Stronger Economies Together (SET)
Strategies for Building New Economic Opportunities
Webinar for Potential Phase III Applicants
January 6, 2012
WELCOME
Today’s Agenda
• Introduction of the National SET Coordinators
• The value of the SET Program
 Judy Canales, Administrator, USDA RD Rural
Business and Cooperative Programs
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Brief overview of SET
The SET Phase III application process
If you get selected . . . what’s ahead?
Questions from you
Lead Agencies & Partners
• SET Lead Agencies:
 USDA Rural Development
 Four Regional Rural Development Centers
• Key partners:
 Extension and research faculty from land-grant
universities in the U.S.
 National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA
 Economic Development Administration, U.S.
Department of Commerce
The National SET
Coordinating Team
Southern Rural
Development Center
 Bo Beaulieu
Director
 Rachel Welborn
Program Manager
USDA RD
 David Sears
Director Regional
Innovation Team
 Suzette Agans
Specialist, Community &
Economic Development
The Value of the SET Program
Judy Canales
Administrator
Rural Business and
Cooperative Programs
USDA Rural Development
Washington, DC
Overview of SET
Purpose:
Help rural communities/counties to
work together as a regional team in
developing and implementing an
economic development blueprint
that builds on the current and
emerging economic strengths of
their region.
Phases I and II SET States
19 States – 39 Regions
What SET Provides Regional Teams
Training and
Guidance
Peer-toPeer
Connections
Technical
Assistance
Tailored
Data
Planning
Tools
The Nine SET Training Modules
The Basics
Snapshot of
SET
Regional
Development
101
Gearing Up
Building a
Strong Regional
Team
Developing
Your Vision and
Goals
Examining
Resources
Moving Into
Action
Focusing on
Current
Demographic
Features
Planning for
Success
Exploring
Opportunities
for a Stronger
Regional
Economy
Examining
Assets and
Barriers
Measuring for
Success
The Phase III Application Process
• Eligibility
• State Partner Team (SPT) and State
Training Team (STT) Roles and
Responsibilities
• Important attributes of the SPT and STT
The Phase III Application Process
• Clear commitments by both:
• USDA RD State Director and
• Extension Director and/or Administrator
• Development of a solid recruitment plan
NOTE: Regions should not be decided at this
point. It’s important to a allow communities or
counties to self-define themselves as a region.
Scoring of Proposals
• Guidelines on page 12 of the application
• Review team composed of RD and
Extension staff
• Anticipated decision announcements by
mid-February
If You Get Selected . . . What Is Ahead?
• To get strong applications from regions in your
state, the SPT will work with the National team on
the request for proposals for use in your state.
• STT will attend national SET training (June 2012)
 Typically 3 persons: 1 RD and 2 Extension
 RD pays own travel; We pay for the 2 Extension reps.
 Funds may be available to include 1 non-RD/nonExtension member (a 4th person at the training).
 Other STT members may be able to attend if you have
resources for them to attend and if space is available.
If You Get Selected . . . What Is Ahead?
• Funds provided to support SET:
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Partial salary/fringe support for ONE Extension educator
In-state travel for Extension educator delivering training
Meeting-related expenses
Long-distance telephone calls
• RD staff will use their own travel funds to support
their SET activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
• Is SET a duplication of EDA’s Economic
Development District work or CEDS?
• Will regions be provided a USDA RD grant
at the end of the SET planning process?
• What is the anticipated time commitment?
• Where can I find additional information on
SET? http://srdc.msstate.edu/set/
Brief Timeline of Activities
Month
Activities
January
SET Webinar; State SET applications completed/submitted
February
SET states selected; SPT develops request for proposals and
finalizes implementation/communications plan
March
SPT reaches out to counties/communities across the state giving
special attention to rural disadvantaged areas
April
SET applications from regions submitted; SPT recommends 1-2
regions to USDA RD; STT members to be part of the national training
finalized.
May
USDA RD finalizes selection of SET regions
June
National SET training workshop
Summer
Initial meeting with selected regions to finalize SET; STT members
finalize SET training responsibilities; SPT/STTs take part in monthly
national SET Phase III conference calls
Sept/October
Launch SET in each targeted region; continue to take part in monthly
national SET conference calls.
Your Turn
Contact Information
• Bo Beaulieu – 662-312-3207
[email protected]
• Rachel Welborn – 662-325-3207
[email protected]
• David Sears – 202-690-4749
[email protected]
• Suzette Agans -- 202-401-1922
[email protected]