The webinar was co-hosted by the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) and the Economic Development Administration (EDA).  It is part of a series that will occur in 2013. Future webinars will address other EDA-funded data tools, including Stats America, Triple Bottom Line, Regional Innovation Accelerator Network (RIAN), and more. The NADO Research Foundation is coordinating the webinars as part of its Know Your Region program which is funded through an agreement with the U.S. Economic Development Administration (#99-06-07548).

Please contact NADO Deputy Executive Director Laurie Thompson at lthompson@nado.org if you have any questions about this webinar, or the series in general.

Click here to download the Powerpoint slides from the webinar 

South Carolina has a reputation for being a competitive state among economic development circles, and the state also has significant transportation facilities such as the deepwater Port of Charleston, inland port in Greer that will open later in 2013, and rail and interstate corridors providing connections within the state and to nearby cities such as Atlanta and Charlotte.  The state’s workforce development system and the collaborative research campus at Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research are also assets that make South Carolina and the 10-county Upstate region competitive.

This report was produced through the NADO Research Foundation’s Center for Transportation Advancement and Regional Development under a cooperative agreement with the Federal Highway Administration.  View the report at http://www.nado.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/SCAutoCluster.pdf.

Other reports related to transportation released by the NADO Research Foundation in recent months include:

• Aligning Strategies to Maximize Impact: Case Studies on Transportation and Economic Development
• The Rise of the Greek Yogurt Industry in Central New York
• Lessons Learned from Irene: Vermont RPCs Address Transportation System Recovery
• Freight Transportation and Economic Development: Planning for the Panama Canal Expansion

For more resources on rural transportation, visit NADO’s online clearinghouse at www.RuralTransportation.org.  To view other NADO reports, including recent releases on economic development, visit www.NADO.org.

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Wayne Leftwich, community planner with the City of Greenville, discusses the city’s neighborhoods during a tour of A.J. Whittenburg Elementary School.

On April 23-24, 2013 in Greenville, South Carolina, NADO hosted a Southeast Region Peer Exchange for HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning and Community Challenge Grantees working in rural or small metropolitan regions to develop plans and partnerships to bolster their communities’ economic competitiveness by engaging place-based strategies.

Through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the NADO Research Foundation is one of eight teams providing capacity building and technical assistance to HUD and EPA sustainable communities award recipients.  The capacity building teams are forming networks among the grantees to exchange ideas on successful strategies, lessons learned, and emerging tools for community and economic development.

Below are links to the peer exchange materials, including presentations, worksheets, and grantee background information.  If you have any questions about this peer exchange, these materials, or NADO’s work as a capacity building team, please contact Brett Schwartz.

Workshop Materials / Grantee Information 

Growing Economic Competitiveness with Place-Based Strategies
Mary Douglas Hirsch, Downtown Development Manager, City of Greenville, SC

5×5 Presentations:  Sharing What’s Working
Participant presentations

Building Local Leaders and Experts for Long-term Community Change
Linda Giltz, Senior Planner, Land-of-Sky Regional Council

Prospering as an Entrepreneurial Community
Don Macke, Director, Center for Rural Entrepreneurship

Collaborating with New Partners to Implement Community and Economic Development Plans
Participant discussion

In this session, participants discussed innovative partnerships with state agencies, philanthropic organizations, and private-sector partners. Small group discussions covered opportunities to access new partners to implement plans and projects.

Click here to download the session worksheet (PDF)

In this presentation held in conjunction with the Economic Development Finance Conference, Don Macke, Director of the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, discussed an approach to economic development designed to help communities and regions grow more effective, efficient, and impactful systems of support for entrepreneurs as a way to strengthen local economies. Through hands-on exercises, participants identified and mapped out the components of their community’s current entrepreneurial development system, and strategized techniques for layering entrepreneurial support systems into community and economic development strategies.

Click here to download the Powerpoint presentation (PDF)
Click here to download the “Entrepreneurial Development Opportunities” worksheet (PDF)
Click here to download the “Entrepreneurial Development Systems” worksheet (PDF)
Click here to download the “Entrepreneur Exercise” worksheet (PDF)

Linda Giltz, Senior Planner at Land-of-Sky Regional Council discussed the North Carolina Small Towns Economic Prosperity Program (NC STEP), a state effort to help small towns reinvigorate their economies through a combination of coaching, training, technical assistance, and grants. Small group discussions covered coaching and training local partners to maintain momentum and implement projects over the long-term.

Click here to download the Powerpoint presentation (PDF)
Click here to download session worksheet (PDF)

In this session, attendees had five minutes and five Powerpoint slides to describe key succeess with their project in this fast-paced series of short presentations.

Click here to download the Powerpoint presentations (PDF)

In this presentation, Mary Douglas Hirsch, Downtown Development Manager for the City of Greenville, discussed the city’s place-based investments that have established the downtown as a major economic force in the region.  Greenville has been investing in its central business district since the 1970s and today is recognized as a model for downtown redevelopment planning. Through public-private partnerships with developers, community and faith groups, and other organizations, the City has made strategic place-based investments that have allowed the downtown to become a vibrant center home to restaurants, shops, businesses, and residential housing. These investments have benefitted the city as a whole by improving neighborhoods, making streetscape improvements, providing more retail and office space, and creating opportunities for larger economic development.

Click to download the Powerpoint presentation:  Part 1 / Part 2 (PDF)

Biddeford’s youth, including Victoria Eon pictured here at the city’s mills, have been an instrumental part of the city’s community development planning efforts. (Photo credit: Victoria Eon)

Biddeford, Maine’s 2011 Downtown Master Plan includes the words “youth” or “students” 157 times over its 217 pages.  This was not an accident, but rather a demonstration of this New England mill town’s strong commitment to including young people and students in its visioning and community development efforts.  Students were a driving force in the master plan development process, launched through a partnership of the City of Biddeford, its main street organization Heart of Biddeford, and the Orton Family Foundation, an organization that works with small towns and cities to support local community planning.  The result of this initiative has not only been the publication of the Downtown Master Plan, but also the blossoming of strong community relationships, an appreciation of the city’s shared history and values, and a boost to local economic development.

Biddeford, a city of 20,000 residents located 20 miles south of Portland on the Saco River, has a rich and vibrant history as a textile mill manufacturing center.  At the turn of the twentieth century, it had become one of Maine’s largest cities and was home to a diverse population of residents, including French Canadians, Germans, Dutch, Albanians, and Greeks, many of whom were drawn to Biddeford in search of jobs in the mills.  Decades of prosperity began to come to an end in the years following World War II when many manufacturers sought cheaper labor and supplies in the Southern states.  Population began to decrease and Biddeford’s downtown area, formerly a thriving gathering space for the community, began a steady decline as malls and shopping centers sprung up in the outer suburbs.  The downtown area also suffered a major blow with the installation of a trash incinerator nearby, firmly establishing it as a “no go” area for many residents.

For years it looked as if Biddeford would go the way of many former industrial towns into a state of permanent decline until the 1980s, when efforts were made to fund downtown infrastructure and streetscape improvements.  During this time, the Downtown Development Commission (DDC) was also established to support downtown revitalization and community development efforts.  In 2008 in conjunction with the Orton Family Foundation, the city began what was known as the Heartworks planning process, which included community storytelling, neighborhood meetings, and the development and publication of the Downtown Master Plan.  In all three of these stages, Biddeford’s youth played an important role.  “Youth are a crucial group to engage,” says the Orton Family Foundation’s Ariana McBride.  “They bring a unique perspective to the table.”  Local high school students were active participants in community meetings, interviewed relatives and community members about their lives and recollections of Biddeford, and organized historical and cultural tours of the city’s mills.

Biddeford’s mills, which for so many years provided jobs, security, and a sense of identity, are once again a focal point in this new chapter of Biddeford’s story. (Photo credit: Maine: An Encyclopedia, maineanencyclopedia.com)

The visioning and storytelling process has instilled a new sense of pride in local residents, particularly among Biddeford’s youth who for years saw no hope in the future of their town. “I’m ashamed to admit it now, but for many years I didn’t like my hometown,” says Tom Laverriere, a senior at Biddeford High School.  “Up until I was about 15 I thought it was boring, had no real opportunities, and was inferior to neighboring communities.  It wasn’t until I got involved that I realized how great it is.”

“I have seen changes in the way the teenagers look at themselves and their town,” observes Carolyn Gosselin, a Biddeford High School English teacher.  Gosselin’s Senior English Perspectives in Literature course teaches students about the oral storytelling tradition by having them interview family members and local residents about their lives and experiences in Biddeford.

Victoria Eon, a freshman at McGill University and graduate of Biddeford High, notes how the storytelling process and student-led tours of the mills have created a new connection to her town and fellow students.  “Engaging in these conversations has brought me closer to my peers.  I’m excited that they are excited, and proud that they – at long last – feel proud of their humble roots without being asked why.”

The mills, which for so many years provided jobs, security, and a sense of identity, are once again a focal point in this new chapter in Biddeford’s story.  “These buildings of brick are my history,” says Victoria.  The progress being made in Biddeford “speaks to the resilience of the people these buildings inspire,” she says.  It is the resilience of this town – both in its built history and social fabric – that is moving Biddeford forward, led by young people who want to see a stronger future for their community.

Click the links below to learn more about student involvement in Biddeford, lessons learned from the experience, and student interviews:

This case study is part of NADO’s “Youth with a Voice” case studies series, which highlights small towns and rural communities that are effectively engaging young people in planning and community development projects.  By recognizing and valuing the tremendous energy and optimism students bring to local development efforts, these communities are building stronger and more lasting bonds between young people and their hometowns.  For more information, contact Brett Schwartz at bschwartz@nado.org.

  _____________________________

The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding under an award with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government.

In 2008, the City of Biddeford entered into a partnership with the Orton Family Foundation to create a Downtown Master Plan. (Photo credit: Maine: An Encyclopedia, maineanencyclopedia.com)

An Inclusive-Planning Process 

In 2008, the City of Biddeford began a new chapter in its vibrant history when it entered into a partnership with the Orton Family Foundation to develop a Downtown Master Plan.  The Orton Family Foundation is an organization that works with residents of small cities and towns to identify local assets, values, and priorities in an effort to support community-led planning.  After applying for and receiving a grant from Orton for $125,000 ($116,700 in-kind), the community kicked off what was known as the “Heartworks” process.  A three-year initiative, Heartworks encompassed three main phases:  community storytelling, neighborhood meetings, and the development of the downtown Master Plan.  Heartworks strove to engage a diverse and broad set of voices from the community to ensure an accurate and inclusive planning process.

“We really focused on hearing from voices that aren’t usually heard,” says Rachael Weyand, former executive director of Heart of Biddeford, the city’s main street organization.  “We spent a lot of time identifying populations that should be at the table.”  Biddeford’s youth were one of those sought-after voices and eventually became one of the most active and contributing groups during all stages of the process.

Place-Based Education and Storytelling

Early in the community visioning process, Weyand and Heart of Biddeford’s Youth Coordinator Holli Andrews looked for a teacher in the local high school who they could work with to engage students in the larger community.  In English teacher Carolyn Gosselin they found a partner who was enthusiastic, committed to the process, and well-liked and respected by the students at Biddeford High School School.  Gosselin’s “Senior English Perspectives in Literature” course was a natural fit to link classroom instruction with community-based learning, as one of the course units focuses on community and the oral storytelling tradition.

The collaboration between Gosselin and Andrews led to their development of the “LearnLocal Place-Based Education Curriculum,” which aims to see “students learn about real issues while simultaneously creating a voice for local youth in municipal decision-making.”  The curriculum comprises four phases:  finding a local issue, gathering stories, identifying values, and organizing results through student-led discussions.  (Click here to learn more about this curriculum and to download lesson plans and other resources).

In preparation for their upcoming storytelling and community projects, classes were held for students to share ideas about what they did and didn’t like about Biddeford and to express ways they thought the city could become a better place to live.  These sessions were an important kickoff to the larger student work in the community.  “Kids get so excited to have someone ask them how they feel about their town,” says Andrews.

Students interviewed family, friends, and neighbors to create videos which they edited and shared with classmates (Photo credit: Orton Family Foundation)

Carolyn Gosselin agrees:  “It comes down to empowerment.  It is important that students be asked to participate.”  Part of that empowerment occurred by actively showing the students that their voices were truly being heard and incorporated into the planning process.  Comments and opinions were always written down on paper, typed up, or posted on the walls to show students that their thoughts were part of the larger community conversation.  Creating “word clouds” was a popular and fun way to capture larger themes that developed during the conversations.

An important part of the place-based education curriculum developed by Gosselin and Andrews is the learning that takes place outside of the classroom, through gathering stories, touring the community, and participating in community meetings and events.  Armed with flip cameras, students interviewed family, friends, and neighbors to document Biddeford’s history, people, and values.  Holli Andrews notes that through conducting the interviews, many students “became envious” of their parents’ and grandparents’ experiences growing up in a vibrant Biddeford.  Through the interviews, they really became “dreamy about what it could be like” to live in a town that was alive and thriving, she said.  (Click here to watch some of the student-produced interview videos).

Field trips were arranged for the students to visit the downtown area and the mill complexes, mapping their travels and adventures using GPS.  For many students, this was their first time venturing into the downtown area, a place that many had been told to stay away from while growing up.  These trips ignited new student interest in downtown, as many were attracted by the history, architecture, and possibility of reviving the area into a place they would want to visit more often.

Students were an integral part of community conversations about the future of Biddeford. (Photo credit: Heart of Biddeford)

Students were active participants in the numerous neighborhood meetings organized during the Heartworks process.  These public meetings were designed to discuss issues of importance for improving the downtown area.  Students had a strong presence at these gatherings, which attracted over 300 people in the spring and summer of 2010. By working side by side with adults in the community, students also learned valuable skills about public speaking, working as a team, and advocating for themselves.  ”Engage youth in the downtown” became one of the seven key issues that were eventually identified through these meetings – another primary reason youth are such an important part of the final downtown master plan.

“Working in the community gives you opportunities to connect with people on a deep level that you wouldn’t otherwise meet,” says Biddeford High School senior Tom Laverriere.  “After establishing some connections, my motivation to stay involved is knowing that I can make a difference.”   After becoming active in Biddeford’s community planning, Tom says that “in my opinion, every community is worth the effort.  If you keep trying, people can’t ignore you.”

Bringing the Mills Back to Life

Students in Biddeford have not just been learning about the town’s history, they have been actively engaged in bringing some of that history back to life.  In fall 2011, the Biddeford High School drama program and National Honor Society partnered with the Biddeford Mills Museum to organize “ghost tours” of the Pepperell Mill Company buildings.  Local high school student Victoria Eon was a driving force in creating these tours, which developed from a smaller tour she led in the summer 2011 for the museum’s Summer Showcase.  Her connection to Biddeford and the mills runs deep.  “In 1960, my grandparents emigrated from Canada in pursuit of a better life, a better future for their children and grandchildren,” she says.  “They sought work at the Biddeford mills as laborers.”

Victoria Eon, performing as Catherine Cotton, during one of the historical tours of the mills. (Photo courtesy Victoria Eon)

Victoria and other students worked with teacher Carolyn Gosselin to research events that occurred at the mills and incorporated them into stories that would be performed during the tour.  “As advocates for the museum, Carolyn and I ensured that the stories were strictly based in historical events, for historical accuracy is paramount in preserving the museum’s integrity,” says Victoria.    The stories gathered and eventually performed by student actors during the tour of the mill complex included the tragic lives of local women Catherine Cotton and Mary Bean, a Native American curse placed on the nearby Saco River, and the Spanish flu epidemic that devastated the city’s Albanian Muslim community.  Almost 300 residents toured the mills during these ghost tours, led by 40 high school students.

Other tours have been organized, focusing on different periods and themes in Biddeford’s history, such as the impact of the Great Depression on the mills, the manufacturing of the Vellux blanket, and lives of mill girls.  The tours continue to be a success and are a part of the city’s larger effort to attract visitors through heritage tourism.  “No matter what the occasion, events like these get people excited by their community and its history.  It gives them something to be proud of.  It’s really great to see,” says Tom Laverriere.

‘This is Where I Grew Up, and It’s Awesome’

Though Biddeford continues to face economic challenges resulting from years of decline and the effects of the current economic downturn, things are looking up for Biddeford’s residents, both in terms of community pride and opportunities for economic progress.  “On a greater scale, my hometown’s views of itself have changed,” observes Victoria Eon, now a freshman at McGill University.  “It is not a dead-end at the end of the Industrial Revolution.  It is not a sleepy Maine town to escape from when college-time rolls around.  There is promise for development.  My neighbors feel grounded, rooted by their shared history.”

Delilah Poupore, Heart of Biddeford’s current executive director, agrees.  “One of the reasons Biddeford is leaping off is because we now have a stronger foundation and have pride in our history and roots,” she says.  She points to the new businesses and retail that have opened downtown and in the renovated North Dam Mill complex, currently home to around 70 commercial tenants and 81 residential apartments.  ”We really love the mixed-use aspect” of the project, says Chuck Morgan, Director of Economic and Community Development at Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission (SMRPC).  ”It is creating jobs, generating a tax base, and providing customers for downtown businesses,” he says.  SMRPC worked closely with Doug Sanford of the North Dam LLC to provide funding for assessment and remediation, utilizing EPA Brownfields Assessments grants and Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) loans.

The community-based learning and participation in the master planning process has been a transformative experience for many students. (Photo credit: Orton Family Foundation)

Perhaps some of the biggest changes in Biddeford are the intangible ones, felt in the hearts of residents, particularly the youth.  “Before there was so much low morale,” says Poupore. “The storytelling did so much to rekindle pride.”  The community-based learning and participation in the master planning process has been a transformative experience for many students who have a new appreciation for Biddeford and its history.  No longer is Biddeford a place that young people are embarrassed to call home.  Holli Andrews notes that the student conversation has shifted from “I can’t wait to leave” to “I can’t wait to come back after college and see what’s new and different.”

Tom Laverriere is one of those students deeply impacted by his active participation in the community.  “[Biddeford’s] becoming a better place to live all the time…I want to check in regularly, even stay involved if I can,” he says.  “Getting involved in the community has given me an incredible sense of pride.  Part of the reason I want to visit is so I can look back and say, ‘I helped do this.  This is where I grew up, and it’s awesome.’  Because it is – and I helped make it that way.”

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The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding under an award with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government.