Stronger Economies Together (SET) Coming To Our Area Soon
A federal program started in 2010 that is in place in over 50 regions in 28 states is about to have its Kick Off organizational meeting on October 5th at 8:30 A.M. at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center.
SET is a program designed to develop a plan for fostering economic development within a specific region. In this instance, it is for Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person Counties, with the organizers being the USDA Rural Development and the NC Cooperative Extension at NC State. They chose the Kerr-Tar Regional Development District to create a plan for the five counties that will lay out strategies for developing and implementing an economic development blueprint that strategically builds on the current and emerging economic strengths of the region.
Will Brooks of the Kerr-Tar Regional Council is leading the project, and this event will be the first of its kind in the local area.
Other attempts of organizing counties together have been successful in cross-marketing each of the counties’ industrial parks; however this will be the first attempt to develop a strategic plan with Regional Economic Goals combining the five counties’ strengths and weakness together into one document using the Three Waves of Economic Development, plus capitalizing on known assets:
- Industrial Recruiting – Going after outside businesses
- Cost Competition – Retain and expand existing businesses
- Regional Competitiveness – Identify regional resources to promote business opportunities
- Asset Promotion – Building on natural features
A “Civic Engagement Forum Kick-Off” will be held at the Granville County Convention & Expo Center at 8:30 A.M. on October 5th. According to Brooks, there will be about 20 stakeholders from different areas who will develop the strategic plan. This Regional Economic Development Plan will serve as the road map for the future economic development efforts of The Kerr-Tar Regional Economic Development District.
