guidance for the State Resource Team, the region begins making meaningful progress on its SET plan.

8. Estimated Time Commitment for SRT: One Year Period
Function Number Hours State’s planning/recruiting region(s) 40 as a state Region’s SET planning period 120 per region Region’s implementation phase 100 per region National level reporting 40 as a state Evaluating 10 per region Providing technical assistance 20 per region

9. Support for the Work SRDC Purdue USDA RD 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
Coaching Visits
SET Funding Coordination
Monthly Calls
SRDC
Data Reports
Data Assistance
Purdue
Funding Guidance
USDA RD

10. SET’s Value to Regions

11. What SET Provides Regional Teams
Hands on step- by-step process for building or enhancing regional plans
Detailed demographic & socio-economic information
Data and analysis on current and emerging clusters
Coaching implementation of the plan
Access to special expertise
More in-depth cluster analysis
Monthly calls with State Resource Team Members
Webinars on relevant topics
Data & Analysis
Technical Assistance
Peer-to-Peer Networking
Coaching
What regional teams receive as a result of SET is divided into these four segments.

12. 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
$101,400
NOTE: Does not include the value of the curriculum development nor the support of the national team.

13. What SET Has Accomplished
Partnership Growth 192%
Leveraging 154:1

14. The Application Process: Three Steps

15. 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

16. Step Two: Regional Applications
Three or more contiguous counties
51% rural
Priority Points: Economically Distressed
Important: Must be regional interest

17. 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.
Applicant regions must meet the definition of rural using one of these two yardsticks.
Additional resources are available on the web link.

18. Priority Points: Economically Distressed
Regions with at least one county that has:
A per capita income of 80% or less of the national average
and/or
Has an unemployment rate that is at least 1 percent greater than the national average unemployment rate
for the most recent 24-month period for which data are available

19. Priority Points: Finding Data
Select your state, then select your proposed counties one at a time and click “add county” until all appear in the box.
Click Distress Report to see Economic Distress Criteria Primary Elements.

20. 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
Top finalists regions will participate in a site visit by the state resource team. The purposes of these visits are to:
Ensure that partners understand the purpose and process of SET
Select sites that are most likely to benefit from SET
Clarify expectations for the regions
Help coaches prepare for working with the regions that are selected (better understanding of background)

21. Timeline Jan. 20, State Applications Due Jan. 30, States Announced
Feb. 1, 11:30 Central - Webinar for selected states
April 6, Regional Applications Due
Coaches’ Training - TBD
Late April, Regions Announced
SET Planning Phase: 6-7 months
SET Launching Phase: 6-7 months

22. Your Turn: Question and Answers

23. Who to Contact? http://srdc.msstate.edu/set/
Rachel Welborn Southern Rural Development Center
Hiwot Gebremariam
USDA Rural Development