Weaverville Economic Development Commission

Transcription

1 Weaverville Economic Development Commission Wednesday, 5 December p.m. Agenda 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of November 2012 Minutes 3. Welcome & Introductions 4. Certified Entrepreneurial Community Program M. Boaz 5. Community Branding Concept J. Glicken & D. Jackson 6. Advantage West Meeting 19 November D. Jackson 7. Asheville/Buncombe Chamber EDC Membership M. Boaz 8. Local Industry Outreach Update M. Boaz 9. Economic Development Incentives Policy: v.2 W. Currie & M. Boaz 10. Future Meetings: Next Council Meeting: Monday, 17 December 2012 Next EDC Meeting: Weds, 9 January 2013 (?) 11. Adjournment

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4 Certified Entrepreneurial Community Program Growing our economy one Community at a time Why Focus on Entrepreneurship? AdvantageWest knows that growing businesses and changing community culture for business growth requires leadership, time, patience, resources and a view to the long term rather than the short term focus on job creation. What Is A CEC? Certified - High Performance - Reward & Recognition Entrepreneurial - Growing existing businesses - Landing Zone for new business - Better jobs Higher pay Community - Collaboration, Clusters, Capital - Networking, Education, Resources Strategy for Regional Approach How the Program Works - Counties may apply to AW for county wide designation or towns may apply for their jurisdiction - The applications will be accepted in progressive stages as they move through the process - Final certification will require the satisfactory completion of all five stages - Recertification 3 years. Step One Community Readiness Certification ( days) 1. Resolutions from elected officials and community leadership organizations outlining their support for entrepreneurs, including a sponsoring organization who will assume responsibility for implementing the program of Certification 2. Written proof of a broadened economic development policy beyond the traditional recruitment model from the economic development organization or chamber of commerce, etc. which includes a budget to support the initiative 3. Entrepreneurship programs operating in the community: a) Entrepreneur Network b) Mentoring programs c) Youth engagement programs d) Efforts to improve business services & trainings for entrepreneurs e) Micro lending or other business financing services f) Business counseling services Certified Entrepreneurial Community Program AdvantageWest Economic Development Group All rights reserved, Page1

5 4. Leadership Team in place which is committed to building and supporting an entrepreneurship program. Names of the team members and their written commitment to the program will be necessary. Team members to include a strong representative from all of the key players within the community (example: Chamber of Commerce, School System, Community College Small Business Center, Predominant Towns in the County, Economic Development, Leaders from both the Retiree community & the Entrepreneur community) 5. Willingness to invest in the program will be a requirement. Successful economic development programs need staff time and dollars to support the entrepreneurship program. 6. A written statement outlining the community s willingness to work beyond the community or county borders in collaboration for resources that will nurture entrepreneurs. Step Two Community Assessment Certification 1. Establish a Baseline a. Where is your community today and how did it get there? b. What are the key trends impacting your community? c. What have you been doing to address these trends? 2. Clarify Development Goals: If the community/county does not have a strategic plan for economic development to present they should prepare a document which identifies current development priorities in order to garner investment. 3. Mapping Development Assets: This process should be an identification of the assets the community provides which could be mobilized and employed to support the development strategy. 4. Understanding of Entrepreneurial Talent: A document which outlines the current entrepreneurial talent presently living and working in the community. This database of current E talent provides a base for growing entrepreneurs. This exercise is extremely important because it identifies the people in the community who have ideas, motivations and some of the skills necessary for creating and growing new or better businesses. Step Three Community Strategy Certification 1. This stage of certification will require a completed, comprehensive community strategy for entrepreneurial growth which also identifies the participating partners, budget for implementation, and a plan for sustainability. This step will be the most time consuming stage of certification. The strategy will require the completion of the preceding steps and will also require the community s involvement in the regional strategy for entrepreneurial development, the Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council. Certified Entrepreneurial Community Program AdvantageWest Economic Development Group All rights reserved, Page2

6 2. The strategy will also require the completion of a comprehensive plan for telecom broadband deployment in the county that includes participation by the governing body. 3. The strategy for a central location for entrepreneurs to acquire permits, services, etc. will also be a requirement. This central location should have an internet component. Step Four Community Capacity Certification This step involves three processes: 1. Scanning the community for resources 2. Documenting the existing community resources 3. Developing a system for the these resources Step Five Community Evaluation Process This step consists of mapping and documenting your entrepreneurial talent and then organizing them into the following categories: Limited Potential Potential Business Owners Entrepreneurs Community Advantages AdvantageWest Promise 1. Signage for community stating they are an AdvantageWest Economic Development Group Certified Entrepreneurial Community 2. Special recognition on the AW website 3. Co op marketing opportunities with AW designed to attract entrepreneurs 4. Recognition in the AW Annual Report and all marketing materials 5. The certified communities will have an opportunity to have their community/county featured in the AW Newsletter and during site consultant familiarization tours. 6. Training for leadership team from Center for Rural Entrepreneurship - Entrepreneur Benefits - Improved/Ensured Access to Broadband - Improved Access to Capital - Improved Access to People Partners Employees Customers Certified Entrepreneurial Community Program AdvantageWest Economic Development Group All rights reserved, Page3

7 - Simpler Permitting and Licensing - Community of Peers - Intangible Benefits of Community Support Steps for Success - For communities in the AW region to be successful in this endeavor they must have access to technical assistance throughout the process much like the Certified Site Program that AW rolled out in the mid nineties. The staff stands ready to assist those communities that choose to participate! How Do You Get Started? - AW will be accepting Letters of Intent from county or municipal governments that include the following: - Commitment and desire to complete the program - Funding set aside for the program can be in kind staff time, etc. - Staff/organization responsible for implementation that will serve as the AW partner in the process Participating Communities Next Steps - Finalize Leadership Team with personal letters of commitment - Attend Team Training - Minimum of two team members must complete required training, including leader - A community resolution is required - Set aside funds for training expenses - Leadership teams apply training to complete the CEC checklist Questions? Contact Emily Breedlove at ebreedlove@awnc.org or by calling (828) Certified Entrepreneurial Community Program AdvantageWest Economic Development Group All rights reserved, Page4

8 134 Wright Brothers Way, Fletcher NC Telephone: S T E P O N E check-list Community Readiness Certification 1. Letter of Intent submitted 2. Community Resolution 3. Leadership team identified according to strategy for regional approach and contact information completed with personal letters of commitment. 4. Completion of Leadership Team Training by minimum of two team members. 5. Statement of commitment to broadened economic development policy 6. Focus on supportive programs for entrepreneurs e.g., networks, mentoring programs, micro-lending, counseling services. Time Frame: days AdvantageWest Economic Development Group

9 134 Wright Brothers Way, Fletcher NC Telephone: S T E P TWO check-list Community Assessment Certifications 1. Baseline Assessment Report 2. Establish a widely-held Community Vision and clarify Community Development Goals 3. Mapping of Development Assets 4. Identification of current e-talent 5. Plan for Targeting e-talent Time Frame: days AdvantageWest Economic Development Group

10 134 Wright Brothers Way, Fletcher NC Telephone: S T E P THREE check-list Community Strategy Certification 1. Comprehensive Community Strategy for Entrepreneurial Growth 2. Development of local BREC networking forums 3. Comprehensive Plan for telecom broadband Time Frame: days AdvantageWest Economic Development Group

11 134 Wright Brothers Way, Fletcher NC Telephone: S T E P FOUR check-list Community Capacity Certification 1. Scanning community and documenting Community Capacity for Business & Entrepreneurial Support Services 2. Plan of Action to provide missing support services 3. Establishment of a Citizen Engagement Plan Time Frame: days AdvantageWest Economic Development Group

12 134 Wright Brothers Way, Fletcher NC Telephone: S T E P FIVE check-list Community Evaluation Process 1. Strategy for streamlined business services, permitting 2. Business Retention and Expansion Plan Implementation 3. Identification of success metrics 4. Documentation tool for tracking system outcomes Time Frame: days AdvantageWest Economic Development Group