Stronger Communities Together

Launched in 2009 by USDA Rural Development in collaboration with the nation’s Regional Rural Development Centers (RRDC) and their land-grant university partners. The purpose of Stronger Economies Together (SET) is to strengthen the capacity of communities in rural America to work together in developing and implementing an economic development blueprint that strategically builds on the current and emerging economic strengths of their region.

Important elements of the Stronger Economies Together program will build collaboration between communities in a region, provides economic analyses that is tailored to help capture the region’s current or emerging clusters and comparative economic advantages and is supported by technical assistance provided by land-grant university extension systems to the regions over a period of several months including the SET training.

Overview

WHAT IS SET?

Stronger Economies Together (SET) enables communities and counties in rural America to work together in developing and implementing an economic development blueprint for their multi- county region that strategically builds on the current and emerging economic strengths of that region. Creating, attracting and retaining jobs as a single rural county, in isolation from other nearby counties, is becoming increasingly ineffective. In today’s global marketplace, economic development progress is more likely to be realized when rural and metro counties work together as a region to assess their resources and then design and implement plans that build on their assets and comparative economic strengths.

Launched in 2010 by USDA Rural Development and the nation’s four Regional Rural Development Centers and their land grant university partners, this exciting initiative is now in place in nearly 40 regions in 19 states (Phases I and II). Regional teams in seven additional states are joining Phase III in 2012.

SET BENEFITS

In-depth data tailored to the region, describing its current and emerging clusters, comparative economic advantages, and detailed demographic and socio-economic information

Tools to uncover local assets and resources that can advance the region’s economic strategies

Up to 40 hours of technical assistance from Extension educators, USDA RD state staff and the Regional Rural Development Centers to guide the implementation of regional goals and strategies

Opportunity to apply for a special assistance grant to support more advanced regional data analyses or to connect with those with specialized expertise needed to reach your regional goals

Chance to share information and gather ideas from other SET regions nation wide

More than 35 hours of valuable, step-by-step training to produce a practical and viable regional economic development plan

Southern Tier

Sustainable Tioga (REAP) program

Special emphasis will be placed on the feasibility of developing a bio-energy cluster in Tioga County and the greater Southern Tier utilizing a training program called Stronger Economies Together (SET) recently developed by USDA Rural Development and the nation’s Regional Rural Development Centers to support rural economic development through regional cooperation.

SET features nine monthly training sessions, online discussion forums, specialized data analysis, technical assistance and the practice of regional economic development skills.

Designed to develop strategic economic strategies, Tioga Dept. of Economic Development and Planning, Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell University Community and Regional Development Institute will partner with Tioga REAP to connect participates with resources and networking opportunities with community and business leaders from across the region.

Last updated July 26, 2019