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Cluster Mapping Webinar Now Available for Download

Brett Schwartz — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:04:03 +0000

The first in a series about various Data Tools developed with support from the Economic Development Administration, this webinar provided an overview of the U.S. Cluster Map and Registry which contains data on the regional clusters that are driving the national economy. Through this website practitioners can access key information on industries by location and type, in both data and chart format, which can be useful for developing a regional economic development strategy. The registry provides a forum for organizations to identify other entities by geographic area that are directly or indirectly working to advance regional cluster initiatives. It is a useful tool for identifying potential organizations to partner with to advance regional cluster initiatives. Economic development organizations, practitioners, policy makers, and other stakeholders are encouraged to watch to learn how this tool can be useful in your planning and decision-making processes.

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

Revving the Economic Engine: South Carolina’s Auto Cluster

Carrie Kissel — Thu, 02 May 2013 19:51:17 +0000

The NADO Research Foundation has released the new report Revving the Economic Engine: South Carolina’s Auto Cluster (PDF). Over the last 30 years, South Carolina has developed a flourishing, globally competitive automotive and ground transportation cluster which is a major engine of economic growth in the state. While the impact of the auto and ground transportation industries on the South Carolina economy may seem obvious with the large presence of BMW and Michelin alone, the full breadth and depth of the auto cluster was not realized until 2011, when the University of South Carolina (USC) Moore School of Business published the first comprehensive analysis of this economic engine. The analysis estimated an economic impact of $27.1 billion using 2008 data and supports over five percent of the state’s total employment. For every one job created in auto manufacturing, more than three jobs are created elsewhere in the economy.

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-conten t/uploads/2013/04/SCAutoCluster.pdf.

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

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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2013 Excellence in Regional Transportation Awards

Carrie Kissel — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:37:35 +0000

2013 marks the seventh year that regional transportation-related programs and projects are being recognized for their innovation and impact on communities throughout the nation. In 2013, 16 projects from organizations in 8 states are being recognized through the Excellence in Regional Transportation Awards program for their innovative and excellent approaches to regional transportation planning and program implementation.

This year’s winning projects help meet their regions’ needs through various program areas, including: bicycle and pedestrian planning, air quality, equity, project implementation, public involvement, safety, and transit. Contact information for each award-winning organization is also provided.

The Excellence in Regional Transportation Award is a program of the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Research Foundation and its program affiliate RPO America. RPO America serves as the network for the nation’s rural and small metropolitan transportation planners and other professionals.
This awards program is partially funded under a cooperative agreement with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

View the 2013 award winners (PDF)

Looking for award winning projects from prior years? See the awards reports below:

2012 awards (PDF)
2011 awards (PDF)
2010 awards (PDF)
2009 awards (PDF)
2008 awards (PDF)
2007 awards (PDF)

For more information on the Excellence in Regional Transportation Awards program, visit www.RuralTransportation.org.

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Transportation Professionals Gather at National Rural Transportation Conference; Training Presentations Posted Online

Carrie Kissel — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:57:40 +0000

On April 24 – 26, in Greenville, South Carolina, 150 regional transportation professionals from small metro and rural regions attended the National Rural Transportation Peer Learning Conference. The training sessions have been approved for AICP Certification Maintenance credits. Speaker presentations have been uploaded to the conference website, under Agenda and Presentations (select the session to access the “View Presentation” link for content on each presentation).

Conference attendees heard an engaging keynote address from South Carolina Deputy Secretary of Commerce George Patrick III, an update on activities from the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, and information from Federal Highway Administration staff on MAP-21 implementation.

Additional best practice sessions focused on public participation techniques, freight and economic development, long-range planning, regional transit, transportation and health, rural safety, and more, many relevant learning opportunities will be available to participants. Longer workshops included an exclusive off-site visit to BMW Manufacturing Company to learn about freight and economic development, a Road Safety Audit workshop in the Town of Travelers Rest near Greenville, a walking and cycling tour of Greenville to discuss planning and implementation for its vibrant downtown, and an interactive session on equity and public involvement. The Excellence in Regional Transportation Award winners were also recognized during the conference (read more about the winning projects here, PDF).

View more photos from the conference in our Facebook photo album.

The conference was sponsored by AirSage, the Appalachian Regional Commission, Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Development District Association of Appalachia, Federal Highway Administration, National Association of Development Organizations Research Foundation and NADO’s RPO America, along with other partners. Exhibitors included Easter Seals Project ACTION, Federal Highway Administration/Federal Transit Administration Transportation Planning Capacity Building Program, LeFleur Transportation, Rural Assistance Center, Strategic Highway Research Program 2 (SHRP2), Transit Cooperative Research Program, and URS Corporation. The contributions of Brazos Valley Council of Governments and J.R. Wilburn & Associates are much appreciated for their role as Conference Supporters.

Please visit www.nado.org/events/rpo2013 for the agenda and presentations. For more information, contact NADO Associate Director Carrie Kissel at 202.624.8829 or ckissel@nado.org.

Upcoming Webinar: Building Vibrant Local Economies by Connecting Regional Food Systems

Kathy Nothstine — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:01:46 +0000

County and regional leaders are integrating food systems into economic development plans. These efforts are reinvigorating rural economies to foster economic development connected to local, agricultural economies. Join the National Association of Counties (NACo) for a free webinar, Building Vibrant Local Economies: Connecting Regional Food Systems, on Thursday, May 9, at 2pm EST to learn more about this topic.

Featured speakers include:

Ferd Hoefner, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Bahia Nightengale, Heartland Local Food, with Supervisor Melvyn Houser, Pottawattamie County, Iowa
Elanor Starmer, USDA

This webinar is offered as a service to grantees of the federal government’s Sustainable Communities Initiative, NADO members, NACo members, and the broad community of individuals and organizations interested in regional food systems as a strategy for rural economic development.

For more information, contact Stephanie Osborn, sosborn@naco.org or 202.942.4235.

RPO America Annual Business Meeting and National RPO Council of Peers Meeting

Agnieta Sharpe — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:40:36 +0000

In this session at the 2013 National Rural Transportation Conference, Kathy Ruffalo of Ruffalo & Associates gave a special guest presentation.

View her presentation below:

MAP-21 Update – Kathy Ruffalo

View more presentations from RPO America.

Closing Plenary: Future Directions for the Federal Surface Transportation Program

Agnieta Sharpe — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:05:11 +0000

In this session at the 2013 National Rural Transportation Conference, speakers included Harlan Miller, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Planning, Stefan Natzke, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Human Environment, and Stuart Thompson, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Safety.

View their presentations below:

Future Directions for the Federal Surface Transportation Program - Stefan Natzke

View more presentations from RPO America.

Workshop: Getting a Perspective on the Human Landscape

Agnieta Sharpe — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:54:22 +0000

In this workshop session at the 2013 National Rural Transportation Conference, speakers included Jeff Moore, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet – Department of Highways, District Three Bowling Green and Anne Morris, Anne Morris and Associates, LLC.

View their presentations below:

What is Social / Environmental Justice and Why Should We Care – Anne Morris

Workshop Exercise (PDF)

Community Profile: this is a 15 minute exercise where small groups analyzed the special “needs” of communities and its unique citizens as to “effective engagement”. Examples include Sesame Street, Great Land of Oz, and Hundred Acre Wood.

What is Really Happening in the Community: Validating Official Data - Anne Morris

State of the Practice in Community Engagement: Tales from the Field – Jeff Moore

View more presentations from RPO America.

Healthy, Active Transportation

Agnieta Sharpe — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:40:31 +0000

In this session at the 2013 National Rural Transportation Conference, speakers included Rachel Beyerle, Easter Seals Project Action and Elijah Sharp, New River Valley Planning District Commission (VA).

View their presentations below:

The Transportation Connection to Healthy Living in Small Urban & Rural Communities - Rachel Beyerle

New River Valley’s Bikeway, Walkway, Blueway Plan - Elijah Sharp

View more presentations from RPO America.

Plenary Session: RPO America Peer Symposium

Agnieta Sharpe — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:13:44 +0000

In this session at the 2013 National Rural Transportation Conference, speakers included Jack Cebe, Alta Planning + Design, Pat Steed, Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Paul Black, Land-of-Sky Regional Council and French Broad River MPO (NC), and Chris Cummings, Oregon DOT.

View their presentations below:

Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning in Rural Regions – Jack Cebe & Jean Crowther

A Coordinated Approach to Enhancing Mobility - Pat Steed

Planning for Transportation Infrastructure – Paul Black

ConnectOregon – Chris Cummings

View more presentations from RPO America.