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

2. Welcome and Introductions
Placeholder for making introductions. Particularly if this is a new regional group, time is needed to establish who is in the room and the county and sector (i.e. education, industry, government) that each person represents.

3. 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

4. SET: First Four Phases & SET V
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.

5. 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.

6. 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 individuals with special expertise
More in-depth cluster analysis
Monthly calls with State Resource Team Members
Webinars on relevant topics
Multi-state meetings
Data & Analysis
Technical Assistance
Peer-to-Peer Networking
Coaching
What regional teams receive as a result of SET is divided into these four segments.

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
New Streamlined Process
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.
TX-Lower Rio Grande Valley

8. Timeline May 7, Regional Applications Due Late June, Regions Announced
Planning Phase: 6-7 months
Implementation Phase: 6-7 months

9. 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.

10. The Site Visit 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)

11. Your Turn: Question and Answers

12. Who to Contact?
Insert Your Team Contact Info