COLUMBIA, S.C., March 30, 2016 – USDA Rural Development, in conjunction with the Clemson Extension Agribusiness Development Program, and South Carolina State University 1890 Extension Program has released details of an initiative called “Stronger Economies Together” (SET), that is designed to help regional teams develop new approaches to strengthen and enhance regional economic development activities. The SET initiative is an opportunity for existing or newly formed multi-county teams to receive the latest tools, training and technical assistance to help their region move forward and take advantage of positive growth and quality of life opportunities.
The SET initiative eligibility requirements are as follows: applicants should be individuals interested in forming an economic and community development team (15-25 members) encompassing a contiguous region of three or more counties in which at least 51% of the population is rural or 75% of the land area is rural. Applicants are required to fill out an application form that includes commitment letters, brief economic and demographic description of their region, economic challenges that their region is facing, the reasons concerning why their team should participate in SET, and specific training topics that they would find helpful. The South Carolina SET program is particularly interested in proposals that emphasize the role of the agriculture and food sector in their region. Most important, team members must be available for 35 hours of training over a one-year period, and each applying group must be committed to developing a regional economic development plan from the process. Applications are available online at www.clemson.edu/set and are due April 28, 2016.
The successful applicants will receive the following: 1) Valuable intensive strategic planning training for your regional teams, including the newly developed “Stronger Economies Together” program, a program designed to help your regional team develop new approaches to strengthen and enhance regional economic development activities; 2) Database tools specifically designed to help the regional teams examine competitive advantages; 3) Technical assistance and educational support from Clemson Extension, USDA Rural Development staff, South Carolina State University 1890 Extension and other State and local partners; 4) Other educational and information sharing opportunities with other SET program participants around the country.
Stronger Economies Together (SET) is a collaboration launched in 2010 by USDA Rural Development along with the nation’s Regional Rural Development Centers (RRDCs) and their land-grant university partners. The Stronger Economies Together Program (SET) is a strategic planning program designed to help communities in rural America to work together on a regional basis to develop strategic economic development plans based on current and emerging economic strengths in each region.
If you have questions, contact:
Dr. R. David Lamie, Clemson University, dlamie@clemson.edu
Charles Artis, South Carolina State University 1890 Extension Program, cqartis@scsu.edu
Michele J. Cardwell, Acting State Director, SC USDA Rural Development, 803-765-5163, michele.cardwell@sc.usda.gov
Jesse T. Risher, Business and Cooperative Programs Director, SC USDA Rural Development, 803-765-5881, jesse.risher@sc.usda.gov
Wieslawa Gartman, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, SC USDA Rural Development, 843-549- 1822, ext. 119, wieslawa.gartman@sc.usda.gov
Shannon R. Legree, Business and Cooperative Specialist, SC USDA Rural Development, 803- 253-3150, Shannon.legree@sc.usda.gov