Invest in

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(No Transcript)
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Strategy
Invest in SMALL TOWN REVITALIZATION Throu
gh the N.C. Small Towns Economic Prosperity
Demonstration Program
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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative
PURPOSE
Spur economic activity, innovation, and job
creation in small towns affected by structural
changes in the economy or natural disasters
through a program of strategic resource
investments Invest 5 million to work with 20
small town demonstration sites over three years
to revitalize their economies
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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative
GOALS

• Support economic recovery and revitalization
• in small towns affected by structural
  changes
• in the economy or natural disasters
• Test a comprehensive model of assistance
• and grantmaking to aid revitalization
• Provide information vital to long-term
• investment in small towns

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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative

• Workshop Purpose
• To provide information to help you undertake
  economic development in your small town
• To help you determine if the NC STEP
  demonstration is a fit for you
• To help you conceptualize and develop an
  application to become a NC STEP site
• To provide guidelines on building reuse grants

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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative

• What the demonstration is not
• A grants program
• Quick fix
• A rubber stamp

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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative
ELIGIBILITY

• Demonstration Sites
• Municipalities (pops. less than 10,000 from
  2000 Census) in 85 rural counties or distressed
  urban counties
• Cluster of municipalities with a collaborative
  application
• County seat in counties with no municipalities
  

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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative
ELIGIBILITY

• Applicant Individual Small Towns
• Units of local government
• Nonprofit organizations or agencies and
  educational institutions acting on behalf of
  the municipality as fiscal agent or program
  coordinator
• County seat in counties with no municipalities
  

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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative
ELIGIBILITY

• Applicant Cluster
• Municipalities within close proximity work to
  find collaborative solutions to economic
  conditions
• Municipalities within regional small towns
  effort work to complete specific economic
  development goals
• Beneficial to small towns and to cluster
• NC STEP must add value to efforts

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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative
ELIGIBILITY

• Applicant Cluster
• Cluster is a site and receives those benefits
• An individual small town within cluster may or
  may not receive all benefits
• An individual small town must participate in
  any required activities slated for them
• Must show how additional towns will support
  participation

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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative
ELIGIBILITY

• Applicant Cluster
• Lead project applicant must be designated
• Units of local government
• Nonprofit organizations or agencies and
  educational institutions acting on behalf of
  the municipality as fiscal agent or program
  coordinator
• Statewide and regional organizations

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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative
ELIGIBILITY

• Priorities
• Distressed small towns
• Willingness and eagerness to participate
• Local government understanding of benefits and
  responsibilities of participation
• Understanding of community leadership team
  and its role in development and implementation
• Potential for economic recovery/revitalization,
  economic activity and job creation

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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative
ELIGIBILITY

• Priorities
• Geographical distribution
• Population size and diversity
• Management structure
• Resource availability
• Degree of readiness

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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative
Investments

• Benefits
• Training scholarships
• Coaching assistance
• Planning and implementation investments
• Priority consideration
• Participation in a Global Rural Network
  Initiative
• Opportunities for training and shared learning
  

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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative
Requirements

• Site Requirements General
• Required and optional activities
• Commitment to all aspects of the demonstration
• Commitment to minimum requirements
• Commitment to additional requirements as
  issues arise or resources become available

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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative
Requirements

• Site Requirements Minimum
• Host a kick-off event
• Inclusive community leadership team with
  representation from small town government
• Assessment and planning process
• Required trainings and activities
• Local government and community buy-in

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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative
Application

• Application Package
• Letter of Application
• Application Form
• Application Narrative
• Application Exhibits
• Application Appendices

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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative
Application

• Letter of Application
• States applicants interest, describes goals,
  shows understanding of benefits and
  requirements, and commits to participating
  fully
• For individual small towns, letter signed by
  chief official for the applicant, chief elected
  official of the municipality, chief municipal
  management or administration official, and a key
  community partner

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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative
Application

• Letter of Application
• For clusters, letter from the applicant signed
  by the chief official for the applicant
• For clusters, letter from each participating
  municipality showing understanding of the
  benefits and requirements of participation and
  a commitment to participate signed by chief
  elected official and the chief management or
  administration official

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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative
Application

• Application Form
• Municipality Information
• Applicant Information
• Application Preparation
• Demonstration Information
• Certification

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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative
Application

• Application Narrative Individual
• Describe small town
• Describe current economic situation
• Describe past or present planning efforts
• Write a vision
• Describe purpose and goals for NC STEP
• Identify community partners

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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative
Application

• Application Narrative Cluster
• Describe each small town
• Describe each current economic situation and/or
  regional situation
• Describe past or present planning efforts
  within each and as a cluster
• Identify the target area and write a vision
• Describe goals as a cluster and benefit to each
• Describe purpose and goals for NC STEP

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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative
Application

• Exhibits
• Anticipated Outcomes and Economic Impact
• Site Management
• Letters of Commitment from Small Towns in
  Cluster Applications
• Copy of IRS tax-exempt status for nonprofit
  applicants

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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative
Application

• Appendices
• Small Town History
• Additional Narrative Items
• Letters of Support

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NC STEP Demonstration
Small Towns Initiative
Application

• Due Date
• By 500 p.m. on January 23, 2006

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Regional Meetings
Small Towns Initiative

• December 5 Blue Ridge Community College, Flat
  Rock
• December 7 The Rural Center, Raleigh
• December 13 Southeastern Community College,
  Whiteville
• December 14 Martin Community College,
  Williamston
• December 16 Mitchell Community College,
  Statesville

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To Reach Us

Rural Economic Development Center 4021 Carya
Drive, Raleigh 919-250-4314 www.ncruralcenter.org