Rural CommunityCollege Initiative

Merrill Wilcox

Piedmont Community College

Alan Barefield

Southern Rural Development Center

(662) 325-3207

alanb@srdc.msstate.edu

The Beginnings

Began as a demonstration project funded by the Ford Foundation and managed by MDC, Inc of Chapel HillMulti-state initiative that included Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Virginia schoolsFocused on increased involvement in economic development and educational access to programs

The New PhaseRound One

Coordination of the program was assumed by the NCRCRD and the SRDC in 2002Ford Fdn felt that the program’s focus need to be changed from one of demon-stration to one of institutionalizationRRDCs ties to the land grant system seemed to be the ideal vehicle

Round One StatesSouthern Region

Mississippi East Central Community College

North Carolina Carteret Community College Piedmont Community College Western Carolina Partnership

Haywood CC, Southwestern CC, Tri-County CC

Texas Coastal Bend College Howard College

Round One StatesNorth Central Region

Minnesota Northeast MN Higher Education District (5 colleges) Rochester Community and Technical College

New Mexico Eastern New Mexico University – Roswell Eastern New Mexico University – Ruidoso Mesalands Community College

North Dakota Fon du Lac Community College United Tribes Technical College Williston State College

Round Two States and SchoolsSouthern Region

FloridaNorth Florida Community College

LouisianaLouisiana Delta Community College

Round Two States and SchoolsNorth Central Region

Alaska

Hawaii

NebraskaLittle Priest

North DakotaFort BertholdTurtle Mountain

Land Grant Ties

Extension agents, specialists, or district directors serve as “coaches”

Coaches do not provide technical assistance or even educational programs, they focus on guiding the college team to include: Unheard voices (civic engagement) Equitable economic development Increased access to educational programs

Community College Team

Each college team as a leader that handles the day-to-day RCCI business

The “Core Team” is made up of 4-6 interested persons who have an intense interest in the program

The expanded team is more representative of the entire community; it should help to organize data, develop the strategic plan, and present the strategies to the community.

East Central Community College

Previously involved in a 16 county, 2 state economic development partnership that has tremendous political support

Many areas of focus with the above partnership, but RCCI programs will likely be training for unlicensed child care providers and business skills training for agribusiness firms

Carteret Community College

One county service area, but county is 100 miles long w/ 3 distinct divisions that do not “get along”Vast marine educational and research resourcesMajor problem for the “native” sector is a rapidly declining fishing industryProject is to develop a seafood brand that can compete on a regional level

Piedmont Community College

Two county service area, but distinct political disagreement within the counties and towns

Project is to develop two separate vision to action plans and then merge them with an overarching goal of greater economic and social development collaboration between the political entities

Western Carolina Partnership

Three colleges with a total 6 county service area located in western NC

Area is experiencing tremendous growth in tourism industry

Project initially focuses on developing a customer hospitality certification program that will train local workers

This will hopefully lead to other small business development programs such as BR&E, business skills training, etc.

Howard College

Formed four committees from the Expanded Team:Jobs and Economic Growth, City-County

Partnerships, Education, Community Beautification

Major projects include highway infrastructure beautification, convention center, partnerships with service area high schools

Coastal Bend College

Developed four subteams to cover the service areas of individual campuses

Priorities identified in focus group sessions include:Transportation and childcare are barriers to

educational accessUnskilled workforce as barrier to economic

development