# Presentation: 742248

## Utilizing Educational InstitutionsforCommunity Development

*Accessing Resources to Achieve Your Goals*

**Notes:**
Access to quality information and data can provide the foundation to community and economic development policies and can be a tool to empowerment.  A good source in communities for information is the local college or university.  Universities not only train and educate people but they have highly-trained and skilled individuals that study complex and key issues within a community.  The key is to bring these studies into the community in a clear and understandable format.
This panel discussion will provide examples of how the university-partnership program, National Centers of Excellence (NCE), are working with and supporting Empowerment Zones or Enterprise Communities in their region.  From this panel, conference participants will learn about NCE programs and ideas on how they can work with their local universities.

## Topic Outline

- What you need to bring to the table when asking for assistance.
- How do you gain access into the institution.
- What types of resources can assist in rural development.
- Examples of the resources utilized by the NCEs.

## What you need to bring to the table.

## How to gain access into the institution.

- Student Body
- Faculty/Department Chairpersons
- Alumni Associations
- Campus Organizations
- Public Relations Office
- Community Organizations & Committees
- Governmental Agencies

## What resources are available?

- Campus Resources
- Cooperative Extension
- Extended Education
- Business Association & Fraternities
- Business Incubators
- Internships & Work-Study

**Notes:**
Campus Resources: Library Services, Computer Labs and Internet access, TV &/or Recording Studios 
Cooperative Extension: Existing Services/Outreach into the community
Extended Ed.: Grant-writing and Management Courses

## What resources are available?

- Foundations & Financial Service Providers
- Research Development & Implementation
- Project Development & Management
- External Evaluations
- Translation Services
- Conferences & Workshops
- In-field training & Outreach

## Examples of Resources Utilized by the NCEs

## California State University, Fresno

- _NCE Housing and Economic Development Assistance Program - HEDAP (2000-2003)_  *Business Fraternities, Internship Programs, and Regional Database Projects *
- _NCE Entrepreneur Business Workshop/Training Seminars (1999-2000)_: *Small Business Institute and Business Incubator, Internship *(_[www.](http://www.busplan.cc/)__[busplan](http://www.busplan.cc/)__[.cc](http://www.busplan.cc/)_)
- _Rural Communities Leadership & Revitalization Program (2000-2001):_ *Program Development, Implementation, Evaluation, Bilingual **Translations, and Internships *

## Crownpoint Institute of Technology

*Extension Programs, Conferences & Workshops** – *Animal Husbandry, State and Tribal Livestock Laws.
*Technical Assistance on Regional Issues* – International Reverse Delegation.
*Workshops and Veterinarian Technical Assistance** - *Four Pennsylvania veterinarians sponsored by the Americans for Native Americans (ANA) put on several community workshops on animal care and management, and provided free services to the animals of the area.
*Internship, Training and Consumer Services*

## Fort Peck Community College

*Conferences - E*conomic summit in May 2001.
*Evaluation –*Tribal Court Evaluation to determine any negative influence with regard to lending, business development and other issues associated with jurisdiction, etc.
*Program Facilitation and Management - C*onducting tourism inventories for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial events.
*Program Development/Implementation and Grant Writing - *Grants funded Gear-Up Program, 21st Century, Rural Systemic Initiative (Math and Science K-12)

## Heritage College

*Work-Study Program - *Lower Yakima County Rural Enterprise Community** (LYCREC)** has hired a *Work-Study student* to assist them with their Five-year Strategic Plan
*Regional Database and Research - *GIS work was done for LYCREC
*Contact and Facilitation - *NCE arranged a meeting regarding training for GIS instruction to RD staff
*Technical Assistance *- on policy development, by-law and strategic plan revisions, and Board development issues based on the staff’s broad background in non-profit management

## San Diego State University-Imperial Valley Campus 

*Educational Outreach Programs* - CCBRES is working to bring the information and resources of the University into the community by providing easy-to-read materials. (_[www](http://www.ccbres.sdsu.edu/)_.ccbres.sdsu.edu).
*Regional Database - *Further plans include developing a cluster analysis for the region and a geographical information mapping tool.
*Facilitation and Mediation - *In developing a vision and economic development guidelines and principals for the region, NCE and SDSU-IVC are facilitating the discussion and working directly with economic development organizations.  A large portion of this activity entails speaking with local service organizations and councils/supervisors.

## Somerset Community College

*Grant Writing and Technical Assistance, Program Development/Implementation, and Work-Study Program -*** The Life Empowerment Action Program Center (LEAP Center)** - The LEAP Center assists low-income individuals seeking a community college degree or to improve their job skills.

**Notes:**
It houses two 12-station computer labs and has three staff members. State-funded Ready-To-Work (RTW) grant assist individuals to be successful in college or to provide short-term training to enter the job market. RTW and LEAP also provides mentoring, counseling, childcare, transportation and other opportunities for these participants.  The off-campus site is less intimidating for the participants.  The LEAP Center also houses SCC's ACT WorkKeys assessment and remediation program which provides job skills assessments and remediation.  Other business and industry short-term training is also scheduled at the LEAP Center.  LEAP Center personnel are doing WorkKeys pre- and post-employment assessments and remediation for new industries locating in the Clinton County Empowerment Zone.  LEAP Center personnel are also providing WorkKeys assessments and job placement assistance to Project ABLE and Project CHANCE participants from the EZ.  These two grant programs assist physically and mentally challenged citizens obtain non-subsidized employment.  SCC has contracted with I/TECH, a private company that provides high-tech, company-certified training (Cisco, A+, and Microsoft), to hold these classes at the LEAP Center and the college has upgraded one of the computer labs to accommodate this training.  In partnership with Somerset Technical College, SCC has obtained a $10,000 School-To-Work grant to assist local high school faculty in putting WorkKeys skills-based curriculum into their existing program.

## University of Texas – Pan American

-  *Interns - *_**NCE Leadership Training Classes (1998-2001):**_ A part-time student helped develop this Leadership Training Package.  Another student from our university helped in translating this package into Spanish.
*Interns and Research - *_**EmpowerNET (2000- ongoing):**_** **The EmpowerNET project is an Internet based Community Network developed by staff at the NCE.
*Technical Assistance and Regional Data - *_**Business Plans for Entrepreneurs (1998-on going):**_ NCE staff helps the Business Development Division by providing demographic data on the empowerment zone community.
*Facilitation and Translations - *_**Strategic Planning (1998-on going):**_ Students and Faculty from the University have always helped us in translating and also conducting some community meetings in Spanish.

**Notes:**
Interns: The Leading for Empowerment curriculum is designed to be a simple, easy-to-follow guide for teaching basic leadership skills. 

## So Remember...

## National Center of ExcellenceCalifornia State University, Fresno

- 550 E. Shaw Ave., Suite 240
- Fresno CA 93710
- (559) 241-6541
- Fax (559) 241-6539
- Terry Fleming – Assistant Director
- terryfleming@sprintmail.com
- tfleming@csufresno.edu