Expansion of Economic Development Opportunities

1. Expansion of Economic Development Opportunities Alan E. Pigg Regional Program Manager for Rural Community Assistance USDA Forest Service Atlanta, GA

2. Overview • Community input and ownership-Visioning, brainstorming, desired future • Getting organized for success • Developing a plan- How are we going to get there? • Finding sources of funding • Writing proposals • Implementation – Doing the work • Reporting accomplishments- telling the story Expansion of Economic Development Opportunities

3. Achieving a Balance • Strong economy • Creation, maintenance and distribution of wealth and income within a community • Healthy environment • Land, water, air, plants, animals and people interacting • Stable/livable community • A sense of place, history, culture, common goals and values- who we are Expansion of Economic Development Opportunities

4. Community Involvement • You can’t do it all by yourself • Ownership of the process and the success-with me, not to me • Visioning, brainstorming, desired future • Methods of getting community involvement • Meeting management/facilitation techniques Expansion of Economic Development Opportunities

5. Visioning, brainstorming and desired future -exercises • What would you like to read in the headlines about your community in 5 or 10 years? • If money and resources were no object, what would you desire to happen in your community? • What is the biggest need in your community? • What do you like most about your community? Expansion of Economic Development Opportunities

6. Organize for Success • Set up temporary working committees or ad-hoc committees based on issues or tasks. • Link into other organizations or organized groups- Resource Conservation and Development, Economic Development Organizations, etc. • Establish legal entity- Non-profit status, local government, tribal, institutional • Formalize your organization- establish credibility • Identify local leaders and interested persons that have surfaced from the community involvement process. Expansion of Economic Development Opportunities

7. Plan of Action • Organization description- who are you? • Desired future or outcome • Problems, needs, opportunities • Planned actions • Description • Time- Frame • Who is responsible Expansion of Economic Development Opportunities

8. Funding sources- exercise • Based on your Plan of Action what part do you want to implement? • Develop ideas/solutions that work- get technical expertise. • Research sources of funding- Foundations, Corporations, State & Federal Government, Non-profits, Faith-based • Be creative in your approach- Expansion of Economic Development Opportunities

9. Writing grant proposals • Develop ideas that work • Follow the instructions, deadlines, and criteria from RFP • Get community support and backing, especially those who will supply in-kind matching and volunteer time- Refer to community involvement section • Include a contact person name, phone, fax, address, email. Expansion of Economic Development Opportunities

10. Implementation • Don’t expend any funds until authorized. • Set up work schedule of all tasks that need done by ending date of grant. • Assign people to oversee different tasks. • Keep accounting records of expenditures in line with approved grant including matching and in-kind documentation. • Keep grantor informed of progress. • Do not vary from original intent of grant. Expansion of Economic Development Opportunities

11. Reporting Accomplishments • Complete reporting requirements of the grant. • Involve the community in the successes of the project- celebrate successes. • Get media and others involved in reporting the story. • Success breeds success- everyone wants to be part of a winning team Expansion of Economic Development Opportunities

12. Expansion of Economic Opportunities- Summary • Plan for success • Research funding sources • Develop proposals and requests for funding • Implement the plan as planned • Build on successes and tell the success stories Expansion of Economic Development Opportunities