Strategies for Rural Grow

Presenters: Dr. Tim Ezzell, University of Tenness

Eric Ogle, University of Tennessee

Date: November 27, 2012
Today’s Topics

• Project Background (5 Minutes)• Study County Selection Process (5 Min• Research Components (5 Minutes)• Key Issues and Findings (15 Minutes)• Best Practices and Conclusions (15 Min• Questions (15 Minutes)
• ARC study conducted 

2010-2012

• Conducted by UT 

researchers

• Why do some counties 

emerge from economic distress while others do not?

Project Background
Economic Distress

• “Economic Distress” is a status ARC assigns t

counties experiencing economic hardship

• Status allows ARC to prioritize these areas• ARC has special distressed county funding pro• Status determined by index system based on:

– Unemployment rates– Income– Poverty rates
Project Report

Report is available at the ARC website: www.arc.gov
Key Project Questions

• What factors impact development effort• How do distressed counties differ?• What significant obstacles exist?• What best practices are being used?
Project Design

• Project was different in three ways:

1. A cohort study to compare distressed and 

non-distressed counties

2. Used both quantitative and qualitative 

research approaches

3. Included significant local stakeholder 

participation
Case Study Communities

• Ten case study 

communities

• Five pairs of cohorts –

two from each ARC subregion

• Each pair contains a 

distressed and formerly distressed county
Cohort Selection Proces

• Identified most improved 

counties in the region

• Found statistical matches 

for these counties

• Narrowed list using 

important local characteristics

• Worked with ARC to select 

final case studies from these candidates
North

Greene County, PAMorgan County, OHNorth CentralPendleton County, WVCalhoun County, WVCentralPike County, KYBell County, KYSouth CentralAvery County, NCJohnson County, TNSouthLawrence County, ALNoxubee County, MS
Research Activities

• Demographic Analysis• Economic Analysis• Community Survey• Site visits
Demographic Analysis

• Helped understand local conditions• Looked at historical data and statistics• Topics included unemployment, educat

public health, and population trends

• Revealed population exodus• Relationship between good schools and 

economic performance
Economic Analysis

• Location plays an important role in economic 

performance

• Communities located near urban areas or maj

transportation networks perform better

• Potential economic growth areas:

– computers and electronic components– aerospace– fertilizer and chemical products– medical and optical instruments
Community Survey

• Surveyed 100 from each 

county

• Used mail survey• Included community 

leaders and key stakeholders

• Asked about public 

services, infrastructure, local perceptions, and social capital
Top Growth Opportunitie

• Tourism and Retail Services• Leadership Development• Water and Sewer Extensions• Redevelopment of Existing Assets• Technology and IT seen as poores

growth area
Top Growth Obstacles

• Lack of local capital• Location• Local leadership• Lack of job training• Road capacity• Lack of entrepreneurship
Services Needing Improvem

• Job training services• Substance abuse services• Homeless services• Child care services• Internet services
Public Services

• Libraries• Utilities• Fire and Police• Planning and Zoning• Public Transportation• Recycling Services

Best PerformingWorst Performing
Significant Differences

• Local government• County government• Sherriff’s department• Planning and zoning

Distressed Counties were significantly lessatisfied with the performance of these se
Open Ended Questions

• Survey included open ended questions• Responses translated into word cloud charts• “List 3 words that describe your county”• “What is your county best known for?• “What are three problems that you think mus

be addressed or resolved?”

• Became graphical elements in report
What three words describe your count
What is your county best known for?
Three problems that need to be solve
Site Visits

• Conducted visits to all ten 

counties

• Observed local efforts first 

hand

• Conducted interviews and 

focus groups with local stakeholders

• Residents commented about 

local issues

• Identified local best practices
Issues and Obstacles

• Drug and welfare abuse• Vacant industrial sites• Transportation costs• Transportation infrastructure• Planning issues and land constraints• Tourism infrastructure• Behavioral and cultural barriers
Drug Abuse and Welfare Depend

• Major concern in all ten counties• Drug costs are a major drain on 

local coffers

• Some success with alternative 

sentencing and treatment programs

• Transitional programs needed for 

people on Welfare

• Problems rooted in hopelessness 

and poverty
Vacant Industrial Sites

• Old industrial sites a problem 

in some areas

• Some sites built for jobs that 

no longer exist

• Site costs drain resources 

from other development efforts

• Few funds for adaptive reuse• May need to “let sites go”
Transportation Costs

• Rising transportation costs 

undermine regional strategies

• Some workers barely break 

even after long commutes

• Lack of transportation options 

compounds issue

• Communities should explore 

ride-sharing, car pooling, and other transportation programs
Transportation Infrastructu

• Roads and infrastructure 

improvements are vital

• Highway improvements 

drive economic growth

• Road benefits may be 

greatest near urban areas

• Best when accompanied by 

other reforms

• Need to prepare for 

unintended consequences
Planning Issues and Constra

• Majority view planning as “inadequate” or poor• Pro-forma plans common• Low implementation leads to “planning fatigue• Land constraints limit development• Mountaintop removal seen as a land-use optio• Planning not optimized for land constraints• Alternative development models may help• Consider increased density, cluster developme

and vertical development
Tourism Infrastructure

• Hospitality training needed• Existing programs underutilized • Lack of training hurts industry• Culinary arts training lacking• “Dry” laws restrict tourism 

development and reduce tax revenues
Behavioral Barriers 

• Behavioral problems an issue• Contribute to substance abuse and 

deter entrepreneurship

• Include hopelessness, fear of 

change, and a lack of pride 

• Racial attitudes deter progress• Only 2.5% of survey participants 

strongly optimistic about future

• New residents sometimes more 

entrepreneurial
Best Practices

• Higher Education Partnerships• Connect Kentucky• Social Networking• Morgan County Incubator• Tourism Development• Downtown Redevelopment• Youth Retention• Pike County Energy Research• Health Care Access• NC Business Development
Higher Education Partners

• Higher Ed partnerships 

contribute to local growth

• Small colleges can have a 

big impact

• Bring innovation, energy and 

expertise 

• Extension offices can be 

vital ally

• Need funding and training in 

key areas
Connect Kentucky

• KY counties returned high 

telecom scores

• Local officials attribute success 

to Connect Kentucky 

• Partnership between the state 

and private telecom firms

• Connect Kentucky viewed 

favorably by stakeholders in both counties
Social Networking

• Communities are using social 

networking

• Greene and Noxubee counties 

good examples

• Use Facebook to connect local 

officials, promote downtown redevelopment and tourism

• Also potential with YouTube, 

Trip Advisor and other sites

• Communities need training to 

manage virtual presence
Morgan County, Ohio

• Great example of a community 

growing new jobs

• Established community foundation, 

local improvement nonprofit

• Concentrated on schools • Developing incubator tied to school 

STEM and vocational education

• Incubator encourages interaction 

tech and vocational students
Tourism Development

• Adventure tourism growing 

market

• Helping attract new industries 

and small businesses

• Welcome Centers promote 

tourism

• Centers need effective training 

and funding
Downtown Redevelopme

• Only 2% of survey participants 

view downtown as excellent; 20% view it as adequate

• Transportation improvements 

can impact downtowns

• Use buy-local campaigns• Reuse historic structures as 

community theaters
Youth Retention

• Different approaches used to 

develop and retain youth

• Youth leadership programs identify 

and mentor emerging leaders

• Morgan County encourages youth to 

create local businesses

• Alabama Agricultural Leadership 

program 

• Local leadership plays important role
Alternative Energy

• Energy remains an important 

industry

• Costs and benefits of shale-gas 

unknown

• Pike County is a model for 

energy research

• Region needs to better prepare 

for the coal transition
Health Care

• Health care both a basic need a 

major industry

• Major employer and regional draw• Rural areas maintain health care 

through determination or innovation

• Pendleton’s sliding scale clinic good 

case study

• Helped the rural county maintain 

excellent health outcomes
Small Business Developm

• Impressive small business 

support resources in NC 

• Community colleges assist 

business development

• Higher Ed system offers 

assistance programs and entrepreneurship degrees

• MAY Coalition provides 

affordable loans
Summary

• Innovate and Create• Complex problems defy simple solutions• Find what works for your community• Accept and embrace change • Plan and partner• Invest in people • Strength of the region remains with its residen

improving their opportunities benefits overall loeconomy
Contact Info

Tim Ezzell, Ph.D.Research ScientistHoward H. Baker, Jr. Center for Public Policy600 Henley Street, Suite 311Knoxville, TN 37996-4134Phone: (865) 974-9036Fax: (865) 974-9035Email: tezzell@utk.edu