Big Ideas for Small Town Economic Development: Building on Your Assets

1. Big Ideas for Small Town Economic Development: Building on Your Assets Mikki Sager The Conservation Fund P.O. Box 271 Chapel Hill, NC 27514 919-967-2223 x 126 msager@conservationfund.org www.resourcefulcommunities.org

2. Presentation Overview The Conservation Fund & Resourceful Communities Program Who We Are & How We Work Asset-Based Approaches to Economic Development Projects and Results Lessons Learned

3. The Conservation Fund National non-profit land and water conservation organization Established 1985 Dual Charter: Environmental Protection & Economic Development Two major program areas: Land Protection: land acquisition & conservation easements, with a special focus on working lands Sustainable Programs: research, loan fund, community forestry, leadership training, Resourceful Communities Program, etc.

4. Resourceful Communities Program Where We Work: Primarily in NC, in rural socially and economically distressed communities (map) Support a network of over 250 grassroots organizations and 150 resource groups Employ non-traditional, asset-based approaches Address issues of poverty, racism, etc. to genuinely impact economic improvement and sustainable environmental change Emphasize the “Triple Bottom Line”: sustainable economic development, social equity and environmental stewardship

5. Where We Work:Connection Between Economics & Environment NC 2009 County Wage Standards and Natural Resources

6. Poverty & the Environment:Root Causes of Environmental Degradation “Conventional Wisdom”: Attributes environmental degradation to landfills, hog farms, chemical plants, land conversion, etc. “Rural Reality”: social and economic stresses are the root causes of community decisions that lead to landfills, etc. • Poverty • Racism, class-ism, sexism & other “isms” • Power imbalances • Disenfranchised communities • Low educational attainment • Lack of diverse leadership • Incompatible land uses

7. Primary Program Areas 1. Capacity Building Direct Technical Assistance Regional Workshops Peer Learning Visits Creating New Economies Fund (CNEF) Grant Program 2. Movement Building Building & Connecting Partner Network E-mail Updates and Related Communications GrassRoots Convenings (GRCs) A Partner-Driven Approach

8. 3. Policy & Advocacy Support local and statewide approaches to environmental protection and economic development 4. Innovation & Demonstration Support grassroots partners to become leaders in developing triple bottom line projects, including: Community Forestry Conservation-Based Affordable Housing

9. Tool: Capacity BuildingCNEF Grant Program Small grants of up to $15,000 Focus on triple bottom line projects Technical assistance to build community capacity Grant writing TA session Ongoing support First CNEF Grantees in 2001

10. CNEF Results….since 2001 • 188 grants totaling just under $1.6 million • $9.1 million leveraged • Average grant size $8,000 to $10,000

11. Asset-Based Approaches to Economic Development • Build on community assets to develop sustainable development initiatives instead of focusing on deficiencies • Benefits: • Built on natural / cultural / historic / human assets that are specific to a community or region • Leverages the best of economic development and environmental strategies and resources • Often entrepreneurial in nature • Create jobs that are unlikely to be “outsourced” • Jobs and small businesses are tied to protection of resources

12. Tool: Asset Mapping • Prepare a map of your community to be inventoried • Identify one or more leaders who will help organize an asset mapping meeting • Engage leaders and community members • Get community members to identify sites, businesses, events, people, stories, etc. • Focus on natural, cultural, historic, agricultural and people assets

13. Asset Mapping: Sandhills Family Heritage Association • SFHA established to • Preserve culture • Protect landownership • Promote sustainable economic development • History of land loss • Countless African-American contributions to land and forest stewardship • Long history of oppression • Community belief that they had no assets

14. Asset mapping revealed… • Old Spring Lake Civic Center • History of Land Stewardship • Rich African American History • Legacy of Entrepreneurship • Farm and Garden Heritage

15. SFHA Building on Assets Results: • Heritage Tourism • Farmers Market • Landowner Stewardship Workshops • Gleaning Project • Sankofa Festival • Documenting Oral History & Traditions • Recognition

16. Tool: Asset MappingRoanoke River Partners • Unique and rich natural resources • Largest intact bottomland hardwood swamp forest east of the Mississippi • Home to black bear, river otter, deer, bobcat, beaver and mink. • Over 200 bird species • Conversely, high economic & social distress

18. Roanoke River Partners – Results! • Paddle/ camping trail along the river and its creeks to increase awareness of the Roanoke and build infrastructure for small businesses • Extensive paddle trail • 14+ platforms • Partnerships with private (individual, corporate and nonprofit) landowners • Catalyst for small businesses (kayak rentals, B&Bs, restaurants, etc.)

19. Roanoke River Partners (cont.) • Rosenwald School • Visitor & education center, cultural heritage community “hub” • Roanoke River Mayors Association – small towns are now connecting along the river

20. . Population Growth . High Poverty Levels . Economic Distress . Proximity to Fort Bragg . Loss of Tax Revenue Hoke Community ForestThe First Community-Owned and -Managed Forestin the Southeastern US Challenges currently facing Hoke County:

21. Partners Fort Bragg / US Department of Defense Hoke County / Parks & Recreation Department / Raeford-Hoke Economic Development Commission Town of Raeford Blue Springs-Hoke County Community Development Corporation NC Rural Economic Development Center NC Community Development Initiative NC Association of Community Development Corporations Sandhills Area Land Trust 17.7% of residents live in povertySevere economic distress from agricultural downturns and manufacturing job losses3rd highest growth rate in the state, 2nd highest projected growth rate The Conservation Fund Collaboration: Hoke Community Forest 21

22. Benefits of Hoke Community Forest • Recreation: first public horseback riding trails in the county • Economic development: converting loblolly pine stands to longleaf will enable pine straw raking / job creation and generate 10 times as much as property taxes • Alternative energy production: potential from adjoining 160-acre closed county landfill

23. Funding Sources: • Clean Water Management Trust Fund to acquire riparian (stream) buffer along Rockfish and Nicholson Creeks • Parks & Recreation Trust Fund to acquire proportion of remaining real property interests • US Army providing first acquisition funds ever for community forest • NC DENR providing transaction costs • TCF providing in-kind support to develop forest management plan, establish local management entity

24. Albemarle-Pamlico Conservation & Communities Collaborative • Partnership of conservation groups and agencies and communities in the 36-county Albemarle-Pamlico estuary region • Challenge: A-P region predicted to be third most severely impacted in the US by sea level rise • Purpose: • Leverage resources and tools of conservation and economic development – “make lemonade”

25. Regional Green Economy Initiative • Planning / outreach effort led by Elizabeth City State University; initial funding from NC Rural Center • Project Goals: • Encourage job creation and business development that will reduce carbon footprint • Create jobs and small businesses that support ecological and community adaptation to sea level rise

26. Lessons Learned • Inclusivity and community leadership are key • Requires patience, flexibility and excellent listening skills • A triple bottom line vision is essential • Adapt tools and strategies to meet the needs of each community • Facilitate access to resources, power and decision-making • Change takes time and long-term investments of resources • Focus on social, economic and environmental improvement • Need strategies that are specific to each community’s needs