Community, Economic and
Social Development

These projects not only support development, but also provide local governments with technical services, planning assistance and the in-kind services that many small and rural communities are unable to provide for themselves.

The goals of Sierra Economic Development District’s Coloma/Lotus Community Action Plan, in northern California, include leadership, community and economic development. Through a survey and workshops, strategies were created to identify necessary resource development including creating multipurpose trails linked to businesses, campgrounds and Bed & Breakfasts and preserving open space and historic buildings. Two of the plan goals are now being implemented and have attracted additional grant funding. The funding sources are: the U.S. Forest Service Economic Recovery Grant ($15,000), Sierra EDD ($3,000 match) and in-kind funds ($945).

Community Choices, an initiative by the Atlanta Regional Commission, offers quality growth toolkits, specialized community planning academy training and funding through the Livable Center Initiatives (LCI), to help local governments build quality growth communities. Already, 1,000 CD-format toolkits have been distributed and approximately 500 persons attended training classes. LCI has awarded $4 million in planning grants to 42 communities for project studies ranging from revitalizing downtowns to multi-modal connectivity. The initiative was included in the areawide Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and received Federal Highway Administration funding.

Mid-Minnesota Development Commission, Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission, Southwest Regional Development Commission, and Region Nine Regional Development Commission in Southwest Minnesota formed a partnership, under The Southwest Minnesota Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation, to work on joint projects and offer clients the expertise of all four commissions. Leadership from each region meets regularly to develop areas of cooperation, shared values, policy and initiatives. Efforts are being made to develop a cooperative administrative system for local Area Agencies on Aging, sharing GIS assets and exploring joint staff training.

In north-central Minnesota, the Headwaters Regional Development Commission focused on positioning their region’s communities and businesses to prosper amid recent dramatic demographic and economic changes, resulting from the new economy, with the Prospering in the 21st Century – Strategically Positioning for the New Economy program. The Headwaters RDC, in partnership with the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, has used innovative methods and technology to address recent and future challenges. A new leadership model that blurs the lines between private and public was developed for use throughout the region.

The Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission and partners are securing financing to build a business park in the City of Fredericktown, Missouri. The project involved establishing a city/county TIF district, local bonds and securing an EDA grant to leverage state CDBG, USDA Rural Development, MoDOT and the Delta Regional Authority funds. The construction of the park’s additional water storage, sewer, a road, a new $6 million electric co-op complex and a local college satellite campus are underway. An estimated 175 jobs will be created.

The Eastern Carolina Joint Land Study was conducted by the Eastern Carolina Council of Governments and partners, to protect and promote present and future operational capabilities of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. Community partners concerned about encroachment and current and future base use petitioned the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment for funding to do a Joint Land Use Study. The partners, including the two counties, three municipalities and the state formed committees, and are continuing to meet to ensure implementation of recommendations.

The Community Benchmarking Collaborative, developed by South Carolina’s Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments and now in its fourth year, produces an annual quality of life report for the region. The report contains a series of indicators, selected to measure trends such as population, poverty, wages, environment and transportation. For the past two years, a survey has been used to measure public perception about quality of life. The Technical Review Committee, comprised of practitioners in various fields, reviews each indicator and discusses the outcomes and a steering committee addresses priorities.

The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments is also developing an Energy Element for the Town of Summerville, in an effort to locally incorporate energy- saving practices. A South Carolina Energy Office grant is supporting the research and preparation of an energy assessment of the town’s residents and commercial, industrial, institutional and agricultural annual usage levels. Based on assessments and expected population growth, projections for future energy needs will be made and a non-renewable resources conservation strategy will be developed for the Energy Element, which will be included in Summerville’s comprehensive economic plan.

Local leaders of four counties in the South Central Tennessee Development District (SCTDD) came together to improve economic and community development and create a four-county strategic plan. This effort, called Communities Tomorrow: Localized Vision Planning, used local input to establish a vision of what communities want to be, defines goals and initiates collaborative action plans. The plan addresses issues common to all four counties, such as workforce development. As the grant applicant, SCTDD plans to subcontract with the regional Workforce Board to employ a full-time Communities Tomorrow Coordinator.

The Economic Impact of Dairies on the South Plains of Texas: A County Perspective is contained in an informational brochure compiled by the South Plains Association of Governments. Information was gathered from three local dairies to determine the economic effects of the dairy industry, as compared with the locally significant cotton farm industry. Economic indicators reviewed included tax revenues, water usage, job creation and overall economic impacts. The brochure explains that the introduction of the dairy industry to west Texas can be a mutually beneficial arrangement.

The Cumberland Plateau Regional Broadband Project, a regional project by the Cumberland Plateau Planning District Commission and partners, will provide 51 miles of fiber optics from Abingdon, Virginia to Richlands, Virginia. Independent studies show that as many as 1,200 new jobs will result. The project will serve the Cumberland Plateau Regional Industrial Parks. In addition, a new technology park will be developed and provide economic diversification, making the region more economically competitive. Funding was provided by EDA, county governments, Virginia Tobacco Commission and the Virginia Coalfield Coalition.

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