I. Title of Program or Issue: Empowering Local Communities for Economic Development

A. Situational Statement: Communities of all sizes are concerned with economic development opportunities. Small and mid-sized communities often lack information about economic development options and the organizational structure necessary to accomplish the needs and desires of their residents.

B. Description/Educational Objectives: This program is designed around a series of four, three-hour workshops designed to enable leaders, decision-makers and residents to analyze the community, think about alternatives and plan an action strategy for community economic development. The focus is to help residents take charge of their community's destiny.

C. Suggested Time Required for Program: The program may be initiated any time of the year, but requires approximately 90 days pre-conference planning, data collection and material preparation.

D. Audience and Level of Offering: The primary audience is both public and private citizens who are involved or interested in their community's economic development strategies. While some municipal level programs have been completed, the majority are done on a county-wide basis.

E. Teaching Methods, Resources, Costs:Principal teaching methods include presentation and group discussion, primary data collection and strategic planning exercises. Local leaders, along with Extension specialists are involved in collecting data, leading discussion groups and making presentations. There is a $300.00 fee to cover travel expense of speakers, plus there is a fee to produce the participant's workbook. Local costs have averaged between $1,000 and $1,500 depending on number of participants and type of refreshments.

F. Contact Person:
Bill Grunkemeyer
Program Leader CD and CED
OSU Extension Community Development
700 Ackerman Road, Suite 235
Columbus, OH 43202-1578
Phone: 614-292-5942
E-Mail: grunkemeyer