NADO.org » Sustainable Development

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.

Workshop Materials: Growing Economic Competitiveness with Place-Based Strategies

Brett Schwartz — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:20:19 +0000

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.

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)

Webinar Materials: Addressing Equity and Rural Poverty

Brett Schwartz — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:00:16 +0000

On April 16, NADO and PolicyLink co-hosted the webinar “Addressing Equity and Rural Poverty: The View from the Ground.” The presentation highlighted the opportunities and challenges small towns and rural communities face in combating poverty and promoting inclusive economic development. Presenters discussed efforts being made to incorporate equity – the just and fair inclusion into society where everyone can participate and prosper – into regional and community economic development plans in California and Tennessee.

Click here to watch a recording of the webinar
Click here to download the Powerpoint slides (PDF)

Presenters:

Chione Flegal, Associate Director, PolicyLink
Danielle Bergstrom, Program Associate, PolicyLink
Ismael Diaz Herrera, Director, San Joaquin Valley Rural Development Center
Reyna Villalobos, Community Building Specialist, Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program
Emily Saunders, Community Development Senior Project Specialist, City of Knoxville, TN

Moderator:
Brett Schwartz, Program Manager, NADO

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.

NADO Research Foundation Hires New Program Manager

NADO Admin — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 19:51:05 +0000

NADO welcomes Megan McConville, who will join the research foundation staff as a Program Manager. Her new role will involve working with the International Economic Development Council on post disaster economic recovery throughout the EDA Atlanta and Philly regions, and grant work from EDA Austin that is also focused on post disaster economic recovery. Megan will also work with NADO Director of Economic Development Brian Kelsey on the EDA Headquarters Know Your Region and EDA Austin/CAPCOG cluster projects. She will transition into her new position at NADO on May 6. Currently, Megan works at EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities where she is a policy and planning fellow. She received her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and masters from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Workshop Materials: Prosperous Places (Salt Lake City, UT)

Brett Schwartz — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:37:24 +0000

The Prosperous Places workshop, held March 25-26, 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah, brought together around 50 HUD Sustainable Communities grantees, experts, and capacity-builders to focus on place-based economic development strategies and scenarios planning. This event was co-sponsored by NADO and Envision Utah.

Through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the NADO Research Foundation and Envision Utah are two 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 workshop materials, including presentations, worksheets, and grantee background information. If you have any questions about this workshop, these materials, or NADO’s work as a capacity building team, please contact Brett Schwartz.

Workshop Background Materials

Opening Plenary: Regional Visioning Based on Shared Values
Robert Grow, President/Chief Executive Officer, Envision Utah

Finding and Leveraging Competitive Advantage
Nora Johnson, Policy Fellow, US EPA Office of Sustainable Communities
Kathy Nothstine, Associate Director, NADO

Scenarios Planning 101 and Part 2
Christie Oostema, Planning Director, Envision Utah
Jay Baker, Countywide Planner, Cache County, Utah
Lori Haddock, Economic development professional, Bear Lake County, Idaho
Mitch Poulsen, Executive Director, Bear Lake Regional Commission

Rural Poverty and Equitable Development
Danielle Bergstrom, Program Associate, PolicyLink
Bill Vanderwall, Capacity Building Manager, Minnesota Housing Partnership

Keynote Address: Progress and Challenges in Place-Based Rural Policies
Chuck Fluharty, President/CEO, Rural Policy Research Institute

Best Practices in Creating Strong Regional Economic Development Strategies
Brian Kelsey, Director of Economic Development, NADO

Implementing a Regional Plan as an Over-arching Economic Development Strategy: Focus on Implementation Strategies and Toolkit
Christie Oostema, Planning Director, Envision Utah
Dave Conine, USDA Rural Development

Additional Materials/Links
Sonoran Institute’s About Town research and report
California Financial Opportunities Roundtable (CalFOR) Guidebook

Workshop Materials: Implementing a Regional Plan as an Over-arching Economic Development Strategy – Focus on Implementation Strategies and Toolkit

Brett Schwartz — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:21:21 +0000

These materials are from the “Implementing a Regional Plan as an Over-arching Economic Development Strategy – Focus on Implementation Strategies and Toolkit” session held at the Prosperous Places workshop in Salt Lake City, March 25-26. Organized by NADO and Envision Utah, this workshop brought together around 50 HUD Sustainable Communities grantees, experts, and capacity-builders to focus on place-based local economic development strategies and scenarios planning.

In this session, Christie Oostema (Envision Utah) explained how a rural implementation toolkit was developed based on the scenarios planning process, with a focus on economic development and innovative strategies for rural and smaller places. The session also included a discussion led by Dave Conine (USDA Rural Development) of available USDA programs, and how rural places can access those resources to promote greater economic outcomes.

Materials:
Implementing a Regional Plan as an Over-arching Economic Development Strategy – Focus on Implementation Strategies and Toolkit Powerpoint (PDF)

Workshop Materials: Best Practices in Creating Strong Regional Economic Development Strategies

Brett Schwartz — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:13:41 +0000

These materials are from the “Best Practices in Creating Strong Regional Economic Development Strategies” session held at the Prosperous Places workshop in Salt Lake City, March 25-26. Organized by NADO and Envision Utah, this workshop brought together around 50 HUD Sustainable Communities grantees, experts, and capacity-builders to focus on place-based local economic development strategies and scenarios planning.

In this session, Brian Kelsey (NADO) explained how regions are developing effective economic development strategies by linking land use, transportation, and workforce development using sound data and effective communication techniques. The session included a discussion of the Comprehensive Development Strategy (CEDS) and techniques for integrating the CEDS with other regional plans.

Materials:
Best Practices in Creating Strong Regional Economic Development Strategies Powerpoint (PDF)

Workshop Materials: Progress and Challenges in Place-Based Rural Policies

Brett Schwartz — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:08:31 +0000

These materials are from Chuck Fluharty’s keynote address “Progress and Challenges in Place-Based Rural Policies” given at the Prosperous Places workshop in Salt Lake City, March 25-26. Organized by NADO and Envision Utah, this workshop brought together around 50 HUD Sustainable Communities grantees, experts, and capacity-builders to focus on place-based local economic development strategies and scenarios planning.

Fluharty, president and CEO of RUPRI, offered framing remarks about opportunities for the integration of economic development and place-based strategies in rural America. He described the challenging work facing rural stakeholders in confronting traditional orthodoxies and paradigms to undertake collaborative integration.

Materials:
Progress and Challenges in Place-Based Rural Policies Powerpoint (PDF)

Workshop Materials: Rural Poverty and Equitable Development

Brett Schwartz — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:02:13 +0000

These materials are from the “Rural Poverty and Equitable Development” session held at the Prosperous Places workshop in Salt Lake City, March 25-26. Organized by NADO and Envision Utah, this workshop brought together around 50 HUD Sustainable Communities grantees, experts, and capacity-builders to focus on place-based local economic development strategies and scenarios planning.

In this session, Danielle Bergstrom (PolicyLink) discussed how rural and small communities are working to improve local conditions for economic inclusion by growing small businesses, coordinating infrastructure development, working with immigrant populations, partnering with local anchor institutions, and linking workforce pathways to opportunity. Bill Vanderwall (Minnesota Housing Project) also discussed the Fair Housing Equity Assessment and Regional Analysis of Impediments.

Materials:
Rural Poverty and Equitable Development Powerpoint (PDF)

Workshop Materials: Scenarios Planning 101 and Part 2

Brett Schwartz — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:54:03 +0000

These materials are from the “Scenarios Planning 101” and “Scenarios Planning Part 2” breakout sessions held at the Prosperous Places workshop in Salt Lake City, March 25-26, 2013. Organized by NADO and Envision Utah, this workshop brought together around 50 HUD Sustainable Communities grantees, experts, and capacity-builders to focus on place-based local economic development strategies and scenarios planning.

In the 101 session, participants learned about gathering baseline data, developing a public involvement plan, facilitating public open houses, and creating scenarios. In Part 2, the focus was on bringing together technical teams, stakeholders, and the media to tell a compelling story that will build buy-in to implement your plan. Topics included 1) telling compelling stories through scenarios modeling and visualizations and 2) developing long-term capacity and preparing for implementation.

Presenters included:

Christie Oostema, Planning Director, Envision Utah
Jay Baker, Countywide Planner, Cache County, Utah
Lori Haddock, Economic development professional, Bear Lake County, Idaho
Mitch Poulsen, Executive Director, Bear Lake Regional Commission

Materials:
Scenarios Planning 101 Powerpoint (PDF)
Measurements that Matter: Modeling What Relates to Community Values and Issues (PDF)
Project Data Needs Spreadsheet (Excel)
Identifying Visioning Principles from Public Input (PDF)
Identifying Data Themes and Alternative Scenarios from Public Input (PDF)
Envision Cache Valley Final Report and Toolkit (PDF)
Public Workshops Facilitator Guide (PDF)
Cache Valley Place Types Handout (PDF)
Bear Lake Valley Blueprint and Toolkit (PDF)
Bear Lake Place Types Handout (PDF)