Saturday, October 01, 2005
While visiting with colleagues at Purdue last week, I learned that the Economic Development Administration had awarded Purdue's new Center for Regional Development and the Monitor Group (Michael Porter's firm) with awards for research into rural clusters.
In August, the EDA solicited proposals for a project designed to address competitiveness and innovation in rural U.S. regions. This project has two research priorities, (1) further analysis of existing raw data and (2) a Rural Clusters of Innovation Project that would result in a regional implementation plan based on an inventory of regional assets of one rural region. Read more.
The Purdue project will involve using extension educators in two target regions. One of the major assets we havein rural areas comes from extension offices. Yet these offices have not been used effectively to engage stakeholders. This project should help EDA identify how other rural regions can use cluster-based analysis with their extension offices to build their economies.
posted by Ed Morrison |
links
Some Background on EDPro Weblog
The purpose of this weblog is to help economic development professionals -- EDPros -- keep up with the changes sweeping our profession. Strap on your goggles. It's a whole new game. There are no experts any more. The only place to learn about economic development is from other EDPros who are doing it.
One other point: the prevaling approach (paradigm, if you like) in economic development is shifting from competition to collaboration. There are a lot of reaasons underlying this shift, but here's the important insight: You, your community, and your region will do better by collaborating and sharing information.
If you are using a news reader, here is the link to syndicate this site:
Here's the link if you are a bloglines subscriber:
Speaking and workshops on Open Source Economic Development
As the idea of Open Source Economic Development starts spreading, more people are asking about it. Visit the I-Open web site to learn more. My colleagues and I are happy to explain the basic concepts in a talk or a workshop. E-mail Susan Alshuler if you'd like to learn more about workshops and speaking.
Background on Ed Morrison
Download some background information on me here.
Purdue and Monitor Group to study rural clusters
