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Bringing Economic Development to Your Community

Bringing Economic Development to Your Community. NTCA 2008 Fall Conference September 22, 2008 Pat Merritt, CEcD President, NREDA Manager, Community Development Georgia EMC. Why should you care?. Community growth leads to Telco growth Opportunity to improve local quality of life

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Bringing Economic Development to Your Community

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  1. Bringing Economic Development to Your Community NTCA 2008 Fall Conference September 22, 2008 Pat Merritt, CEcD President, NREDA Manager, Community Development Georgia EMC

  2. Why should you care? • Community growth leads to Telco growth • Opportunity to improve local quality of life • Surviving vs. thriving • Benefits of collaboration

  3. Local Economic Development Organization (LEDO) Regional Economic Development Organizations (REDO) State departments Elected Officials City, county and regional planners Utilities Dept of Environmental Management Schools, Colleges, Universities USDA RTFC Existing Industries Citizens of your communities Site Consultants Department of Transportation Many others Who’s Involved?

  4. How can you get started? • Board of Directors support • Dedicate a staff position to C&ED • Help conduct local assessments with community leaders • Take advantage of resources like National Rural Economic Developers Association (NREDA)

  5. How can your Telco make a difference? • Serve on Local and Regional ED Organizations • Contribute financially / in kind to LEDO • Support elected officials who are advocates for sustainable economic development and “lobby” legislators on rural economic development topics • Look for opportunities to collaborate

  6. Collaboration Example Williamsburg Cooperative Commerce Center (Williamsburg County, South Carolina) The Partners: • Farmers Telephone Cooperative (FTC) • Santee Electric Cooperative (SEC) What: In 1996, the two co-ops filed applications to USDA-REDLG to create an industrial park in the county. Bottom Line: SEC obtained $400,000 to purchase 155 acres; FTC obtained $740,000 to construct a speculative industrial building. The park now has 3 tenants, a second spec building was just sold to a fourth tenant. Designs for a third spec building are underway and construction for a 56,000 s.f. building for a fifth project will begin in the next 3 months.

  7. Our mission is to provide education, advocacy and networking opportunities to enhance community and economic development in rural America • Our members are leaders from Telcos, electric co-ops and other rural economic development professionals from 47 states • We deliver access to high-quality educational programs and information on rural development issues • We promise to maintain an exclusive focus on rural economic and community development

  8. NREDA 2008 Annual Conference:“Celebrating What’s Right with Rural America” • A Connected Nation-Strengthening Rural America with Technology • Entrepreneurs and Economic Development • The Importance of Strategic Communications • Creating Business-Education Partnerships for Workforce Development • Angel Investing for Entrepreneurial Development • Transforming Rural America through Renewable Energy • Rail-served Economic Development Opportunities in Rural America • Leadership – Follow the Yellow-Brick Road Kauffman Foundation Center and The Hilton President Hotel Kansas City, MO Nov. 9-11, 2008 www.nreda.org

  9. Thank you for your time! Questions? Contact information: Pat Merritt, CEcD pat.merritt@georgiaemc.com 404-521-7611 Manager, Community Development Georgia EMC

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