James Nelson
University of Idaho
Dept. of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology
Moscow, ID 83844-2334
(208) 301-2083, (208) 885-5759 fax

Michael Woods
Oklahoma State University
514 Ag Hall
Stillwater, OK 74078
(405) 744-9837, (405) 744-8210 fax

A comprehensive economic development program must include:

• Community planning. (What does a community want? What resources do they have to work with?)
• Identification and evaluation of potential opportunities for development (industry and firm targeting). (What are some opportunities? Is an opportunity likely to lead to success? How desirable are potential outcomes?)
• Help for firms and entrepreneurs (local and from the “outside”) who are interested in expanding or locating in the community.

The two presenters have worked together to develop a set of tools that address these “sub-program” areas, and have tested and refined them in their own programs (in different states). The tools will be presented and discussed with real program examples, including program problems and outcomes, from Oklahoma and Idaho. Lessons learned from actual application of the materials will be shared. The role of field-based Extension professionals will be specifically addressed

Workshop participants will be provided with direct access to tools discussed (guidebooks, instructor materials, Power Point presentations, worksheets, references, etc.). Drafts of many of these materials are currently available at http://srdc.msstate.edu/care/. Materials are being refined, and additional materials are being developed and will be available by February 2005. They will be published on the above website and/or other internet locations.

The resources made available to workshop participants will make it possible for them to put together their own comprehensive economic development programs to address the needs of their constituents.

PowerPoint Presentation (PDF format, 95 kb)